7.3 Climate Change - Mitigation and Adaptation

Question 1

Mitigation Strategies

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

Adaptation Strategies

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

Geoengineering

Answer 3

Large-scale interventions in the Earth’s climate system designed to combat or counteract climate change.

Question 4

Carbon Capture and Storage

Answer 4

A technology that captures CO2 emissions from industrial sources and stores them underground to prevent them from entering the atmosphere.

Question 5

Afforestation

Answer 5

The process of planting trees in areas where there were no previous forests to sequester carbon dioxide and restore ecosystems.

Question 6

Carbon Sequestration

Answer 6

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric CO2, typically through natural processes like photosynthesis or technologies like CCS.

Question 7

Carbon offsets

Answer 7

Financial contributions to projects that reduce or remove CO2 to compensate for one’s own carbon emissions.

Question 8

Carbon credits

Answer 8

Tradable certificates or permits that represent the right to emit one metric ton of CO2 or an equivalent amount of other greenhouse gases.

Question 9

Carbon trading

Answer 9

A market-based system where companies buy and sell carbon credits to meet regulatory limits on emissions.

Question 10

Iron fertilization of the ocean

Answer 10

A geoengineering technique that involves adding iron to ocean waters to stimulate phytoplankton growth, which absorbs CO2.

Question 11

Biochar

Answer 11

A form of charcoal produced from organic materials that is buried in soil to improve soil health and sequester carbon.

Question 12

Solar Radiation Management (SRM)

Answer 12

Geoengineering techniques that aim to reflect a portion of the sun’s radiation back into space to cool the Earth.

Question 13

Treaty

Answer 13

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)

Question 14

UNEP

Answer 14

United Nations Environment Program

Founded in 1972.

Coordinates environmental activities and assists developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices.

Question 15

IPCC

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

IPCC Reports

Answer 16

Comprehensive assessments of climate science, impacts, and mitigation strategies, released periodically (6-7 years) to inform global policy and action on climate change.

Question 17

UNFCCC

Answer 17

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)

Question 18

Rio Earth Summit

Answer 18

A landmark global conference in Rio de Janeiro (1992) that led to major international environmental agreements, including the UNFCCC.

Question 19

Kyoto Protocol

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

Criticisms of the Kyoto Protocol

Answer 20

Exclusion of developing nations from binding targets,

Limited impact on global emissions,

Failure of some signatory nations to meet their targets.

Question 21

Paris Agreement

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Criticisms of the Paris Agreement

Answer 22

Non-binding national targets,

Reliance on voluntary commitments,

Inadequate funding for developing countries to meet climate goals.

Question 23

Why is the Paris Agreement superior to the Kyoto Protocol?

Answer 23

Universality (applies to all countries),
more flexible and inclusive, with an emphasis on regular reviews and increased ambition over time.

Question 24

Australia’s self-determined target under the Paris Agreement

Answer 24

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by 2030

To achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Question 25

COP Forum

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

Distinguish between signing and ratifying a climate agreement.

Answer 26

Signing: A country expresses initial support for an agreement.

Ratifying: A country formally consents to be legally bound by the agreement after domestic approval.

Question 27

America’s involvement with the Paris Agreement

Answer 27

The U.S. signed the Paris Agreement in 2016, withdrew in 2020 under Trump (economic concerns), and rejoined in 2021 under Biden.

Question 28

Four categories of adaptation to rising sea level

Answer 28

Avoidance (don’t build in flood prone areas)
Accommodation (houses on stilts)
Protection (barriers and coastal defences)
Retreat (move in land)

Question 29

Agricultural adaptations to climate change

Answer 29

Better irrigation (and water management)

GMO crops (drought tolerant varieties)

Question 30

Ecocentric adaptation strategies

Answer 30

Ecosystem restoration and conservation

Question 31

Anthropocentric adaptation strategies

Answer 31

Infrastructure upgrades
Water management

Question 32

Technocentric adaptation strategies

Answer 32

GMO (genetically modified) crops
Climate resistant building materials

Question 33

Ecocentric mitigation strategies

Answer 33

Afforestation - sequestration

Question 34

Anthropocentric mitigation strategies

Answer 34

Carbon pricing
Legislation/codes/treaties

Question 35

Technocentric mitigation strategies