Climate News

國際的重大環境保護日想必大家看了有點太多，這個月就來介紹台灣在2024年台灣在哪些環保議題的關注。

1.彰化海岸濕地成為國際級重要濕地

彰化海岸是台灣面積最大的泥質濕地，這十年間因為土地開發成本低，所以光電廠，石化開發場，風力發電廠目光都鎖定在這塊土地上。而到底該保護生態抑或是發展產業無遺是兩難，若選擇其中一項，另一項必會完全犧牲。彰化環境聯盟不斷倡導保護濕地的重要性，即便反對者認為這將阻礙地方發展，卻終於在今年，政府認知這一海岸的問題，同意將其定為國際級海岸。

2.海洋保育法

政策內容包括劃分、管理、復育海洋生態等。

3.農地光電政策

Many people may know various international important environmental protection days, so in this month, we are going to have a serial articles about what environmental issues Taiwan pays an attention to in 2024.

1. Changhua Coastal Wetland designated as an Internationally Important Wetland

Changhua Coastal is the largest muddy wetland area in Taiwan. Within the last ten years, along with the development of land at a relatively lower cost, solar power plants, petrochemical developments, and wind farms all marked this area as their target. It was a dilemma in choice, ecological protection, or industrial development. For quite some time, one had often had to be sacrificed for the other. The Changhua Environmental Alliance has continually called for the importance of wetland protection. Some in opposition even argued that it would affect local development adversely, the government finally recognized the challenges this coastline has been facing and announced to declare it an internationally important wetland this year.

2. Marine Conservation Law

This policy encompasses the demarcation, management, and restoration processes of marine ecosystems.

3. Agricultural Solar Energy Policy

You can even elaborate more on this point, giving additional information on its goals and implications. These ventures are a reflection of Taiwan's commitment to the balance of environmental protection and sustainable development.

2024.10.10

臭氧層位於平流層的20-30公里高處，像是地球的防護罩，可吸收大部分紫外線來保護生物。(過量的紫外線增加罹患皮膚癌和白內障的機率，也會影響生態系統的平衡。)然而從冷媒開始大量出現在日常生活起，臭氧以每十年約4%的速度減少，導致臭氧層逐漸形成「臭氧洞」。

因此，保護臭氧層破洞是國際應該重視的議題。

臭氧的分解主要由氟氯碳化物造成。

*CFCl3 + hν → CFCl2 + Cl(游離

Cl· + O3 → ClO· + O2

ClO· + O3 → Cl· + 2 O2

The ozone layer is situated in the stratosphere some 20 to 30 kilometers above the Earth's surface, forming a shield that protects against most harmful UV radiation. Too much UV increases the risk of skin cancer and cataracts, while it is particularly damaging to the balance of ecosystems. However, since the general use of such refrigerants began, the approximate rate of ozone layer depletion has been 4% every decade, giving rise to "ozone holes."

  Therefore, the protection of the ozone layer has become a critical global issue to be confronted internationally.

  The main culprit for the destruction of ozone is chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs for short. The following are the chemical reactions involved:
The following reactions illustrate in detail how CFCs contribute to the depletion of atmospheric ozone

*CFCl3 + hν → CFCl2 + Cl (Ionization

Cl· + O3 → ClO· + O2

ClO· + O3 → Cl· + 2 O2

2024.09.16

每一年「全球足跡網絡」都會推算當年的地球超載日，計算自然資源會在哪一天耗盡。

地球超載日=（地球的生物承載力／人類的生態足跡）x 365

The Global Footprint Network calculates Earth Overshoot Day every year, and it marks the exact date when humanity's demand for natural resources in a particular year exceeds what the Earth can regenerate for that year.

  The formula to calculate Earth Overshoot Day is given by:

  Earth Overshoot Day = (Earth's biocapacity/Humanity's ecological footprint) × 365

  This measure serves to raise awareness of resource use and the need for practices that would keep our consumption within the supply of the planet's resources

2024.08.02

2024/07/22 破史上最熱的紀錄了，而且2024也是最熱的一年! 上次破紀錄的時間為2023/07/03，已經是19世紀以來的新高了，然而化石燃料的不斷使用，今年全球平均氣溫卻已經到達攝氏17.09度。公眾應該要更加關注氣候問題，積極參與環保行動啊!! 

It beat the record on July 22, 2024, making 2024 the hottest year ever! On July 3, 2023, it already gained the record as the highest since the 19th century. Continuous use of fossil fuels drove the global average temperature this year to reach 17.09 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the public should put more attention on climate issues and join some environmental actions!!

