4.b. The global implications of water and carbon management

Question 1

How is wetland restoration used to protect the carbon cycle

Answer 1

• wetlands important in the carbon cycle
• population growth, economic development- huge pressure on wetland environments. Problems e.g. loss of biodiversity+destruction of wetlands transfers huge amounts of stores CO2+CO4 to atmosphere
• climate change- led to re evaluation of importance of wetlands as carbon sinks
• protection schemes include Interational Convention on Wetlands and European Union Habitats Directive
• restoration at local level- raising water tables to create waterlogged conditions. Water levels maintained by diverting/blocking drainge ditches+installing sluice gates

Question 2

How is afforestation used to protect the carbon cycle

Answer 2

• planting trees in deforested areas or areas that never been forested
• trees=carbon sinks so afforestationhelp reduce atmospheric CO2 levels in medium to long term
• protecting tropical foresys curbs greenhouse gas emissions. UNs Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation Scheme incentives developing countries to conserve their rain forests by placing value on forest conservation
• combat desertification and land degration in vast semi and expanses of northern China

Question 3

How is agricultural practices used to protect the carbon cycle

Answer 3

• unsustainable agriculturalpractices e.g. overgrazing often result in soil erosion+the release to the atmosphere. Intensive livestock farming produces 100 million tonnes/year of CH4
• CH4 emissions come from flooded rice fields+from the uncontrolled decomposition of manure
• rotation of cash crops with cover crops can increase biomass to soil
• improve soil varities- increase productivity and enhance soil organic carbon

Question 4

How are emissions of greenhouse gases reduced from agriculture

Answer 4

• land and crop management- leaving crop residues on fields to harvest, avoid use of heavy farm machinery on wet soils, grow crops without ploughing soik
• livestock management- improve quality of animal feed to reduce enteric fermentation so less feed converted to CH4
• manure management- control way manure decomposes to reduce CH4 emissions. Store manure in anaerobic containers

Question 5

How are international agreements used to reduce carbon eimissions

Answer 5

• solving climate change requires international co-operation
• until recently, only significant international agreement- Kyoto Protocol (1997). Most rich countries agreed to legally binding reductions. Expired in 2012
• new International agreement reached in Paris climate Convention- implemented in 2020. Aim- reduce global CO2 emissions below 60% of 2010 levels by 2050. Countries will see their own voluntaty targets. Rich countries transfer significant funds+technology to assist poorer countries
• China argue global reductions in co2 emissions are responsbility of rich coutries because they are essential to raise living standards

Question 6

How is cap and trade used to protect the carbon cycle

Answer 6

• offers alternative international market based approach to limit CO2 emissions
• businesses allocated on annual quota for CO2 emissions
• emit less- recieve carbon credits. If they recieve these they can trade them on international markets
• carbon offsets awareded to countries and companies for schemes e.g. afforestation. They can compensate for excessibe emissions elsewhere