4.C - Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate change

Question 1

what is mitigation?

Answer 1

• involves taking action to reduce how much climate change occurs.
• it means reducing the output of greenhouse emissions and increasing the size of greenhouse gas sinks.

Question 2

what is adaptation?

Answer 2

• involves taking action to reduce the impacts that climate changes are having.
• means changing our lifestyles to cope with the new environment rather than trying to stop climate change

Question 3

what are some examples of mitigation strategies?

Answer 3

• setting targets to reduce carbon emissions
• CCS
• switching to renewable energy sources e.g. wind
• carbon tax
• increase the amount of waste recycled
• energy conservation - switching off home appliances when not being used
• changing the energy source mix
• tree planting to create more carbon sinks
• carbon offsetting (individuals and companies)
• emission cutting technologies

Question 4

what are some examples of adaptation strategies?

Answer 4

• managed retreat of vulnerable coastlines
• better flood warning systems
• educating local communities on impacts
• lifestyle adaptations e.g. planting new crops that will thrive in new conditions
• developing drought resistant crops
• enlarging existing conservation areas to allow for shifting habitat zones
• using freshwater resources more efficiently to cope with drought conditions
• improved risk assessment (looking at likelihood that people/property would need to be evacuated)
• Victoria Line London Underground is fitted with a water cooling system using groundwater

Question 5

what is BEDZED?

Answer 5

• comprises 82 homes, office space and live-work units
• UK’s largest eco-village built in 2002.
• energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation are successfully integrated w other strategies e.g. local organic food deliveries

Question 6

how is energy saved in BEDZED?

Answer 6

• thick walls
• vents on roofs to catch wind and ventilate in summer
• energy in our homes accounts for 27% of carbon emissions. this scheme is trying to get it to zero
• collects rainwater to be used for flushing toilets (grey water)

Question 7

what is the point of schemes like BEDZED?

Answer 7

• major energy savings and lowers bills
• designed to achieve big decrease in climate changing GHG emissions and water use
• make it easier for people living there to live a lower impact lifestyle
• local materials/reclaimed products/solar panels

Question 8

how success are schemes like BEDZED?

Answer 8

• successful and can be implemented in new builds
• BUT impractical to implement in all other houses across the UK
• won’t have much of an impact w/ the scale its currently at

Question 9

what has meant Iceland is able to cut dependency on carbon based energy?

Answer 9

• geothermal energy
• gets 99% of its energy from renewable resources

Question 10

what country effectively uses nuclear power?

Answer 10

• france
• not a true renewable as it will run out, but extremely low carbon footprint
• it provides energy for 75% of the population

Question 11

what country effectively uses wind energy?

Answer 11

• England
• London Array (271 turbines) providing power for 750,000 people

Question 12

what country effectively uses solar energy?

Answer 12

• Spain
• Andosol is made up of 2 km2 of solar cells
• it creates enough energy to produce electricity for 50,000 homes

Question 13

how is the UK doing with its energy mix?

Answer 13

• for the first time since the Industrial Revolution, Britain is obtaining more power from zero-carbon sources than fossil fuels
• National Grid says clean energy has nudged ahead 48% of generation, against 47% for coal and gas
• the rest is biomass burning. the transformation reflects the decline of coal energy and the boom from wind and solar.

Question 14

what are the advantages of nuclear power?

Answer 14

• well constructed nuclear power plants are very clean
• radioactivity is found in most rock types, including coal. because of the vast amounts of coal used globally, coal fired power plants can actually release more radioactivity than nuclear stations
• nuclear fuel produces far lower GHG emissions than fossil fuels
• nuclear fuel produces vastly more energy than equivalent amounts of fossil fuels

Question 15

what are the disadvantages of nuclear power?

Answer 15

• mining uranium is dirty, with added danger from radioactivity
• nuclear waste is radioactive for many thousands of years
• there is no known safe way to store or dispose of nuclear waste
• transporting nuclear fuel can be risky, particularly in times of terrorism
• almost all nuclear accidents can be traced to human error. no technology is ever mistake free

Question 16

could nuclear power be the answer - what are the drawbacks?

Answer 16

• consistent and controllable source of energy
• lowest carbon footprint of all non-renewables
• not a true renewable as uranium is a finite source
• really expensive. UK has to borrow Chinese and EDF funds
• 60 yr lifespan
• nuclear accidents possible
• nuclear waste is radioactive for many 1000s of years
• produces more energy than equip amounts of fossil fuels

Question 17

drawbacks to afforestation

Answer 17

• conflicts over land use. not possible to reforest everywhere.
• trees are a ST store of carbon. not a fair swap when burning a LT source (fossil fuels)

Question 18

what is geo engineering (mitigation strategy)?