2024.07.29

聯合國在瑞典的斯德哥爾摩市宣布從1972年開始，每年的6/5舉辦世界最盛大的環保活動「世界環境日」。舉辦的主要目的是保護環境、生物多樣性、健康、經濟等等。而今年的主題為「修復土地，對抗沙漠化和乾旱」，力圖修復土地、減少造成極端氣候的影響幅度、並減輕貧窮比率
 

5 June is the World Environment Day. The celebration is established by the United Nations in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972, it is the largest international environmental event. It is designed to protect the enviornment, biodiversity, health, and economy. The theme setted this year is "Land restoration desertification and drought resilience". The organization strive to restore degraded land, reduce the negative impact on extreme weather, also alleviate poverty.

2024.06.05

國際生物多樣性公約將每年5/22訂為國際生物多樣性日。生物多樣性分為動植物的遺傳、物種、生態系統多樣性。物種的減少主要歸因於人類的

2024主題為「生物多樣性你我共參與」。維護生物多樣性是每一個的責任
 

Every year, the Convention on Biological Diversity recognizes May 22 as International Day for Biological Diversity. Plant and animal biodiversity is classified into three categories: genetic, species, and ecosystem. The decline of species is mostly due to human activity.

The topic of 2024 is "Biodiversity: A Shared Responsibility." Everyone is responsible for maintaining biodiversity.

2024.05.22

世界地球日（4月22日）。在1969 年 1 月，加州聖塔芭芭拉外海的一座油井爆炸，因超過 1130 萬公升的油外洩，導致眾多生物失去生命且附近海灘受到嚴重污染。因此在這一天美國人們達成愛護地球、停止破壞的共識，參加環境保護遊行運動。

因為全球塑膠已超過處理塑膠廢物的數量，且《全球塑膠公約》預計在2024年底制定完成，達成減塑的目標，因此今年的主題訂為「多一塑不如少一塑」，並推動更耐用且可回收的材質（相關材料可參考本網站「永續材料Sustainable Materials」專欄。
 

The origin of Earth Day on April 22 was actually from the sudden occurrence of a great environmental accident. In January 1969, an off-shore oil well off Santa Barbara, California, burst and spilled a continuous amount of more than 11.3 million gallons of oil. While it killed millions of marine species, the toxic content of oil gravelessly polluted all beaches in the vicinity. That day became the dedication for Americans to save Earth and stop environmental destruction through environmental protection marches.

Today, the world's plastic crisis outpaces our ability to handle plastic waste. In celebration of the completion of the Global Plastics Treaty at the end of 2024-to reduce plastic consumption-this year's slogan is "Less Plastic is Better." The campaign promotes using more durable and recyclable material. - The following materials are relevant to the topic "Sustainable Materials".

2024.04.22

森林中擁有大量的大樹和其他植物，樹木們儲存了大量的碳。因此當森林被燒毀或砍伐時，這些碳大部分會作為二氧化碳和其他溫室氣體（如一氧化二氮、甲烷和其他氮氧化物）釋放到大氣中造成溫室效應。另外，森林不僅能儲存碳，還能調節氣溫，減少土壤侵蝕，緩解乾旱，以及孕育生態。然而，全球每年仍然失去大量森林。根據數據，在2010年至2015年間，自然森林的淨損失平均每年達660萬公頃，且主要發生在熱帶地區。而造成熱帶樹林消失因素包括商業砍伐和的農業開墾與道路擴建。
 

Massive numbers of trees in forests store enormous amounts of carbon. All of the carbon in the burned and chopped trees is primarily converted to carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, which has a strong warming effect. In addition to storing carbon, forests also control temperature, stop erosion, stop desertification, and support new life.
But every year, a lot of forest area continues to go. Statistics show that between 2010 and 2015, the net loss of natural forests—which are primarily found in the tropical zone—reached an average of 6.6 million hectares annually. Road construction, land reclamation, and commercial clearance are the primary causes of the loss of tropical forests.

