Carbon Case Studies

Question 1

USA energy mix

Answer 1

• 2nd for most global energy consumption
• USA : 80% carbon, 10% renewables, 10% nuclear
• USA import 15% of energy

Question 2

France energy mix

Answer 2

• France : 50% carbon, 40% nuclear, 10% renewable
• Imports 50% of energy

Question 3

Russian gas to Europe

Answer 3

• Russia delivers gas through 4 pipelines
• Around 150 billion cubic metres of gas exported to Europe a year
• Due to economic sanctions on Russia, exports of gas have decreased by over 50%

Question 4

Canadian tar sands

Answer 4

• Canada has an etimated 150 billion barrels of oil in their tar sands
• However extracting the oil is very expensive and difficult
• It has improved Canadas economy and energy security
• Increased carbon emmissions

Question 5

Brazil deep water oil

Answer 5

• The oil is situated 200km offshore and 2km deep making it very difficult to access
• Improved Brazils energy security
• Production reached nearly 1 million barrels a day
• High risk of oil spills

Question 6

UK changing energy mix

Answer 6

• Renewables and nuclear - 50%
• Aims to not use coal by 2025
• 60% of UK’s energy is imported
• Hinkley Point C nuclear plant will provide 7% of UK’s energy

Question 7

Deforestation in Madagascar

Answer 7

• Madagascar lost over 2/3s of its tropical forests in between 1950 and 1985
• Rivers have turned red due to soil erosion for example River Sofia
• Carbon absorbtion has decreased significantly

Question 8

Amazon rainforest loss

Answer 8

• Loss of 20% of Amazon due to deforestation and if another 20% it will turn into a grassland
• Reduction in carbon capture due to loss of plants from forest fires
• Positive feedback loop: Deforestation -> less transpiration-> less water vapour -> less precipitation -> loss of trees

Question 9

Montreal Protocol

Answer 9

• Banned the use of CFC’s which were damaging the earths ozone layer
• Very effective as the ozone hole has closed due to the protocol

Question 10

Kyoto Protocol

Answer 10

• Set targets for developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  -38 countries agreed to reduce emissions by 5-8% by 2012
• USA who contribute to 20% of total emissions did not sign
• Not very effective as did not include developing nations and USA did not join

Question 11

Paris COP

Answer 11

• Set targets to keep temperature increase below 2*
• 196 countries signed the agreement
• Global temperature has already increased by 1.1* since the agreement
• USA left the agreement under Trump but rejoined under Biden
• Not enforced so not very effective