Mitigation Strategies that reduce emissions Flashcards
Raise Examples and elaborate
International Agreements and Co-operation
- UNFCCC
- Conference of Parties
- Paris Agreement
What is the UNFCC?
(United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)
- International environmental treaty addressing climate change
- Stabilise greenhouse gas emissions at a level that would:
- Prevent irreversible anthropogenic impacts
- Provide sufficient time for ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change.
How does UNFCCC work?
- Puts greater responsibilities on developed, industrialised countries to lead the way as they are the main source of most greenhouse gas emissions.
- Funds and technologies are directed to climate action in developing countries, as 1st world countries provide financial support to developing countries and technology is shared to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
- Monitoring the progress of climate change policies as countries are required to regularly report on their climate change policies and greenhouse gas emissions.
What is the Conference of Parties?
A convention that meets every year to review and make decisions on climate action to promote the effective reduction of greenhouse gas emmissions.
What is the Paris Agreement?
A legally binding international treating on climate change adopted by 191 Parties in Paris, France.
Parties are required to develop their own set of targets and measures.
This agreement is a product of a meeting by the Conference of Parties
Institutional Limitations: Limitations of international agreements and cooperation.
The implementation of a convention is dependent on the parties’ commitment to act. As countries have different priorities, the commitment to act also varies. For example, President Trump withdrew the USA from the Paris Agreement as he believed it would undermine the country’s economy.
Low carbon technologies
Carbon Capture/Utilisation/Storage
Carbon Capture
The process of separating and capturing carbon dioxide form power plants and other indusrial sources of emissions.
Carbon Utilisation
The use of CO2 as a raw material to produce useful materials.
Products can be sold for profits.
For example, cement can be made from stored CO2
Carbon Storage
After CO2 is stored for a long period of time to prevent it from reaching the atmosphere through storage and utilisation.
Limitations of Carbon Capture/Storage/Utilisatoin
Economic and Technological
Economic limitations of Carbon Capture/Storage/Utilisation
It is expensive and requires public funding and subsidies for private research and devekopment.
For example: in 2020 the Singapore Govt announced that $49M will be set aside to fund low-carbon energy research.
Technological limitations of CCUS
There are concerns that stored carbon may leak out over time.
Clean energy Sources
Clean energy comes from renewable sources which do not emit greenhouse gases and pollute the atmosphere. For Instance:
Solar/Hydro/Geothermal/Nuclear
Solar energy
- Energy from the sun is converted into thermal or electrical energy
- The cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source available.
For e.g: By 2030, Singapore wants to increase its solar capacity to meet about 4% of Singapore’s total electricity demand, approx. 350,000 households.
Hydroelectric Power
Hydropower plants capture the energy of moving water such as in rivers to generate electricity.
Geothermal Power
- Derived from heat in the Earth’s crust.
- Beneath the Earth’s surface, hot rocks heat up groundwater, forming steam.
- Steam is then harnessed to generate electricity
Nuclear Power
- Derived from the splitting up of radioactive atoms. This process generates heat.
- The heat then produces steam which is then harnessed to generate electricity.
- Compared to other sources of energy, it is more stable in terms of its supply.
Economic limitations of using clean energy sources.
Development and construction of renewable energy technologies are expensive. It depends heavily on govt policies and financial support to make renewable energy cost-competitive.
e.g. In indonesia, installing a solar syste nay cost around 900USD to 1300 per kW, Hence solar energy only accounts for 1.7% of the country’s total electricity.
Change in consumption pattern
Household consumptions of goods contribute to our carbon footprint because greenhouse gases are released during production and transportation of these goods.
Changes in food choices
By eating less meats, greenhoues gases emitted by livestock.
By buying local produce, transportation distance is reduced thus the carbon emissions are reduced.
Social Limitations of changing consumption pattern.
It takes a long time to change people’s mindset and consumption pattern.
Economic limitation of changing consumption pattern.
Changing consumption patterns depends not only on consumer behaviour, but also on the commitment of companies to change the resources used in the production of goods. However, companies may be reluctant to change as it may reduce their profits.
