7.3 climate change - mitigation and adaptation Flashcards
mitigation
- human intervention to reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of GHGs
ways to reduce GHG emissions
- lower energy use, better efficiency, conservation
- replace fossil fuels with renewable energy, nuclear power
- decrease emissions from agricultural activity
- geo engineering
fossil fuel transport subsititutes
- biodiesel, oil
- bioethanol, fermented crops
cons
- land to grow biofuel instead of crops reduces food supply increasing food costs
- production of biofuel, pollution from fertilizers and pesticides, competition for limited water
- clearance of natural vegetation for biofuel
reduce emissions from agriculture
- less fertilizer
- only use fertilizer when maximum uptake, low risk of runoff
- nitrification inhibitors to fertilizers
- reduce methane, selective breeding, changing feedstock
- bacteria in water produces methane, cultivating rice that can be grown in drier conditions with higher yields
geo-engineering
- manipulating earth’s environmental systems to counteract the impacts of climate change
- does not address the causes
- carbon dioxide removal from atmosphere
- solar radiation management
- cloud seeding
- desalinization
carbon dioxide removal (CDR)
land use management
land use management
- afforestation of land
- restoration of degraded land
- reduced deforestation
- farming practices that encourage retention of carbon within the soil, no tillage
carbon dioxide removal (CDR)
UN-REDD
UN-REDD
- reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation
- economic value of forest as carbon sinks
- local people potential effectively manage forest
- supports developing countries, reduce GHG emissions from forests, invest in low carbon energy sources
carbon dioxide removal (CDR)
use of biomass
- plant organisms die, biomass degrades releasing carbon dioxide
- instead harvest and use biomass to generate fuel or bury
carbon dioxide removal (CDR)
carbon capture and storage (CCS)
- removal of carbon dioxide from atmosphere
- air filtered through adsorbent material
- formed into carbonates or compression and transport to storage, underground sites
- expensive
carbon dioxide removal (CDR)
absorption by the oceans
- absorbed by photosynthetic phytoplankton in the oceans
enhanced by - fertilizing oceans to encourage photosynthesis
- increasing upwellings, cold nutrient rich from lower layers to the surface
solar radiation management (SRM)
- increasing reflection of sunlight back into space
- painting roofs with white reflective paint
- plants with high reflectivity/albedo
- covering areas with reflective material
- increasing particles that attract water molecules within a cloud, increasing reflectivity
- solar deflectors in space
adaptation
- adjustment to actual/expected climate and it’s effects
mitigation vs adaptation
- mitigation addresses the causes of climate change by reducing emissions
- adaptation deals with the impacts
- mitigation can be global scale, adaptation local
- can measure success of mitigation
adaptation strategies
water resources
- risk of water shortages, intense rainfall, flooding
adapt water shortage
- reducing water demand, conservation strategies
- improving water supplies, desalination plants
adapt flooding
- ban building on flood plains
- flood barriers, drainage improvement, sustainable urban drainage
- modifying infrastructure to withstand floods, stilts, drainage systems
adaptation strategies
agriculture and fisheries
adapt changing conditions
crops that
- grow at higher temperatures
- need less water
- salt, pest, flood resistant
- high yields
- alternating planting and harvesting times to match conditions
- using water conservation techniques
- increasing retention of soil moisture, winter crops, terracing
- reducing fishing intensity
- reduced fish catches
adaptation strategies
ecosystems
- adjusting biome shifts, expanding conservation areas
- connecting protected areas with corridors
- greater protection of vulnerable areas
- forest fire management techniques
adaptation strategies
coastal systems and low lying areas
- ban on new development
- reinforcing seawalls and coastal defences
- contingency plans in the event of a flood, alternative water, food and shelter
- moving dangerous facilities away from low lying areas, nuclear power, hazardous materials
- managed retreat, compensation and relocation of local residents
adaptation strategies
health
- prepared for climate related events, injuries and diseases
- vaccination programs
- public health education, heat wave, floods, avoid disease, if sick what to do
barriers to mitigation and adaptation
- public opinion
- impact of economic growth due to taking action
- dependence on income from export of fossil fuels
- politicians wanting another term, short term benefits vs long term
- limited regulation, accountability
- corruption
- insufficient funding, technology, knowledge
overcoming barriers to mitigation and adaptation
- education and public awareness campaigns
- effective communication
- commitment to change
- achievable goals within a set timescale
- financial support
- access to appropriate technology
IPCC
- intergovernmental panel on climate change
- aim to provide scientific view of current knowledge and understanding of climate change and its impacts
- involves scientists and governments across the world
- influence national policies
UNFCC
- united nations framework convention on climate change, 1994
- during rio earth summit,1992
- stabilizing GHG levels, met in kyoto in 1997
- kyoto protocol, 2005, targets to control GHG emissions
- individual targets for each country
pros and cons of the kyoto protocol
pros
- set targets to reduce GHGs
- countries can reduce GHG emissions in other countries, cheaper
-emission trading, buy and sell credits for GHG emissions
- provides data sharing
- supports financially vulnerable countries
cons
- requires consensus, countries can block proposals
- some developing countries are exempt, unfair?
- not all countries have ratified, do not need to cut emissions
- viewpoint reduces rate of industrial development and economic growth
- goals for 2012 not met
- not stringent enough to significantly reduce risk of climate change
NAPA
- national adaptation programs of action
- UNFCCC requirement for LEDCs, financially assisted
- highlights what areas are most vulnerable, adaptation most required
