Image source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed April 2019)

The Climate Emergency:
Scientific evidence and response
required by business
Sustainable Business Network Autumn Meeting, 19 October 2019
Ian Williams
Professor of Applied Environmental Science
Associate Dean (Enterprise)
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences,
University of Southampton, UK.
idw@soton.ac.uk; @EnviroTaff

1

Source: https://waikatoenviroschools.files.wordpress.com (last accessed September 2019)

Outside Swedish Parliament, 20 August 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed April 2019)

Source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed April 2019)3

Source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed October 2019)

Extinction Rebellion established May 2018 by academics.
Launched 31 October 2018 by Roger Hallam and Gail Bradbrook.

5Source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed September 2019)

Global Climate Strike
20 September 2019
Southampton, EnglandSource: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed September 2019)

Melbourne, Australia

Bangkok, Thailand

Source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed September 2019)

Berlin, Germany

London, EnglandSource: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed September 2019)

Nairobi, Kenya

Source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed September 2019)

Lodz, Poland

Source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed September 2019)

Prague, Czech Republic

Source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed September 2019)

Quezon City, Philippines

Source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed September 2019)

New Delhi, India

Source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed September 2019)

Sanur beach, Bali, Indonesia

Source: https://climateemergencydeclaration.org (lastaccessed October 2019))

Source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed October 2019)• Almost 400 all-time high temperatures set in northernhemisphere over summer 2019
• Records broken in 29 countries (1 May - 30 August 2019)• A third in Germany, followed by France and Netherlands

Source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed October 2019

• Almost 400 all-time high temperatures set in northernhemisphere over summer 2019
• Records broken in 29 countries (1 May - 30 August 2019)• A third in Germany, followed by France and Netherlands

How did we get tothis point?

Source: www.climate.gov (last accessed September 2019)

Eunice Newton Foote (July 17, 1819 – September 30, 1888)

Source: www.climate.gov (last accessed September 2019)• Theorized that changing proportion of CO2 in atmosphere would••

change average atmospheric temperature
Identified root cause of the greenhouse effect“Circumstances affecting the heat of the sun's rays” (1856)• American Association for the Advancement of Science Conference• Presented by Professor Joseph Henry (of the Smithsonian Institution)• Women not allowed to present!

• 1820s - Jean-Baptiste Joseph Fourier - first person to suggest that••••

Earth’s atmosphere traps heat and warms the planet
1859 – John Tyndall’s experiments to test whether gases in theatmosphere could trap heat at the Royal Institution laboratories
1896 - Svante Arrhenius postulated anthropogenic global warming
1930s - G.S. Callendar insisted greenhouse warming on the way
1960s - C.D. Keeling measures atmospheric CO2 concentrations

Eunice Newton Foote (July 17, 1819 – September 30, 1888)

The Keeling Curve

Source: https://scripps.ucsd.edu/programs/keelingcurve/ (Last accessed October 2019)Carbon Emissions
from Fossil Fuel
Consumption
1850–2017

Source: www.economist.com (Last accessed October 2019)

Evidence for rapid climate change is compelling:• Global temperature rise• Warming oceans• Shrinking ice sheets• Glacial retreat• Decreased snow cover• Sea level rise
• Declining Arctic sea ice• Extreme events• Ocean acidification
22
Image source: climate.nasa.gov (last accessed June 2019)

Global Temperature Trends to 2100:
Two Scenarios

Source: IPCC, 2013

Relationship Between Level of Greenhouse Gas
Stabilization and Eventual Temperature Change
400 ppm CO2 e
450 ppm CO2 e

550 ppm CO2 e
650 ppm CO2 e
750 ppm CO2 e

0°C

1°C

2°C

3°C

4°C

5°C

Eventual Temperature change (relative to pre-industrial)
Source: Stern, 2007.
Note: CO2e = CO2 equivalent; ppm = parts per million.

Business as Usual, Paris
Pledges and 2°C Path

150

120

Businessas usual

90Pledges+3.5°C60
Goal+2°C

30

Gigatons of CO2 equivalent per year

+4.5°C

02000

2030

2100

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/11/23/world/carbon-pledges.html?_r=1 (Last accessed June 2016). Note: 2°C = 3.6°F; 3.5°C = 6.3°F; 2 4.5°C = 8.1°F.

