GRMD 1402_Reflective exercise_2023-24 by

Permafrost

2024-03-22 01:48:05 UTC

I find the role of permafrost in our ecological system quite fascinating. It is a layer of the Earth which is permanently frozen.

Scientists study the permafrost to better understand climate change, and it has become evident that it is now thawing more rapidly than ever.

When the permafrost thaws, organic matter decomposes and releases greenhouse gases. Thus, the balance of the ecosystem is threatened because the proportion of permafrost is shrinking. With this effect, we risk the global warming of the Earth is accelerated as the permafrost thaws, which is yet another reason to act now before it is too late.

https://www.weather.gov.hk/en/climate_change/faq/faq020.htm

- Sofie (1155217042)

Ice cores

2024-03-25 07:15:23 UTC

I think the way scientist are able to study the air in present ice cores is quite fascinating. They are through these ice cores able to gather samples of how the atmosphere was in ancient times, allowing them to measure how carbon dioxide and methane compositions have changed over time. It also collects other components such as dust, sea salt and volcanic ashes, which also helps scientist to understand how the world have changed. It is an important method for the discovery of climate changes, as it was this was many scientists first learned about the link between carbon dioxide in the air and global temperatures.https://www.climate.gov/news-features/climate-tech/climate-core-how-scientists-study-ice-cores-reveal-earths-climate#:~:text=Sometimes%20researchers%20are%20studying%20actual,newly%20released%20air%20into%20vials.

Made by: Cecilie

Energy

2024-03-25 09:08:59 UTC

Sustainable energy and global warming are intricately linked, solving global warming challenges requires a transition to sustainable energy so to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable energy refers to renewable sources such as solar, wind, water, geothermal energy, with minimal environmental impact and can be recharged continuously. By moving away from fuels, we can reduce the negative impact of global warming not only because sustainable energy technologies reduce carbon emissions but also promote energy efficiency encourage as well as provide economic opportunities. Embracing sustainable energy is critical to tackling climate change, protecting the future of the planet and ensuring a clean and healthy world for future generations.

https://www.repsol.com/en/energy-and-the-future/future-of-the-world/sustainable-energy/index.cshtml

SHUM Hei Ting

SID: 1155174799

HK Urban Problems

2024-03-25 09:09:46 UTC

By comparing these two local district models, with the upper one representing Central and the lower one representing Mong Kok, it is obvious that Mong Kok has a higher building density with more low-rise buildings. As an old district with mixed land use, Mongkok is facing severe urban decay problems, such as old buildings lacking maintenance. It is found that the Urban Renewal Authority of Hong Kong has conducted a district study of Mong Kok and highlighted the importance of carrying out an urban renewal plan. (https://www.ura.org.hk/f/page/44/13214/Information%20Booklet.pdf)

In my opinion, The renewal plan should also include green areas and open space development, same as the modern Central.

-1155193245 Chan Cheuk Hei

Photon Energy Upconversion

2024-03-25 10:22:22 UTC

Despite its status as a renewable energy source, the shortcoming of solar energy is that it lacks a consistent source of energy intake during the night or in cloudy days. The process of turning low-energy photons into high-energy photons is known as photon upconversion. By enabling the solar panels to function during the night, this technology helps to increase the efficiency and productivity by allowing them to absorb UV radiation instead of only visible light. As solar energy grows increasingly reliable and efficient, reliance on non-renewable energy sources could be significantly decreased, leading to a more sustainble development.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemical-engineering/photon-upconversion#:~:text=Photon%20upconversion%20refers%20to%20a,happen%20%5B4–6%5D.

Yuen Ka Ho

SID: 1155177485

Penguins

2024-03-25 15:35:01 UTC

After today’s visitation in MOCC, this make me rethink about how human activities are affecting the environment. Above is a real penguin egg which has already dead. As the temperature of the earth keeps rising, sea ice in Antarctica melt, mother penguin spends more time in foraging. While the long waiting for the mother penguin to came back, father penguin was suffering starvation, then the male penguin may abandon his offspring, go out to find food as well. Without the protection from parents, it’s hard for penguin egg to survive. Penguins never try to harm the earth but they are suffering from the effects of climate change mainly cause by human activity, this is unfair to them. https://animals.mom.com/happens-penguins-egg-falls-ice-7740.html

Climate change is not a joke, instead it’s really affecting different parts of the world. To protect our environment, we must take action now!