Answer 18

• geo engineering is the deliberate large-scale intervention in the earth’s natural systems to counteract climate change.
• e.g. space mirrors, reflective crops

Question 19

what is solar geoengineering?

Answer 19

• aims to reflect a small proportion of the Sun’s energy back into space
• counteracting the temp rise caused by increased levels of GHGs in the atmosphere

Question 20

what is carbon geoengineering?

Answer 20

• aims to remove carbon dioxide/GHGs from the atmosphere
• directly countering the increased greenhouse effect and ocean acidification

Question 21

what are some examples of solar geoengineering?

Answer 21

• space mirrors
• reflective crops
• aerosols
• cloud seeding

Question 22

what are some examples of carbon geoengineering?

Answer 22

• artificial trees
• biochar
• ocean fertilisation
• carbonate addition
• foresting

Question 23

how can seaweed be used to capture carbon?

Answer 23

• a huge seaweed farm the size of Croatia has been proposed to suck a billion tonnes of carbon out of the atmosphere every year and sink it to the ocean floor every year
• plans to have it up and running by 2026
• needs to be bold, big and attractive to investors

Question 24

how can enhanced rock weathering be used to capture carbon?

Answer 24

• takes the naturally occurring but very gradual weathering process
• and turbo-charges it to remove the carbon faster
• when basalt weathers in the rain it removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
• free of charge - important to a farmer

Question 25

how does CCS work - evaluation?

Answer 25

• inject at least 1 km down. geological storage sites
• widespread use still at least 10 years away and that may be too late
• sandstone (porous) stored 1 mill tonnes in 2010 in Utah. can store up to 50 years worth of Utah’s CO2.
• VERY expensive. £350 mill for a new gas power station, one with CCS would double the cost.

Question 26

how does ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION reduce carbon emissions? (mitigation strategies)

Answer 26

• in the UK, domestic demand accounts for nearly 1/3 of primary energy consumption
• already building regulations ensure that new homes/offices conform to minimum standards of heat insulation and limits to the ratio of window/door space to floor area.
• govts, local authorities and energy companies provide financial incentives to eligible households to insulate lofts/cavity walls
• BEDZED - good in new builds but not at a large enough scale to make a difference at the scale of emissions

Question 27

how does FUEL SHIFTS reduce carbon emissions? (mitigation strategies)

Answer 27

1. been a steady decline in overall energy consumption since 2005. Fell by 6.6% in 2014 despite economic growth of nearly 3%.
2. marked decrease in use of coal and oil
3. contribution of renewables has expanded
   - fuel shifts can be explained by advances in energy conservation and energy efficiency and govt policies to decarbonise the UK economy
   - expanding renewables esp. wind power in offshore locations, closing several large coal fired power stations, solar energy promoted by green subsidies.
   - nuclear very efficient but very expensive and potentially dangerous

Question 28

how does CCS reduce carbon emissions? (mitigation strategies)

Answer 28

• new technology that extracts CO2 emitted by coal burning power stations and transfers it to LT storage underground
• has the potential to cut drastically anthropogenic emissions of CO2
• however even when the technology has been perfected the use of CCS may be limited by costs and by a shortage of suitable storage sites, such as old oil and gas fields.
• not capturing a significant amount at the moment

Question 29

how does GEOENGINEERING reduce carbon emissions? (mitigation strategies)

Answer 29

• geoengineering strategies are either costly and efficient

Question 30

how are FUEL SHIFTS and LOW CARBON SOURCES good mitigation strategies?

Answer 30

• for the first time since the Industrial Revolution, Britain is using more power from zero-carbon sources than fossil fuels. 48% vs 47% - rest is biomass burning
• RENEWABLE ICELAND - HEP provides 83% of Iceland’s electricity. Geothermal energy provides 17%. BUT its energy needs aren’t huge as it has a population of 284,000.
• nuclear energy - 14% of electricity generated globally. consistent and controllable source. lowest footprint of all non-renewables. provides more energy than equivalent amounts of fossil fuels.
• not a true renewable as uranium is a finite resource. REALLY expensive. the UK has to borrow Chinese and EDF finds. 60yr lifespan.

Question 31

how is CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE a good mitigation strategy?

Answer 31

• technology that extracts CO2 emitted by coal burning power stations and transfers it to LT storage. Limited by cost and shortage of suitable storage sites. Not capturing a significant amount at the moment.
• carbon capture using seaweed. can remove a gigatonne of CO2/yr
• what to do with the captured carbon next? has to be injected at least 1km down
• widespread use is still 10 years away and that may be too late.
• porous sandstone stored 1mill tonnes in 2010 in Utah. Can store up to 50yrs of Utah’s CO2.

