carbon case studies Flashcards

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1
Q

Norway (access to energy resources)

A
  • Physical availability - Mountainous with plentiful rainfall - HEP very available
  • Cost - HEP costs are low once initial investment is complete.
  • Political considerations - has an interventionist approach where foreign companies cannot own any primary energy source sites
  • Economic development - Energy use per capita - 5854 kg oil equivalent, Norway has GDP per capita US$20,000 higher than UK.
  • Environmental priorities - In 2015 committed to a 40% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 compared to 1990.
  • Third largest exporter of HCs and is expanding
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2
Q

UK (access to energy resources)

A
  • Physical availability - Used to depend on domestic coal, but now uses North sea oil and gas
  • Cost - North sea oil is expensive to extract, reserves are declining forcing UK to import
  • Technology - 150 years worth of coil reserves but current technology makes it unrealistic and expensive.
  • Political considerations - Increasing reliance on imported energy sources effects UKs energy security, public concern also growing over proposed fracking and nuclear sites
  • Economic development - Energy use per capita - 2752 kg oil equivalent
  • Environmental priorities - In 2015, UK committed to a 40% reduction domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
  • Intends to broaden its energy mix with renewable sources
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3
Q

OPEC

A
  • Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (IGO)
  • OPEC consists of 14 countries where oil is their main or only export
  • 81% of world oil output
  • Ensure stabilisation of oil market in order to secure an efficient economic and regular supply of petroleum to customers, a steady income and a fair return for investors
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4
Q

Energy TNCs

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  • BP, Shell, PetroChina
  • Explore exploit and distribute energy resources with their own supply lines where they respond to market conditions to secure profits for their shareholders
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4
Q

National governments

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  • EU governments aim to fulfil CO2 emissions targets and reduce fossil fuel dependency
  • Meet international obligations while securing energy supplies for the nations present and future as well as supporting the country’s economic growth
  • Regulating the role of private companies and setting environmental priorities
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5
Q

Russia/Ukraine energy pathway

A
  • Disruption to supply as much of the European gas through Ukraine
  • Russia targeting energy infrastructure in Ukraine as a weapon of war
  • Sanctions on Russian imports
  • UK and EU shifting supply away from Russia and looking to increase renewable energy contribution to their energy mixes and Russia has increased exports in turn to China and India
  • EU and UK importing more LNG from USA
  • Increased energy prices
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5
Q

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami energy pathway

A
  • Disruption of energy infrastructure leading to reduced supply of nuclear power and energy shortages
  • Damage to oil and gas pipelines
  • Global gas prices increased by 15% in the two weeks after.
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6
Q

Suez and Panama canal energy pathway

A
  • Delays in energy shipments due to disruption as a result of drought (Panama) and conflict (Suez), becoming major chokepoints
  • Some companies have stopped using Suez due to risk of attacks on ships (down by 40% compared to peak)
  • Increased energy prices due to higher travel costs.
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7
Q

UK changing energy mix

A
  • UK has 150 years of coal reserves but it is energy insecure as 60% of energy is imported
  • UK is increasing renewable energy especially wind and solar, aimed for wind to provide 25% of UKs electricity needs by 2020 (was 24% in reality) solar also increased by 86% between 2014&15 but these only expanded through large government subsidies
  • Developing nuclear power stations (Hinkley point will provide 7% electricity)
  • Reducing energy use through LED light bulbs and recycling energy that would’ve been wasted
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7
Q

Canadian tar sands

A
  • Between 1990 and 2018, tar sands production in Canada increased by 456%
  • 470 km2 of Alberta’s taiga woodlands have been removed to make space for mining (less carbon stored and reduces resilience of taiga)
  • Carbon emissions rise due to extraction
  • Around 1.8 million tonnes of toxic wastewater are produced every day
  • It offers energy security for canada and the USA- 28% is used in Canada, and then 70% is exported to the USA
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7
Q

