Debate organized by the Bankwatch Romania network in an informative session about the COP21
The global average temperature has increased over the past 100 years by 0.85 degrees Celsius and the planetary ocean by 20 centimeters, which seems to be a little, but it is not, Roxana Bojariu, a specialist with the National Meteorology Administration (ANM) and expert in the Intergovernmental Climate Change Panel, told Thursday's debate organized by the Bankwatch Romania network, about the Conference on Climate Change to be held in December in Paris
"We have reached the conclusion that in order to be useful as specialists we must somehow come out of the guild and explain things so as the society may understand them. The enhanced greenhouse effect is the cause of the current climate change. Without these gases in terrestrial atmosphere, the planet's temperature would have been 33 degrees higher. The problem is what happens when the concentration of these gases increases, which causes the greenhouse effect. The increase in global temperature is the easiest to exemplify (...) In the last 100 years, the average global temperature increased by 0.85 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial level. Also, the planetary has risen by 20 centimeters in the past 100 years, which seems to be a little, but it is not. Things will accelerate in the future, unfortunately. In 95pct of cases, human actions have led to the global warming phenomenon. The remainder to 100pct may be natural causes, such as ocean acidity. As to the climate change in Romania, we can say that our country is part of the overall picture," said Bojariu.
She also said that in the period immediately ahead, Romania will face intensified precipitation that will lead to heightened risks of rapid flooding particularly in alpine areas, with tree felling being one of the main reason behind that.
"Intensity of precipitation is on the rise all throughout Romania, but particularly so in the alpine areas, in the east and the Black Sea coast. That gives a heightened risk of rapid flooding especially there. The average number of days with precipitation in excess of 20 litres/square metre in Romania is on the rise, particularly in alpine areas. The risk is all the higher as forests are felled in mountainous areas. Snow layers tend to decrease. Unfortunately, the problems in the urban areas are amplified because that adds them some specific issues. The city development models no longer fit our models. Urban flooding becomes more severe," Bojariu told a debate held by Bankwatch Romania on the Climate Change Conference to be hosted by Paris this December.
On the other hand, she said the number of tropical nights is expected to increase in the southern, south-eastern and western parts of Romania.
The Bankwatch Romania Association, Greenpeace Romania, 2Celsius and the French Cultural Institute held on Thursday an informative session on the Conference on Climate Change to be held in December in Paris.
France was officially named the host country of the 21st Conference of the parties at the UN's Framework Convention on Climate Change (Paris Climate 2015), which will take place from November 30 to December 11. COP21, which is also called 'Paris 2015,' will be one of the most important international conferences in France.