Carbon Lesson 20: Responding to Climate Change Flashcards
Define adaption
Adopting new ways of doing things in order to live with the likely outcome of climate change
Define mitigation
Involves the reduction or prevention of GHG emissions by new technologies e.g. renewables
Which country has adopted a system of adaption through water conservation and managment?
Israel
What are some of this country’s methods of water conservation and management?
(Adaption)
-Smart irrigation
-Recycling sewage water
-Reducing agricultural consumption and importing water in food as virtual water
-Managing demand by charging ‘real value’ prices to reflect cost of supply
Describe land-use planning and flood-risk management
(Adaption)
Used for flood management where development of floodplains is limited to low-impact things
Low cost approach to flood management
Infiltration occurs naturally and surface run-off is reduced
Which countries are using conservation cropping in agriculture?
USA, Syria, and Iraq
Describe conservation cropping
(Adapation)
Growing crops using a no-tilling approach
Fewer fertilisers, retains stubble and grows cover crops
Improved soil heath, less erosion and better yields
Describe solar radiation management
(Adaption)
Form of climate engineering
Reflects solar rays and reduced global warming
Can be deployed quickly and offset GHGs
Uncertainty about how effective and expensive
What are some methods of solar radiation?
Pumping sulphur aerosols into the upper atmosphere
Cloud brightening
Space-based reflectors
Describe carbon taxation
(Mitigation)
Fee paid by users of fossil fuels directly linked o the level of CO2 emissions the fuel produces
Where is there carbon tax?
UK
Carbon price floor came into effect in 2013
Which country has improved energy efficiency?
Germany
Describe the energy efficiency policies in this country?
(Mitigation)
-Require a reduction of 25% in energy consumption
-Loans to renovate older, energy consuming properties
-Subsidies to improve efficiencies in manufacturing
Where did the USA rank for energy efficiency, out of the 16 major economies?
13th
Which countries lead afforestation and reforestation?
Canada and Sweden
How much did forest land increase by in South Korea between 1961-95?
4 to 6.3 million hectares
How many trees had been planted in South Korea by 2008?
11 billion
What fraction of South Korea is now forested?
2/3
What are the benefits of afforestation and reforestation?
(Mitigation)
-Restore degraded environments
-Prevent soil erosion
-More carbon sinks/stores of CO2 in forests
Which country leads in energy switching?
Sweden
How much has oil reliance decreased by in Sweden between 1970 to today?
70% down to 20%
What % of Sweden’s energy is produced by nuclear and HEP?
83%
What % of Sweden’s energy is from heat and power plants?
10%
What % of Sweden’s energy is from wind?
7%
Where was the first commercial carbon capture coal-fired power plant set up in 2014?
Boundary Dam in Canada’s Saskatchewan province
How much GHG emissions does the CCS power plant in Canada expect to reduce?
1 million tonnes a year
Equivalent to 250 000 cars
Advantages of water conservation of management (adaption)
Fewer resources used
Less groundwater abstracted
Use more grey water
Negatives of water conservation of management (adaption)
Cannot meet demands
Needs promotion by governments
Advantages of conservation cropping (adaption)
Higher tech, drought tolerant species
Low tech measures
Negatives of conservation cropping (adaption)
More expensive
Need use of genetic modification - debated
High energy costs from intensive farming
Seeds unavailable to poor subsistence farmers
What are the different players?
Global
National
Local
Public
What is an example of a global player?
UN roadmaps and goals - SDG Roadmap has 5 parts: awareness raising, advocacy, implementation, monitoring and next steps
Supports local and regional governments to implement SDGs
+ Inclusive
+collective as a worldwide effort
- no review or check on progress
What is a example of a national player?
Shell - investment into biofuel through a joint venture with Cosan in Brazil.
+ sets a good example for all other TNCs
- still plan to continue the use of fossil fuels just in combination with renewables
- requires high levels of investment - not possible for smaller TNCs
What did Shell create in 2016? Purpose?
New Energies business
Explore investment opportunities in energy solutions combining wind and solar with gas
What did Shell create in 1996? Purpose?
Shell Ventures
Invests in start-ups and enterprises to encourage growth. Still combine wind and solar with gas as focus
Give an example of local player
Winchester’s WinACC who lobby for local change
Think globally but start locally
Community projects and priority to climate change, inspiring sustainable living
+ set an example to other local areas especially by including the whole community
+focusses on the main problem
-small aspect and impact as only local - bottom-up development which is still expensive
When was WinACC set up?
2007
What is the aim to cut Winchester District carbon footprint by?
60% by 2030
How much do Winchester want energy to come from renewables?
15% by 2020
Give an example of a public player
38 degrees campaign - online e-petitioning - aims to empower citizens by providing an easy way to take action
+ gives individuals influence
+ millions of users
- can’t actually implement changes
How many people are involved with the 38 degrees campaign in the UK?
2 million people
When was the non-profit 38 degrees programme laucnhed?
2009
How many countries in the Paris Agreement?
195
When was the Paris Agreement?
November 2016
What did the countries agree to at Paris?
Accounted for 66% of emissions
What was agreed the aim of limiting temperature change was?
1.5 degrees
How often does progress have to be reported?
Every 5 years
Advantages of the Paris Agreement
-Countries can set their own individual targets
-195 countries signed up
-Individual targets all work towards of limiting temperature increase to 1.5˚C
Negatives of Paris Agreement
-No punishment if targets aren’t met
-Signing the agreement and acting on it are two different things
-A national effort is required for targets to be met, including public backing, which can be tricky
-Progress reporting may not be accurate
-Not a truly global agreement as developing countries are omitted that haven’t created the pollution
Where was COP26? What did it agree?
Glasgow
Maintain the 1.5 degree limit
What was the Kyoto protocol?
An international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, whichcommitsits parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets
When was the Kyoto Protocol?
1997
Came into force in 2005
Failures of Kyoto Protocol
-Slow ratification due to economic impacts
- Only industrialised countries
-Complex trading system with carbon credits
-Emissions reductions may from other factors
How many countries were supported by the Clean Development mechanism of Kyoto?
75
What % were emissions cut by in 2012 compared to 1990 levels?
22.6%