USA fracking, shale oil and gas

A
  • USA is the leading producer and exporter
  • Estimated to have produced over 2 million barrels in 2022, 66% of us energy production for the year
  • In 2009, 67% rise in employment associated with fracking
  • Reduced US energy imports by 25%, reduced energy prices, and increased local land prices
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8
Q

Brazil deep water oil

A
  • In 2010, BP had a spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which saw oil spread across 68,000 square miles of sea surface and killed approximately 1 million seabirds
  • Drilling operations release toxic pollution into both the air and water. Exploration and drilling on the platform, transportation via tankers, and refining the oil on land can all release VOCs, GHGs, and other air pollutants.
  • Brazil has 66 deep water fields, 52 of which are operated by state-run oil giant Petrobras.
  • One of the major oil fields in Brazil is known as the Lula Central conventional oil field and is one of the world’s largest producing deep water oil fields and is located approximately 250 km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
  • There are concerns over potential oil spills harming the marine environment of Guanabara Bay.
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9
Q

Norway energy mix

A
  • 45% energy from renewables primarily from HEP.
  • All of renewable are domestic so energy secure
  • Energy consumption is increasing and may not be able to cope as their non-renewables are growing
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10
Q

Biofuels, Brazil

A
  • World leading producer of bioethanol (from sugarcane), cars running on bioethanol emit 80% less CO2 than petrol cars.
  • Causes deforestation, social unrest in Brazil as farm workers have lost land to grow sugar cane and now cannot grow food for themselves, causing farmers to migrate to cities.
  • Reinforced rural inequalities.
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10
Q

Iceland energy mix

A
  • 90% from renewable sources, mainly HEP and Geothermal
  • Geothermal meets 99% of their electricity needs
  • One of most sparsely populated countries so demand is likely low and energy security is easily reached.
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10
Q

USA energy mix

A
  • Reduced energy intensity by 50% since 1983 decreasing energy consumption by 7%
  • Use fracking which is finite and import 15%
11
Q

Nuclear power Japan

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  • Before the 2011 tsunami, 27% of Japan’s electricity came from nuclear power. After the Fukushima plant was severely damaged in the earthquake it released dangerous levels of radiation.
  • Japan then closed all nuclear reactors however it is starting to be reintroduced.
11
Q

Amazon drought

A
  • Drought leading to the savannaization of the Amazon where its vegetation will assume the characteristics of a degraded savannah
  • 60% of the Amazon forest could disappear by 2050
  • The 2010 Amazon drought shut down its function as a carbon sink due to forest fires burning trees and releasing CO2 and could even change to a carbon source.
12
Q

Boreal Forests

A
  • As the climate warms, the ability to store carbon will be reduced.
  • In British Columbia, the warmer climate has allowed more beetles to survive the cold months and multiply, leading to higher rates of tree mortality.
12
Q

Great Green Wall, Africa

A
  • The “Great Green Wall” is an initiative to increase the amount of arable land in the Sahel, the region bordering Africa’s Sahara Desert. Eleven nations including Eritrea and Senegal are investing in projects as varied as agroforestry to sustainable development.
13
Q

The Forestry Commission, UK

A
  • The forest cover of the UK had been reduced from an estimated original figure of 80% to less than 10% by the end of the 19th century.
    The Forestry Commission was set up in 1919 to remedy the country’s shortage of timber.
  • Aim to grow 7 million trees annually
14
Q

International agreements on forestry

A
  • Such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, emphasise the importance of forest conservation and restoration in mitigating climate change. These agreements facilitate cooperation among countries to protect forests and reduce deforestation rates.
15
Q

The Arctic

A
  • The Arctic climate will experience the highest global temperature increases and an increasing decline in sea ice, potentially gone in 2037.
  • As ice melts in the Arctic, less sunlight will be reflected (albedo) and more will be absorbed creating a positive feedback loop.
  • Earlier annual snowmelt in Yukon river drainage basin which will alter river regimes bringing earlier peak flows
  • Annual precipitation set to increase by 5-20% by 2100