Human Intervention In Carbon Cycle Designed To Influence Carbon Transfers And Mitigate Impacts Of Climate Change Flashcards
Mitigating the effects of climate change
Modifying combustion
Modifying combustion (burning less fossil fuels) - carbon capture. This mitigates climate change if it works and estimated to reduce carbon emissions by almost 20%. But is expensive
Mitigating effects of climate change
Land use change
Modifying land use change
Some crops absorb more CO2 then others.
Farming practices are most common cause of land use change apart from deforestation- carbon farming is time consuming.
It is impractical to change all crops due to CO2
Mitigating effects of climate change
Modifying photosynthesis
Modifying photosynthesis
Inc
Plantation forests comprise estimated 7% of global forest area
Planted by people
Effective in absorbing CO2 compared to normal forests
For some time - recognises by IPCC as option for countries wishing to reduce carbon emissions
Eg Sri Lanka - lost 76% of mangrove forests before
Mangrove forests absorb more CO2 then others and do not burn
The gov decided to conserve the rest
It cost £2.2m over 5 years
+practical of land available - makes a big difference
Plants and other benefit
-ethical space could be used for something else eg people
Long term solution - trees take around 50 years to make a sustainable difference
Mitigating effects of climate change
Modifying deforestation
Reducing amount of deforestation
Paying for protection of forests
Planting trees
Renewable energy
Enc only buy wood certified by FSC - timber that is grown sustainably
Countries, .org and individuals make offset payments to offset their carbon emissions
Eg paying for existing energy alternatives, trees to be planted, protecting existing ones
Eg Malaysia - selective management system is a sustainable approach to logging by felling selected trees (only big ones?) and planting replacements
+potential to work but needs more awareness
-carbon offset = morally wrong. Doing smth wrong than paying for it
What can the gov do to mitigate impacts of climate change or influence carbon transfers
Subsidies to homeowners to insulate homes -> reduced electricity uses fossil fuels,
improved public transport
Make cars more expensive he London - less car uses
Subsidies for U.K. farmers
High tariffs on imported food after brexit - high tax = less likely to import from other countries - carbo
Targets for recycling to enc local authorities eg Southwark
Set targets and inc subsidies to increase % of energy produced from renewable sources - 20% by 2020
Funding for projects
Gov needs to put enviro eco UN goal by 2020- 20% of all energy should come from renewable sources - LARGE IMPACT (not in modifying deforestation)
whAt is the Paris climate agreement 2015
United all world nation’s in single agreement on tackling climate change for 1st time in history
Consensus among almost all countries to cut GHE Kyoto Protocol 1997 set emission cutting targets for handful of developed countries but US pulled out and others failed to comply
Key developments of Paris climate agreement
Keep global temps well below 2 degrees above preindustrial times
Limit GHG by human activity to same level that trees soil and oceans can absorb naturally between 2050 and 2100 (difficult to do)
Review countries contribution to cutting emissions every 5 years
Goal of preventing dangerous and irreversible levels of climate change (scientists)
Judged to reach around 2 degrees of warming above pre industrial times -> central argument
World already nearly half way at almost 1 degrees Celsius
Many countries argued for tougher target of 1.5 inc leaders of low lying countries
Desire for a more ambitious goal kept in agreement with promise to ‘endeavour the limit’ global temp to 1.5 degrees
How will money be tackled for Paris climate agreement
Developing countries need financial and tech to use renewables
Currently promised £100b a year by 2020
(8% under military spending)- countries sayctoo low
Enc other countries to help on voluntary basis
What happens next to Paris climate agreement
Only elements legally binding
Voluntary pledge by countries to cut emissions and arguments when to revisit pledge with aim of taking tougher action -> DISPUTES
Pact promises to make an assessment in 2018 w further reviews every 5 years
Welcome aspirations but few realise how difficult it will be to achieve - Shephard
‘Remains voluntary
Too optimistic
Why will it be difficult to combat EGE
Political resistance - unpopular measure which could reduce SOL - eg USA will not ratify Paris
Demographic - pop 7.2b. This inc demand for resources/space leading to inc pollution and deforestation
Social - don’t wanna make change that reduce SOL ‘one person make no diff’
Temporal - won’t experience in lifetime, so many countries - diff to move quick
Eco - new tech to reduce carbon emissions is expensive
LIC get support
Eco has priority
Individuals may not afford it