Chen Beiying 1155192051

2024-03-26 03:25:52 UTC

This picture was taken during the video that showed the research excursion by the Chinese icebreaker “Xue Long”. It highlights three different ways that climate change affects our world. The leftmost video shows that climate change affects the way we have to do research, as the environment and conditions that researchers test under constantly evolve and shift due to climate change itself. Secondly, the video in the middle highlighted the ‘individual’ pressure that climate change imposes on living creatures, such as the polar bear. As temperatures increase, the bears migrate south due to a lack of food and the loss of ice sheets. Last, the animation on the right highlights the aggregate effect of climate change. The animation shows how the arctic ice area is estimated to disappear completely, highlighting the need for drastic change to save our environment.

Mathias Popp, 1155217043

Importance of Climate Research

2024-03-26 03:45:08 UTC

For me, this photo highlights the importance of climate science. Scientific research, for example through polar explorations with the icebreaker Xue Long, helps scientists not only to investigate the causes and impacts of climate change but is necessary to build models to predict future climate change trends and understand the Earth’s tipping points.

This data is particularly important for climate action. Reports like the IPCC special report on Global Warming of 1.5°C (https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/) provide the scientific foundation for governments to develop climate mitigation and adaptation policies. Hence, higher quality and quantity of data will support more targeted climate action and help work towards targets like the Paris Agreement.

Lisa-Marie Buerger (1155217036)

Greenland ice loss

2024-03-26 04:19:10 UTC

I think this model impresses me the most. It displays the expected loss of Greenland ice, which is actually quicker than any one of us has expected. It is predicted that by 2030, the arctic ice will be melted completely, and this would definitely affect the biodiversity of the whole world. Not only will polar bears and other marine species become extinct, it will also rise the sea level and trigger more frequent natural disasters such as flooding. This is a warning signal to all of us to sincerely think about our planet, what can we do to save our whole world and the future’s generation.

1155176271 Chan Wing Han

urban microclimate model

2024-03-26 07:38:20 UTC

I was particularly intrigued by the model comparison between mong kok and central, I’ve been a fan of cityscape models and the visualisation of the greenhouse gas emission and walled effect from buildings not only grabbed my attention to the details of the model but also increased my awareness to the climate in city centre. Even though both mong kok and central contained a bit of greenery, but the extent of open space seemed to really make the difference.

Ko Ching Nam 1155212865

Urban heat island problem

2024-03-26 07:41:06 UTC

Urban areas experience higher temperatures than suburbs, and we usually feel hot in urban areas as if staying in a huge furnace. The two models displaying two different layouts of cities in the exhibition let me think of the heat island effect. Limited city greenery, buildings built of concrete, and high density of buildings largely retain heat. People then using lights and air conditioning frequently further deteriorate climate change. Therefore, I think enlarging the greenery area is important. By doing this, we could encourage the construction of green buildings that integrate plants and buildings and also enlarge the greenery area. (https://www.archsd.gov.hk/archsd/html/report2021/en/sustainable-building.html )Plants can lower the temperature (transpiration) and improve air quality, leaving cities space to breathe.

Ni Ziyi, 1155210957

extinction of polar bear

2024-03-26 07:47:28 UTC

as the glacies in north pole is disappearing, the polar bears always can't find their way back home after finding preys. this lead to decrease numbers of polar bears. in addition, the whole food chain will be negatively affected and caused decrease in biodiversity. more marine species will extinct and lead to shortage of food supply in long term, so that the sustainability of food will be lower.

