6.9c re-balancing the carbon cycle could be achieved through mitigation

Question 1

how does carbon taxation work

Answer 1

carbon taxation works by the government placing a tax or fee on the use of fossil fuels

this strategy doesn’t ensure a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions but encourages industries + individuals to adopt more environmentally-friendly approaches

Question 2

how does renewable switching work

Answer 2

renewable energy doesn’t produce CO2 as a byproduct

so moving to the use of this will reduce CO2 emissions to sustain climate change

Question 3

how does energy efficiency work

Answer 3

global emissions must fall by at least 50% relative to 1990 levels by 1050 to limit the risks associated with severe climate change

energy efficiency can help meet this target and adapt to climate change
strategies include: fuel switching from coal to gas

Question 4

how does afforestation work

Answer 4

planting more trees will allow for more sequestering of carbon dioxide

REDD stands for ‘reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation’ and it involves paying forest owners not to cut down forests

Question 5

carbon capture and storage

Answer 5

technology that can capture up to 90% of the carbon dioxide emissions produced from the use of fossil fuels

BUT
in Mississippi, an oil company injecting carbon dioxide underground experienced several well blowouts –> released large amounts of emissions back into the atmosphere

AND its expensive :(
costs at least 40% more than solar, 125% more than wind and 260% more than geothermal energy for every kilogram of CO emissions avoided

PROJECTS BEING CANCELLED :(
Norway cancelled the Mongstad project in 2013

Question 6

risks and costs of carbon taxation

Answer 6

• doesn’t guarantee a reduction in emissions
• some taxes that support the tax have been scrapped e.g. lower road taxes for low-carbon-emitting-cars were scrapped in 2015
• unpopular with consumers and producers because prices increase
• in emerging countries, increasing charges for producing carbon emissions may discourage economic growth

Question 7

what are the risks and costs of renewable switching

Answer 7

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Question 8

what are the costs and risks of energy efficiency

Answer 8

cost money to be put into place

require changing consumer behaviour

Question 9

examples of energy efficiency

Answer 9

GERMANY
- residential and commercial buildings have to reduce energy consumption by 25%

• subsidies to improve efficiencies in manufacturing

USA
- improved the efficiency of the average car by 57% between 1970 and 2008

Question 10

the costs and risks of afforestation

Answer 10

planting trees takes up space so there’s less roomful farming and infrastructure

Question 11

the costs and risks of afforestation

Answer 11

planting trees takes up space so there’s less roomful farming and infrastructure

difficult for countries as they rely heavily on farming

hard to get global scale agreement because it costs a lot of land and money

worlds leaders’ beliefs about climate change, degradation of the environment etc.
Donald Trump withdrew the USA’s participation from the Paris Climate Change Agreement in 2017

Question 12

examples of afforestation being used

Answer 12

tree planting in the UK is increasing

involves the Forestry Commission, charities such as the National Trust and Woodland Trust, landowners and local authorities

The Big Tree Plant campaign encourages communities to plant 1 million new trees, mostly in urban areas