Carbon 2.5 Flashcards
Discuss energy pathways of coal
Largest producers- India, US and China - also import coal. Indonesia and Australia export coal to China, India, South Korea and Japan
Discuss energy pathways of oil
significant pathways.
Main supplies are clearly Middle East (no.1 producer) to Europe and Asia and Russia to Europe
Discuss energy pathways of gas
Similar pathways to oil
Can either be transported via pipelines, such as Russia to Europe or converted to LNG and transported by ship such as Middle East to Europe
What was the transfer of gas from Russia to Europe like before the Ukraine war?
Russia is the second largest producer of gas and much of its exports once went to Europe via four pipelines
Why can the recent attempt to annex Ukraine potentially be justified by energy pathways?
Alongside the threat of Ukraine joining NATO, three of the four pipelines transferring gas to Europe cross Ukraine, meaning Ukraine could threaten to increase the price of transfer through its territory. If they annexed Ukraine, this would no longer be of concern
How has the supply of oil and gas to Europe from Russia changed since the beginning of the war?
-EU banned Russian oil import by sea
-Russia only receive 48 pounds per crude oil barrel
-EU cut gas imports by 2/3rds within a year of the start of the war
What shows that the EU was successful in reducing natural gas from Russia?
In 2021, Russia supplied EU with 40% of natural gas but this dropped to 17% by August 2022
Where are European countries now getting gas from instead of Russia?
Looking to ship LNG, with 12 ports planning to be built around Europe (although this raises concerns about long term reliance on fossil fuels)
Where are Russia now exporting fossil fuels to instead of Europe?
Moscow is still losing $175m a day from fossil fuel export restrictions, but it’s instead transporting oil to India and China, making up 70% of all Russian crude oil flows by sea
In 1985, how much was the Treasury earning every hour from North Sea reserves?
2.5m
How did the changing price in oil contribute to a global recession in 2008?
In the 1980s, large amounts of oil was discovered, making the price of oil cheaper than bottled water. This meant economies became reliant upon oil. However, by 2006, the population was demanding 4x as much oil compared to 2000 causing prices to rise . By May 2008, it cost 147 per barrel, showing demand outstripped supply as standard of living increased. This caused recession
What % of global energy mix still comes from fossil fuels?
86%
By what % has global energy consumption increased by since 1990?
50%
What makes energy pathways vulnerable?
eight global chokepoints - over half the world’s oil goes through here including Suez Canal and Strait of Hormuz. If they are blocked energy prices can rise quickly
Examples of unconventional fossil fuels?
Tar sands
Oil shale
Shale gas
Deepwater oil
What are tar sands?
a mixture of clay, sand, water and bitumen
What are Canada’s tar sand resources like?
World’s largest reserves of tar sands, covering an area larger than England. By 2030, 4 million barrels could be produced a day
What are the social benefits of tar sands?
-by 2030, could meet 16% of North America’s oil needs
-could provide $4tn for the Canadian economy
-151,000 jobs creation
-an oil sands community alliance has been set up to provide services/facilitate local people, especially first nation (indigenous) people
What are the social costs of exploiting tar sands?
-Expensive - only viable when price of crude oil exceeds US$40 a barrel
-energy and water intensive to create
-caribou (reindeer species) populations have declined sharply in the area and local population expected to be extinct by 2040
What are the consequences of extracting tar sands on the environment?
-forests and peat bog destroyed reducing biodiversity
-about 1.8 million tonnes of toxic waste water produced everyday
470km squared of taiga has been removed
What are the consequences of extracting tar sands on the carbon cycle?
Carbon emissions rise due to their extraction, production and use. By 2030, 14% of Canada’s greenhouse emissions will come from tar sand operations
Carbon absorption falls due to deforestation (removal of taiga)
Who are the different players in tar sands operations and how do they feel about operations?
environmentalists call for the end of industrialisation of indigenous territories
oil companies cite tremendous economic impacts in Canada
governments encourage tar sands to secure energy supply and grow the economy
local communities gain new jobs, but there’s increased pollution, disruption to traditional ways of life and a housing crisis as more people move in
How has shale gas increased in the US?
In 2015, shale gas provided nearly 25% of the US’s gas supply, meaning it’s new a key determinant in US’s energy security and influences global pricing. Increased production is due to the growth of fracking to release oil and gas that would otherwise be too difficult to drill
What are the environmental consequences of fracking?
contamination of groundwater and production of pollutants such as methane and sulphur dioxide
What % of UK energy is imported?
60%
