7.3 Climate Change - Mitigation and Adaptation Flashcards
Mitigation Strategies
Actions aimed at reducing or preventing the emission of greenhouse gases to slow down global warming.
Examples include switching to renewable energy and improving energy efficiency.
Adaptation Strategies
Adjustments in natural or human systems to minimize the harm caused by climate change impacts.
Examples include building sea walls and developing drought-resistant crops.
Geoengineering
Large-scale interventions in the Earth’s climate system designed to combat or counteract climate change.
Carbon Capture and Storage
A technology that captures CO2 emissions from industrial sources and stores them underground to prevent them from entering the atmosphere.
Afforestation
The process of planting trees in areas where there were no previous forests to sequester carbon dioxide and restore ecosystems.
Carbon Sequestration
The process of capturing and storing atmospheric CO2, typically through natural processes like photosynthesis or technologies like CCS.
Carbon offsets
Financial contributions to projects that reduce or remove CO2 to compensate for one’s own carbon emissions.
Carbon credits
Tradable certificates or permits that represent the right to emit one metric ton of CO2 or an equivalent amount of other greenhouse gases.
Carbon trading
A market-based system where companies buy and sell carbon credits to meet regulatory limits on emissions.
Iron fertilization of the ocean
A geoengineering technique that involves adding iron to ocean waters to stimulate phytoplankton growth, which absorbs CO2.
Biochar
A form of charcoal produced from organic materials that is buried in soil to improve soil health and sequester carbon.
Solar Radiation Management (SRM)
Geoengineering techniques that aim to reflect a portion of the sun’s radiation back into space to cool the Earth.
Treaty
A formal, legally binding agreement between countries, often ratified by governments, that establishes obligations under international law.
Climate treaties are typically anthropocentric (reducing carbon emissions to prevent human suffering and economic losses)
UNEP
United Nations Environment Program
Founded in 1972.
Coordinates environmental activities and assists developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices.
IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (sponsored by UNEP)
Established in 1988.
Provides scientific assessments on climate change to guide policy decisions and international climate negotiations.
IPCC Reports
Comprehensive assessments of climate science, impacts, and mitigation strategies, released periodically (6-7 years) to inform global policy and action on climate change.
UNFCCC
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Founded in 1992 (at Rio Earth Summit).
An international environmental treaty aimed at stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations to prevent dangerous climate change.
Underpins the Paris Agreement (provides the legislative framework for implementation)
Rio Earth Summit
A landmark global conference in Rio de Janeiro (1992) that led to major international environmental agreements, including the UNFCCC.
Kyoto Protocol
Established in 1997. Entered into force in 2005. Superseded by Paris Agreement in 2015
An international treaty extending the UNFCCC, which committed developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Criticisms of the Kyoto Protocol
Exclusion of developing nations from binding targets,
Limited impact on global emissions,
Failure of some signatory nations to meet their targets.
Paris Agreement
Adopted in 2015
Ratified by 55 countries in 2016 (to come into force).
A global accord under the UNFCCC, aiming to limit global warming to well below 2°C, with commitments from nearly all countries.
Criticisms of the Paris Agreement
Non-binding national targets,
Reliance on voluntary commitments,
Inadequate funding for developing countries to meet climate goals.
Why is the Paris Agreement superior to the Kyoto Protocol?
Universality (applies to all countries),
more flexible and inclusive, with an emphasis on regular reviews and increased ambition over time.
Australia’s self-determined target under the Paris Agreement
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by 2030
To achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
COP Forum
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the UNFCCC, where member countries convene annually to review progress and negotiate climate actions.
Distinguish between signing and ratifying a climate agreement.
Signing: A country expresses initial support for an agreement.
Ratifying: A country formally consents to be legally bound by the agreement after domestic approval.
America’s involvement with the Paris Agreement
The U.S. signed the Paris Agreement in 2016, withdrew in 2020 under Trump (economic concerns), and rejoined in 2021 under Biden.
Four categories of adaptation to rising sea level
Avoidance (don’t build in flood prone areas)
Accommodation (houses on stilts)
Protection (barriers and coastal defences)
Retreat (move in land)
Agricultural adaptations to climate change
Better irrigation (and water management)
GMO crops (drought tolerant varieties)
Ecocentric adaptation strategies
Ecosystem restoration and conservation
Anthropocentric adaptation strategies
Infrastructure upgrades
Water management
Technocentric adaptation strategies
GMO (genetically modified) crops
Climate resistant building materials
Ecocentric mitigation strategies
Afforestation - sequestration
Anthropocentric mitigation strategies
Carbon pricing
Legislation/codes/treaties
Technocentric mitigation strategies
