7.3 Flashcards
mitigation
involves reduction and stabilisation of GHG emissions and their removal from the atmosphere
mitigation strategies to reduce GHG’s:
◦ Reduction of energy consumption
◦ Reduction of emissions of oxides of nitrogen and methane from agriculture
◦ Use of alternatives to fossil fuels
◦ Geo-engineering
deep dive on the GHG reduction strategies: reduction of energy consumption (pt.1)
reduce energy waste by using it more efficiently -
eg. improving fuel economy in motor car engines, hybrid or electric vehicles, insulate and cool buildings more efficiently, education in schools, energy efficient light bulbs and appliances
reduce overall demand for energy & electricity via lifestyle changes & business practices -
eg. using less private transport, cycling or walking not driving, eat less meat, circular economy, fly less often
deep dive on the GHG reduction strategies: reduction of energy consumption (pt.2)
adopt carbon taxes and remove fossil fuel subsidy
set national limits on GHG production and a carbon credit system
personal carbon credits which can be traded and encourage people to reduce their carbon footprint
change development pathways and socio-economic choices - change priorities in gov & educate to change social attitudes. eg. London toll charge for cars driving into the city & low emission zones for trucks
improve efficiency of energy production
deep dive on the GHG reduction strategies: reduction of emissions of nitrous oxides & methane from agriculture
reduce methane production eg. methane from cows can be reduced by changing their diets.
capture more methane produced from landfill sites
sustainable agriculture
deep dive on the GHG reduction strategies: use of alternatives to fossil fuels
replace high GHG emission energy sources with low GHG emission ones. eg. hydroelectric and other renewables and nuclear power generation instead of burning fossil fuels.
mitigation strategies to remove CO2 from the atmosphere
◦ protecting and enhancing carbon sinks through land management eg. UN reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries programme (UN REDD)
◦ using biomass as fuel source
◦ using carbon capture and storage
◦ enhancing carbon dioxide absorption by the oceans through either fertilisation of oceans with N/P/Fe to encourage the biological pump, or increasing upwellings to release nutrients to the surface.
deep dive on CO2 reduction strategies: increase amt of photosynthesis
so increasing the rate at which atmospheric C02 is converted into a biomass carbon sink by reforesting and decreasing deforestation rates, restoring grasslands
UN-REDD programme in LEDC’s - aims member states to pool resources in reducing GHG emissions from deforestation and degradation
deep dive on CO2 reduction strategies: carbon capture and storage
removal of CO2 is more easily done before it is released to the atmosphere -> this means capturing it in emissions from power stations, oil refineries and other industries which emit large amounts of C02
^ evaluation point: this will increase cost of energy and products. to store it, suitable rocks have to be found and then captured CO2 is transported there, pumped into the rocks under pressure and stays there.
alternative storage - in mineral carbonates by reacting CO2 w/ metal oxides using high temperatures. limestone is a calcium carbonate but huge amt of energy required to make it. a few pilot plants have carried out CCS but no large-scale CCS power stations
deep dive on CO2 reduction strategies: use more biomass as a source of fuel
if the same crop is planted in the following year, an equal amt of CO2 to that released by burning the fuel is then captured by photosynthesis when biomass is replanted ready for the new year’s harvest. this should then be a carbon neutral fuel.
a) directly - burning it to generate heat or electricity
b) indirectly to produce biofuels.
eg. biogas from animal waste in indian villages / in fermenters
eg. biodiesal & ethanol from waste organic matter / waste vegetable oils or from planting crops such as sugar cane.
geo-engineering - mitigation strategy
large - scale intervention projects
so far are hypothetical / computer models -> have not been tried, ethical questions around them
egs.
- scatter iron, nitrates or phosphates on oceans to increase algae blooms which take up more carbon and act as a carbon sink.
- release sulphur dioxide from airplanes to increase global dimming
- send mirrors into space between the earth and the sun to deflect solar radiation
- build with light-coloured roofs to increase albedo and reflect more sunlight
adaptation
aims to reduce adverse effects and maximise any positive effects
egs. of adaptations include
flood defences, vaccination programmes, desalinisation plants and planting of crops in previously unsuitable climates
adaptation initiatives aim to?
reduce vulnerability of natural and human systems against actual or expected climate change.
adaptive capacity
the ability or potential of a system to respond successfully to climate variability and change, and includes adjustments in both behavior and in resources and technologies
adaptation strategies (pt. 1) -
- change land use through planned legislation
- do not allow building on flood plains eg. localised flooding in the UK 2014 - build to resist flooding
- plan water catchment and run-off to minimise flooding
- build homes on stilts / w garages that can be flooded underneath - change agricultural production
a) irrigate more effectively in drought areas
b) store rainwater for times of water shortage
c) breed drought tolerant crops
d) grow diff crops
adaptation strategies (pt. 2) -
- manage the weather
a) seed clouds to encourage rainfall
b) plant trees to encourage more rainfall - mitigate to other areas
- vaccinate against waterborne diseases eg. thypoid
- manage water supplies
a. desalination plants
b. increase reservoirs
c. harvest run-off more effectively
d. use water harvesting from clouds in higher areas
