Climate change mitigation

Question 1

What is climate change mitigation?

Answer 1

efforts to reduce/prevent greenhouse gas emissions- WWF wants to restrict temp increase to <2%

Question 2

Modifying photosynthesis

Answer 2

trees=carbon sinks, plant forests (not enough space but IPCC consider it legitimate)

Question 3

Modifying industrial combustion

Answer 3

carbon capture and storage= uses tech, captures from power stations/industries, gas compressed, transported to injection well as liquid to reservoirs, can cut global emissions by up to 19% (costly, future implications, economic viability- empty reservoirs?)
e.g. Boundary Dam, Canada

Question 4

Modifying land use

Answer 4

carbon farming= one crop replaced by more productive and carbon absorbing other
less deforestation= wood certified forestry stewardship council (FSC), offset emissions through payments, plant replacements
grasslands= soil carbon storage improvements-avoid overstocking grazing animals + adding manures
croplands- no fertilisers, no ploughing or harrowing and avoid accelerated composition
Trees= protection and reforesting

Question 5

Improved aviation practices

Answer 5

movement management= fuel efficient routes, tow when on ground, avoid circling in air
flight management= cruise at lower speeds, 100% occupied seats, smaller planes for domestic flights
design technology= more aerodynamics, bio fuels, carbon capture within engines, maximise no. seats, lower weight of aircraft

Question 6

National frameworks

Answer 6

regional- EU has ETS- GG allocations- fined if go over cap, incentivised to sell unused emissions on carbon trading market
bilateral- 2014 USA (by 2015 reduce emissions by 27% and China negotiated limit on emissions (cap by 2030)

Question 7

Name the 3 political initiatives

Answer 7

IPCC
Kyoto
Paris agreement

Question 8

Describe the IPCC

Answer 8

(1988)- panel monitoring and analyzing climate
Paris agreement (2015)- limit av. global temp increase to 1.5 degrees above pre industrial levels, strengthen adaptation abilities

Question 9

Describe the Kyoto

Answer 9

(1997)- targets to reduce GG emissions between 55 members (USA didn’t join-25% of emissions- but will still try and tackle) by 5.2%: clean development mechanisms, international emissions trading regime(sell excess emission credit), joint implementation
8% reductions in EU- produces 22% of emissions
will only buy us 10 years at most

Question 10

Describe The Paris agreement

Answer 10

December 2015- 55+ countries representing at least 55% of global emissions had to deposit their instruments of ratification- deal with impacts of climate change
keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels
come together every 5 years to assess the collective progress

Question 11

Issues with the agreement

Answer 11

Takes longer for developing countries

balance between emissions and removals

Question 12

By how much do emissions need to be reduced to stabilize climate change altogether?

Answer 12

70% globally