Question 32

CCS in Utah

Answer 32

• porous sandstone stored 1mill tonnes in 2010 in Utah.
• Can store up to 50yrs of Utah’s CO2.

Question 33

how is FORESTRY a good mitigation strategy?

Answer 33

• deforestation accounts for 25% of global CO2 emissions. In the Amazon deforestation continues at the unsustainable rate of around 2 mill ha/yr
• plantations, agroforestry, deforestation prevention
• conflicts over land use mean its not possible to reforest everywhere
• trees are a ST store of carbon. not a fair swap when burning fossil fuels (a LT source)

Question 34

how is GEOENGINEERING a good mitigation strategy?

Answer 34

SOLAR GEOENGINEERING - aims to reflect a small proportion of the sun’s energy into space, counteracting the temperature increase caused by higher levels of GHGs in the atmosphere. e.g space mirrors, reflective crops, cloud seeding/aerosols.

CARBON GEOENGINEERING - aims to remove CO2 or other GHGs from the atmosphere, directly countering the enhanced greenhouse effect and ocean acidification. **e.g. CCS, ocean fertilisation, artificial trees.

Question 35

what are the three frameworks for adaptation?

Answer 35

RETREAT, ACCOMMODATE, PROTECT

Question 36

how are RETREAT adaptation strategies used?

Answer 36

involves MOVING PEOPLE/PROPERTY AWAY of potential impacts of climate change.

• in many areas prone to river flooding, land use zoning takes place where lower flood terraces are not built on but may be used for low risk land.
• in Exeter, the river Exe has park and football pitches along its banks.
• problematic as decreases the availability of land for new housing.
• managed realignment takes place at a coastline. Porlock Bay = farmland allowed to flood to create a salt marsh, grazing land moved inland by 500m or so.

Question 37

how are ACCOMMODATE adaptation strategies used?

Answer 37

involves CHANGING PRACTICES TO DEAL W/ CLIMATIC IMPACTS

• In Bangladesh, as the soil becomes increasingly saline, it’s getting harder to cultivate rice.
• new strains of rice crop which are tolerant to salt (halophytic) are being developed/farming practices are changing. shrimp farming becoming more popular.
• in response to increased drought in SE England, Thames Water are proposing the construction of a new reservoir near Abingdon and are spending money to repair broken pipes.

Question 38

how are PROTECT adaptation strategies used?

Answer 38

• as malaria spreads globally, more is being done to protect people contracting the disease. this could be through charitable organisations providing prophylactic medicines/mosquito nets.
• in Minehead, £13 million has been spent o upgrading new coastal defences which will protect against wave action as well as coastal flooding.
• in Bangladesh the govt are raising the height of embankments to protect villages from coastal/fluvial flooding

Question 39

what will future offices look like?

Answer 39

• air con and fans
• increasing albedo with reflective roofing and white walls
• improved ventilation
• decreased high levels of glazing which trap heat
• relocating from basements/ground floors. use these for car parks instead in case of flooding
• green roofs to increase interception
• rainwater harvesting and grey water systems.

Question 40

what will future cities look like?

Answer 40

• urban heat island effect will increase
• green infrastructure and greening cities
• increased reflection and increased albedo
• future policies protect existing green space
• increase reliance on renewables rather than combustion
• changes in land use - replacing impermeable roads and walkways w/ permeable paving
• develop storage systems to capture run off and recycle water

Question 41

what will future transport look like?

Answer 41

• winter of 2014 in UK = rail network vulnerable. storm waves destroyed part of sea wall in Devon, severing the only rail link.
• strengthening of sea walls is needed
• low lying areas need protection
• road network vulnerable to high summer temps and cold spells = freeze thaw
• can be battled by changes in grade of asphalt
• heavy rainfall and higher river flows could damage bridges. solution is to improve maintenance and protect w/ either rip rap or concreting around foundations

Question 42

what will future economies look like?

Answer 42

• most ACs will probably accommodate the worst effects with the developing world harder hit.
• for all countries adapting will be expensive. spending in this area limits investment elsewhere and weakens economic growth
• many LIDCs depend heavily on climate sensitive activities such as agriculture and tourism. unable to adapt to drought and shifting rainfall patterns.
• 10s of millions of African farmers will become climate refugees
• the outcome for many economies will be rising prices, inflation, unemployment, food insecurity and decreased exports.