Kwok Ho Wang 1155212321

Promise for reducing carbon footprint

2024-03-26 14:59:44 UTC

This photo gives us ten pieces of advice that we can do in our daily lives. This MOCC visit highlighted the effects of climate change. If we do nothing, its impacts will extremely affect humans, ecosystems and especially the animals in polar regions. However, I think those ten missions are insufficient to achieve the vision of controlling temperature rise with low emissions as the last lecture went through. There are so many other ways for us to take action before the disappearance of polar ice in 2030. To reduce greenhouse gas, the key thing for now is to raise everyone's awareness.

Too many ways to help: How to promote climate change mitigation behaviors - ScienceDirect

Lai Wai Ki

1155213026

Impact of climate change on land species in the polar region

2024-03-26 15:39:02 UTC

This photo is about the impact of climate change on land species in the polar regions. When we visit the MOCC museum I know the terrestrial food web in the polar regions. Also, the Arctic tundra is gradually shrinking as a result of global warming. However, this is the most important part of the terrestrial food web. Therefore, many animals in the polar regions have to face the problem of food shortage. According to the report from the National Park Service, rising temperatures risk destabilizing the balance between wildlife and their ecosystem. （https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/wildlife-climateimpact.htm ）People's behaviors will impact the environment. If we don't take any action, the Permafrost will disappear in 2053. When everyone understands the hazards of climate change and puts our hands together. We not only can protect our environment but also the natural animal.

1155212417 Lin Wai Ching

The detrimental impacts of climate change

2024-03-26 17:37:54 UTC

The photo shows some of the impacts of climate change which vigorously effect the daily life of people around the world, in terms of food production, safety issues and health concerns, etc. Mentioned in the lecture on week 11, since climate crises are becoming more and more serious recently, these climate change consequences may occur more frequently and destructive. Therefore, stronger attention should be paid by every individuals, companies, and government on the concept of sustainability, to alleviate and slower climate change crises, saving our future generation, and even all of the organisms living in our planet. This would be the core message delivered by the museum.

Lam Chun Pui 1155212170

Urban Model

2024-03-27 03:16:07 UTC

The urban model grabbed my interest.The comparison illustrates that the urban greening is a way to alleviate the climate change and it also can rationalize the spatial layout of the city.However , in a city with limited space , large population and multiple industries , there exists a tradeoff between urban greening and development. It’s impossible to remove some of the buildings in Mong kok and replace them with urban greening ,but we can grow some plants on the top of those buildings in high density , in this way we both make full use of the space and promote urban greening.

1155211127

Zhao Yuanqi

The importance of taking action

2024-03-27 04:09:50 UTC

After visiting MOCC and learning about all the impacts and causes of climate change, what struck me the most is the call to action for the audience to address the situation. While many Hong Kong residents with a decent education and access to current news are familiar with climate change, the problem persists because people are not taking action. Therefore, I agree with the message in the photo that beyond awareness and understanding the situation, the crucial step is to actively address the problem. Additionally, I believe the "do something" message is crucial; regardless of our abilities, we should take action to protect our planet, even if the efforts seem small.

1155176138 Chan Wai Lam

Polar bear

2024-03-27 14:28:36 UTC

Beyond Waste Management: Empowering communities to combat climate change

2024-03-27 17:41:19 UTC

The above board impressed me a lot since waste management is currently a pressing but controversial issue locally. Their focus extended beyond garbage processing and emphasized the importance of waste management to protect environment, utilize resources and safeguard inter-generational health and well-being, which may overlooked by the society (Yang et al., 2018). The video footage linked my experience during another visit to community recycling centre that people are not motivated for redemption gifts but gradually adopting a habit of simplicity and resource identification. It reminded me public involvement and collective decision-making to waste management would be essential in achieving sustainability and combating climate change (Garnett & Cooper, 2014).

Reference:

Garnett, K., & Cooper, T. (2014). Effective dialogue: Enhanced public engagement as a legitimising tool for municipal waste management decision-making. Waste management, 34(12), 2709-2726.

