7.3 Climate Change - mitigation and adaptation Flashcards
what does mitigation refer to?
the reduction and/or stabilisation of greenhouse gas emissions and their removal from the atmosphere.
what does adaptation refer to?
efforts to live with the consequences of climate change.
mitigation strategy 1: reduction of energy consumption
reduce carbon emissions
- decarbonisation: a large reduction of carbon dioxide per value of gross world product
-> energy efficiency: save by cooling, heating less and less ventelation of buildings
-> reduce carbon dioxide emissions per mega watt hour of electricity generated: more use of renewable energy sources (solar, wind) + carbon capture and sequestration
mitigation strategy 2: reduction of agricultural nitrogen oxides and methane
nitrogen oxides: fertiliser
-> less chemical fertiliser
methane: livestock
-> less intensive livestock farming
mitigation strategy 3: alterantive for fossil fuels
CASE STUDY: Bavarian Town Wielenbach
generates 8 GWH of energy that they need only through solar and biogas power facilities
mitigation strategy 4: geoengineering
mainpulating Earth’s natural systems to counteract impacts of climate change
- place giant mirrors into space to deflect incoming solar radiation
- sulfate aerosol particles in air > dim incoming solar radiation + cool planet > offset warming effects of carbon dioxide
mitigation strategy 5: carbon dixoide removal (CDR) technique - protecting / enhancing carbon sinks
REDD: Reducing Emissions from Deforistation and Forest Degradation
2007: estimated that loss of forests through deforistation, forest degradation and land use changes contributed to about 17% of global ghg
- REDD launched 2008 by UN (involves FAO, UNDP, UNEP)
- assign financial value to forests -> reward locals for conservation
CASE STUDY: indigenious population in Costa Rica
- get paid for sustaining forests
- locals involvement is crucial + right and control to own forests
- respected by gov. and international bodies
adaptation strategy 1: flood defenses
cities need to be protected against rising sea levels
CASE STUDY: The Thames Barrier, London
- became operational 1982
- primary purpose: to protect London from tidal flooding cause by North Sea surges (expected to become more frequent and intense due to climate change)
- 10 steel gates > can be raised to block surging waters + prevent them from flowing further upstream
adaptation strategy 2: managed retreat
- human settlements + infrastructure moved away from areas at high risk of flooding / sea level rise
- allows natural process (eg. coastal erosion or flooding) to happen with minimal interference
- allows natural habitats + salt marshes to form > boosts biodiversity
CASE STUDY: Cartaret Islands, off coast of Papa New Guinea
- submerged in 2020
- residents relocated to Bougainville, larger island about 86km away
- done by NGO Tulele Peisa
adaptive capacity definition
the ability of a system, population or enviornment to adjust to changes, stress or disturbances while maintaing essential functions
why arent mitigation strategies 100% effective?
even if they drastically reduce ghg emissions, past emissions will continue to have an effect for some time
what is the Kyoto Protocol?
- 1997
- 183 countries signed
- called for stabilisation of ghg emissions at safe levels that would avoid serious climate change
what was the goal of the Kyoto Protocol?
to cut ghg emissions by 5% of 1990 levels by 2012
(set into force in 2005 and got extended after 2012)
PROs of Kyoto Protocol
- introduced carbon market (countries allowed to have allocated amounts of carbon dioxide they were allowed to emit > could sell units if they had ‘leftovers’) > allows flexibility in how countries meet targets
- set a precedent for international climate agreement (created legally binding targets)
- brought global attention to climate issues
CONs of Kyoto Protocol
- weak enforcement (some countries (eg. Canada) failed to meet targets with little consequences)
- major emitters like the US never ratified protocol and Canada withdrew > weakens effectiveness
what does the success of international solutions depend on?
- the extent to which governments wish to sign up to international agreements
- whether governments are preventative or reactive
what is the Paris Agreement?
- adopted in 2015
- countries submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) - self-set targets for reducing emissions
- facilitated by UN
what are goals of the Paris Agreement?
- to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial times
- works on 5 year cycle
- developed nations support developing nations on financial, technological and capacity-building basis
what is the IPCC?
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- international body for assessing the science related to climate change
- set up by WMO and UNEP
what does the IPCC provide?
- provides policymakers with regular assessments of climate change (impacts + future risks)
- provides governments at all levels with a scientific basis to develop climate-related policies
explain how the fossil fuel industry influences the ability / motivation of some countries to reduce emissions
fossil fuel industry is the most powerful lobbying group in USA
- coal, gas, oil interests have managed to veto on climate control regulations in USA
main obstacle to a global agreement on climate change: bargaining power of the major fossil fuel countries like USA, China, Russia, Canada, the Middle East
what are NAPA?
National Adaptation Programmes of Action
UNFCC requires LEDCs to produce a NAPA highlighting which areas are most vulnerable to climate change and where adaptation is most required
- selected programmes are financially assisted
what does UNFCCC stand for?
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
How often do the parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meet?
every year