“The number of papers rejecting theconsensus on AGW is vanishingly small”

Source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed October 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed October 2019)

There are naysayers …….

“The finding of 97% consensus in publishedclimate research is robust and consistent”

Climate change has significant
implications for our health and well-being

Rising temperatures will likely lead to:• Increased air pollution• Longer and more intense allergy season• Spread of insect-borne diseases• More frequent and dangerous heat waves• Heat exhaustion, heat stroke, aggravation of existing
medical conditions• Heavier rainstorms and flooding• Disruption to food and water supplies
Image source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed June 2019)

Source: www.un.org (last accessed September 2017)

Southampton’s Plan in 2010

VisionSouthampton will thrive in a new low carbon
economy. We will be a home to green
business and exemplify sustainable living.
We will be a city adapted to a changed
future which is greener, healthier and safer.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed October 2019)

An “EMERGENCY”?
If so, big lifestyle changes are the only answer ….

Source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed October 2019)

WE MUST MOVE FAST! AN EXAMPLE:• Home heating - biggest challenge in terms of reducing UK emissions• Accounts for average 21% of a household's carbon footprint• UK - 30 million homes and 30 years to decarbonise

Chris Stark (UK Committee on Climate Change):“Simple arithmetic suggests weneed to decarbonise one million
homes every year, starting now”

What can business do immediately?

CARBON• Get staff buy-in, especially from senior management• Measure, monitor and reduce your carbon footprint• Switch grid electricity to renewable energy providers• Encourage and facilitate active transport▪ Walking, cycling by staff/students▪ Reduce aviation emissions; encourage public transport• Support virtual business meeting attendance• Consume less – encourage reuse; sustainable procurement• Support climate-smart policies and strategies• Be a role model: take a lead and make a differenceWhat can business do immediately?

WATER & WASTE• Get staff buy-in, especially from senior management• Measure, monitor and reduce your water/waste footprints• Consume less - use kitchens and washrooms better• Encourage and facilitate prevention, avoidance, reuse andrecycling – especially of food waste• Regular maintenance regime - check for leaks and proper
waste management• Support circular economy policies and strategies• Be a role model: take a lead and make a differenceWhat can business do in 3-6 months?
CARBON• Incentivise active transport• Incentivise virtual conference attendance & external examining• Insulate buildings• Refurbish rather than rebuild• Write and adhere to climate-smart policies and strategies• Be a role model: incentivise suppliers, partners and customers• Make the business sustainable (do you really need thatoverseas visit?)• Produce a sustainability report and put it on your website

What can business do in 3-6 months?
WATER & WASTE• Install rainwater tanks where possible• Install waterless urinals, low-flush toilets, sensor taps
• Install water meters and flow restrictors where possible• Encourage and facilitate prevention, avoidance, reuse andrecycling• Regular maintenance regime - check for leaks and proper
waste management• Support circular economy policies and strategies• Be a role model: incentivise suppliers, partners and customers• Produce a sustainability report and put it on your website

LONGER-TERM RESPONSES REQUIRED:
1.We must build resilient and sustainable infrastructure
2.We must reinvent urban environments to enhance liveability and enable sustainable
lifestyles
3.We must find effective and efficient ways to feed and fuel cities
4.We must find ways to meet the economic challenge associated with this transition
5.We must encourage leadership, cooperation and lifelong learning

Ian Williams, July 2017
(Source: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2017/07/how-to-build-a-sustainable-city.page)Source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed October 2019)

May 2019:
Heathrow campaigners lose challenge against third runway.
Court of Appeal Challenge starts 21 October.

40
Is government serious in pledge to become zero carbon economy?

Source: www.bbc.co.uk (last accessed October 2019)

October 2019:
Four new gas-fired turbines at Drax power station approved by UK
government – against a ruling from its Planning Inspectorate.

41
Is government serious in pledge to become zero carbon economy?

Source: www.metro.co.uk (last accessed October 2019)

Ah – so UK government is backing words with actions .. (not!)Southampton’s Plan in 2019

The evidence shows that thisreally is an emergency.

The Climate Emergency:
Scientific evidence and response
required by business
Sustainable Business Network Autumn Meeting, 19 October 2019
Ian Williams
Professor of Applied Environmental Science
Associate Dean (Enterprise)
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences,
University of Southampton, UK.
idw@soton.ac.uk; @EnviroTaff

Be scientifically realistic.
Demand the politically impossible.
George Monbiot, October 201944