Yang, H., Ma, M., Thompson, J. R., & Flower, R. J. (2018). Waste management, informal recycling, environmental pollution and public health. J Epidemiol Community Health, 72(3), 237-243.

Hong Kong’s waste charging scheme will fail without persistent efforts to educate

Ma Ching Arthur

1155174610

Sub-effect for extreme weather under climate change

2024-03-28 03:01:35 UTC

A section of MOCC emphasized how extreme weather events adversely affect not only human beings but the entire earth's ecosystem as well. In Hong Kong, extreme weather events (such as the flood last September) are becoming more frequent and affecting us more frequently. Besides the direct impact (E.g. Economic loss and life casualties), extreme weather also creates negative impacts on a wider spectrum (E.g. long-term human health) (Ebi et al., 2021). By knowing those negative effects, the whole world government needs to start to more effectively adopt approaches in different dimensions rather than making “phony climate promises”.

References:

Ebi, K. L., Vanos, J., Baldwin, J. W., Bell, J. E., Hondula, D. M., Errett, N. A., Hayes, K., Reid, C. E., Saha, S., Spector, J., & Berry, P. (2021). Extreme weather and climate change: Population health and health system implications. Annual Review of Public Health, 42(1), 293–315.

1155174324

LO Ming Chi

Time to save the Earth

2024-03-28 09:39:55 UTC

After visiting MOCC, I have gained more knowledge on climate change. Actually, we all know the logic of global warming and greenhouse effect. However, MOCC tells us some numerical messages like glaciers melt in 2040. It really shocked me. Therefore, I hope to make some changes to reduce the carbon footprint. The 10 tips provided are the most meaningful facts for me. Most of them are easy to be done such as bring our own water bottles. We have got lots of bottles after different campaigns such as Ocamp and this is the chance for us to save the Earth.

1155175883 So Cho Kwan

Artic animals

2024-03-28 15:02:36 UTC

The urgency of taking action

2024-03-28 16:39:49 UTC

An abandoned penguin egg

2024-03-28 16:52:29 UTC

This is an abounded penguin egg founded in the North Pole. At the first glance I thought it was just a specimen, However, it’s a real penguin egg which was abounded by its dad because of the mother couldn’t find any food since the ice have shrank caused by the climate change. Therefore, the dad has left no chance to leave the egg and search for food. I think it’s a really sad story written by human selfishness ,but they are the ones who have to suffer. Still, it is not the special case. There are research found that the penguins' numbers were falling, with one colony decreasing by 77 percent in nearly 50 years. It’s a huge sign for all of us to be aware of what we have damaged in the nature.

Reference:https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/02/penguin-colony-antarctic-islands-climate-change-environment/

1155213687 Yim Kwan Lee

Shaping surrounding or being shaped？

2024-03-28 17:28:03 UTC

The urban modelling which helps cities adapt to the changing climate, has led me to think morally in the way humans tackle climatic issues. Suffering from the higher temperatures, more urban greenery has been planted and the building density has been downgraded. The increased amount of water vapor that can trap heat and natural ventilation, turns out creating a comfortable temperature. When humans eventually become the victim of climate changes, they shape their surroundings. But wildlifes are forced to move out from their habitats. If we want to safeguard the nature, sustainable urban planning may need to be established.

Chen Qingcheng 1155213387

How would our city look like in the future?

2024-03-29 05:12:43 UTC

Li Wang Tsun, Harold 1155159473

MOCC calls for urgent action to control global warming, and progress is being made

2024-03-29 05:45:56 UTC

Compared to the evolutionary timeline of human beings, the technology level has risen dramatically within the past centuries, and this has warmed the Earth's climate at an unprecedented rate.

We should be aware of the catastrophic effects of human activity, and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from daily life. Governments of all countries should also face up to the problem and work hard to promote various measures. Personally, it is great to see ESG investing getting popular, because this reflects people's concern to use their capital to create a greener world. With better-implemented ESG, corporate carbon emissions are significantly reduced.

1155162974

Sun Jiayang

How will our world change under different extent of global warming?

