lecture 34- technological responses to climate change

Question 1

What is a wedge?

Answer 1

A “wedge” is a strategy to reduce carbon emissions that grows in 50
years from zero to 1.0 GtC/yr. The strategy has already been
commercialized at scale somewhere.

Question 2

Explain transport efficiency

Answer 2

A wedge of emissions savings would be achieved if the fuel efficiency of all the cars were doubled from 30 mpg to 60 mpg.

Question 3

What are the outcomes of transport efficiency?

Answer 3

Efficiency improvements: hybrid and diesel engines, making vehicles out of stronger, lighter material

Question 4

Explain the transport conservation wedge

Answer 4

A wedge of emissions savings would be achieved if the number of miles traveled by the world’s cars were cut in half.

Question 5

What is the outcome of transport conservation?

Answer 5

Urban planning leading to more use of mass transit and if electronic
communication becomes a good substitute for face-to-face meetings

Question 6

Explain the building efficiency wedge.

Answer 6

A wedge of emissions savings would be achieved if emissions in all new and existing residential and commercial buildings was cut by 25%

Question 7

What is the buildings’ potential to be efficient?

Answer 7

Largest potential savings in buildings sector = heating and
cooling, water heating, lighting, appliances

Carbon savings from end-use efficiency strategies (wall and roof
insulation), renewable energy strategies (solar water heating, passive solar design)

Question 8

Explain the efficiency production wedge.

Answer 8

A wedge of emissions savings would be achieved if we produced the
world’s current coal-based electricity with doubled efficiency

Question 9

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