mitaigation technique s Flashcards
Afforestation
Forests are an important carbon store and planting more trees will absorb more Co2. Schemes exist where forest owners are paid to not cut down. Afforestation also includes converting land that has not been forested for 50 years. It is estimated that between 2000 and 2050 afforestation will have removed an average of over 166,000 tonnes of Co2 per year from the atmosphere. Afforestation is increasingly at a faster rate in developed nations due to their position on the Kuznet curve.
Carbon Taxation
Government taxes can encourage people and businesses to reduce carbon emissions by using less fuel or electricity. Specific taxes include congestion and emissions charges, road tolls and taxes on vehicles and fuels. Construction and industry can be charged carbon taxes to encourage them to be environmentally friendly. Farmers can also be taxed on fertilizers
Energy Efficiency
Technological improvements mean that vehicles’ engines are more efficient. For example, between 1970 and 2008 the fuel efficiency of the average passenger car in the USA improved by 57%. Hybrid vehicles in London buses are reducing emissions. In the EU, household electrical items now use less electricity and are rated from A-G for their energy efficiency.
Renewable Switching
UK policy is based on switching energy away from fossil fuels to low-carbon sources. The UK established a target of 15% of energy consumption by 2020 to be from renewables, including onshore and offshore winds, biomass electricity, ground heat pumps and renewable transport.
Carbon Capture Storage
Large producers of carbon could be forced to capture the gas before it is emitted into the atmosphere, compressing and storing it underground in disused oil and gas fields. This is then injected underground into porous and permeable rock layers.
