Discuss how two strategies aim to mitigate either global climate change or loss of biodiversity.

Question 1

Renewable energy

Answer 1

• Renewable energy sources are unlimited and include wind, solar, wave/tidal, geothermal, hydropower, and biomass.
• produce electricity without direct greenhouse gas emissions, although infrastructure production has emissions.
• Over 160 countries have renewable energy targets, and a third of global power capacity is based on renewables.
• Fossil fuel subsidies amount to around $600 billion annually, five times more than support for clean energy, which supplies 13.5% of global energy.
• Coal is a major contributor to global CO2 emissions (46%) and has adverse health effects
• China, Europe, America, and India 80% of the expansion of renewable energy capacity, wind and solar cheapest energy sources in many markets.
• Australia aims to achieve 50% renewable electricity by 2050.

Question 2

Carbon capture and storage

Answer 2

• involving the capture of carbon dioxide from large sources like power plants, gas fields, or energy-intensive industries, and storing it underground in geological formations (geo-sequestration).
• There are three main methods of CCS: pre-combustion carbon capture (capturing CO2 from fossil fuels before combustion), post-combustion carbon capture (removing CO2 from exhaust gases), and oxyfuel carbon capture (burning fuel in pure oxygen to produce CO2 and water).
• Some CCS facilities have been operational since the 1970s, with 26 commercial projects currently in operation and 34 more announced or in production as of 2022.
• CCS has the potential to capture over 90% of CO2 emissions from power plants and industrial facilities and could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 14% by 2050.
• Operational CCS projects can capture around 40 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
• CCS is cost-intensive, with costs at least six times higher than wind power backed by battery storage when compared to CCS attached to coal or gas power stations.