2024.03.21

世界濕地日（2月2日）由Ramser濕地會議設立，這個設立是為了紀念1971/2/2 拉薩姆公約的簽訂，這個公約致力於透過當地、區域和國家的行動方案，以及國際間的協作，來持續保護和妥善利用濕地資源。每個締約國必須在自己國家的土地利用計劃中加入濕地保護的理念，並制定、執行政策。另外，每個締約國至少要選出一個「國際重要濕地」，以負起共同保護的責任。

由於濕地保護工作無法依賴單一國際組織，因此拉姆薩公約與五個國際非政府組織建立了合作關係，包括國際鳥類聯盟、國際自然保護聯盟、國際水資源管理研究機構、濕地國際和世界自然基金會

每年的「世界濕地日」主題或口號隨著氣候變遷和關注議題的變化而有所不同。例如，2012年的主題是「濕地與觀光旅遊」，而2024年度主題為「送給下一代的濕地綠寶盒」

網站連結：https://www.ramsar.org/
 

World Wetlands Day, February 2, was instituted by the Ramsar Convention to commemorate the signing of the Ramsar Convention on February 2, 1971. The Convention seeks to ensure the effective protection and use of wetland resources through local, regional, and national action plans coupled with international cooperation. Each Contracting Party is obliged to incorporate principles of wetland conservation in land-use planning and to develop and undertake relevant policies. Each party shall also designate at least one "Wetland of International Importance" to assume shared protection responsibilities.

  Because wetland conservation cannot depend on one international organization alone, the Ramsar Convention has embarked on collaboration with five international NGOs: BirdLife International, International Union for Conservation of Nature, International Water Management Institute, Wetlands International, and World Wildlife Fund.

  Every year, the World Wetlands Day slogan or theme varies with respect to changing climate issues and areas of concern. For example, in 2012 it was "Wetlands and Tourism," while for 2024, it is "Wetland Green Treasure for Future Generations."

2024.02.02

世界經濟論壇在2024年1月10發佈了風險評估報告。報告列出了未來兩年十年全球的十大風險。其中，極端天氣事件位居第一。第二是對地球系統的劇烈變動。第三是生物多樣性流失及生態系統失衡。這些風險都與氣候變遷有關。氣候變遷問題再次成為全球關注的焦點。這些風險不僅影響環境，還影響經濟和社會穩定。各國需要共同應對這些挑戰。

The World Economic Forum published a risk assessment report on January 10, 2024, identifying the top ten global threats for the ensuing two years. Extreme weather occurrences came in first, then drastic alterations to Earth's systems, biodiversity loss, and ecological imbalance. These hazards are directly linked to climate change, which is currently receiving a lot of attention on a global scale.

These hazards endanger social and economic stability in addition to having an effect on the environment. In order to address these issues and find ways to lessen their consequences while advancing sustainable development, nations must cooperate.

2024.01.10

締約國會議為聯合國氣候變遷綱要公約最高權力機關，每年集會一次，主要檢討締約國履行法條的狀況以及討論如何氣候的變化情形來制定法規。締約國會議成員為簽署聯合國氣候變遷綱要公約的國家，每年會在不同國家舉辦，第一屆為COP1，以此類推。今年11月30日至12月12日的COP28大會將在全球最大產油國之一的阿聯酋舉行，因此石油問題也成為討論的焦點。

現今的化石燃料產能已經遠超過上限量，為了解決這個問題，各國應該採取多種措施，包括停止補貼化石燃料、對化石燃料公司的利潤徵收暴利稅等等。油氣出口國（主要在OPEC）受到限制石油出口限制影響。

*暴利稅：對行業收取不合理，過高利潤的稅

*《巴黎協定》條約中提到:全球氣溫的上升幅度控制在1.5度C以下，每年平均值在1.2度，不過今年的上升幅度已達1.5度。

另外有被討論到的問題：

歐美國家為主要排放國，而小國或島國卻要承受嚴重的氣候災害。

中美間的政治鬥爭也同時影響著氣候協定的執行進度。

The Conference of the Parties is the supreme governing body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Members meet annually to examine whether Parties to the Treaty by the parties and discuss regulations based on the status of climate change. The conference is held annually in different countries, starting with COP1, and so on. This year's conference, COP28, is taking place in the United Arab Emirates, one of the world's largest oil-producing countries, where petroleum issues are actively discussed.

*UNFCCC: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Currently, global fossil fuel production have far exceeded the limitation. To address this issue, countries should take various measures, including stop subsiding to fossil fuels and leving windfall taxes on fossil fuel companies. Oil and gas-exporting countries, primarily participated in OPEC, are affected by restrictions on oil exports.

*windfall tax: A tax imposed on industries with unreasonably high profits.

*‘Paris Agreement' have mentioned : Countries take part in the United Nations must cooperate to limit the rise in average global temperature to below 1.5 degrees Celsius. In recent years, the global temperature increases at 1.2 degrees annually; however, this year's rise has already reached 1.5 degrees.

Other issues discussed include:

·Industrialized countries, mainly in Europe and North America, are the major emitters, while small or island nations are compelled to bear the brunt of severe climate disasters.

·Political tensions between China and the United States can also influence the progress of controling the increase of the .

2023.12.29