2024-03-29 07:15:50 UTC

This is the portrayal of the impact of different rising temperatures on the world under global warming. This thought-provoking object, presented through visual displays and interactive models, shed light on the far-reaching consequences of climate change and the urgency of addressing this global crisis. The exhibits appear to be bluntly showing the intensified condition of extreme weather event, ice losing poles, ecosystems order disruptions and endangered lives of so many species and communities. These are all consequences of global warming. As I continued with the use of visual discourses and active engagement, it is hard to find me not thinking about the issues that the film is approaching and pain I am feeling for them. The exhibit well succeeded in proving that every element on our planet is interconnected and that certain temperature rising cannot be stopped from causing particular ecosystems and world societies problems.

Reference

Change, P. C. (2018). Global warming of 1.5° C. World Meteorological Organization: Geneva, Switzerland.

Yeung Yiu Chung

1155175282

Human curse, animal suffer.

2024-03-29 08:10:58 UTC

Since I am an animal-lover, the story of this abandoned penguin egg raised my awareness that climate change is a problem we have to face. The egg is abandoned by his father due to the lack of food. Nevertheless, the reason for that is the decrease amount of algae and fish due to the increased sea temperature.

From the table shown in the reference, all types of penguin would be affected by the climate change and climate variability which lead to serious resource competition and habitat degradation.

It is a cliche that climate change affects human. However animals are the victims and cannot do anything to change but wait human to write their future.

Reference: https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/cobi.12349

See Chun Hei

1155193831

Be aware the gap between awareness, pledge and action

2024-03-29 09:27:42 UTC

The tour raises our awareness about climate change, informs us what people have done, and what we could do in our daily lives.

Interestingly, our concerns or awareness does not necessarily lead to environmentally friendly behavior. An example would be that even though we know reducing food waste or applying the 5R would help protect humans and the earth's health, we can see most of the people would not do it. There are factors and barriers affecting it. Be aware of the gap! I would say it’s on your determination and try your best to have more environmentally friendly action.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235363126_Mind_the_Gap_Why_Do_People_Act_Environmentally_and_What_Are_the_Barriers_to_Pro-Environmental_Behavior

1155185926 Lim Yen Thung

Urban problem in Hong Kong

2024-03-29 11:16:58 UTC

Disappearance of our icy biome!

2024-03-29 11:22:06 UTC

Why they should be the one who suffer?

2024-03-29 13:42:29 UTC

Climate change & Livelihood of seals’ future generations?

2024-03-29 13:54:44 UTC

Seals are small and cannot swim as good as other marine species, so they always lie on sea ices. However, due to climate change caused by humans’ irresponsible acts mainly, ice coverage gradually reduces. This would pose threats to the livelihood of seals’ future generations, especially when babies couldn’t easily survive with less ice (Coelho, 2021). When talking about sustainability, we care about ourselves and posterity, but what about animals and their future generations? They are innocent to suffer such harmful consequences while being unable to change such situation. Hence, I believe we should also consider them and take climate action immediately.

Reference

Coelho, S. (2021, March 18). Harp seal pups dying on beach as winter sea ice fails. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/harp-seals-dying-blanc-sablon-amid-record-low-sea-ice

- Wong Pui Yi 1155194872

Rising temperatures and the ice-free arctic region

2024-03-29 15:23:15 UTC

During the tour, the guide told us about the temperature change in earth for the past few years. As we can see, the temperature has a significant increase since the period of industrial revolution, in which got 1.1°C higher then in pre-industrial state. With the mass amount industrial development of society, it brings a forecast that Arctic ice will become ice-free in 2030. It warns us that if we don’t do any actions to protect the planet, not only animal in arctic region will suffer, while we as a human will also suffer consequence like the rise in global temperature.

(Leung Cheuk Hei 1155158462)

Protect the endangered species 1155212415 leehinlok

2024-03-29 15:39:14 UTC

2024-03-29 15:40:52 UTC

How does Tree-rings reflect climate change?

2024-03-31 16:15:41 UTC

Law Tin Sum 1155175178