Net Zero GHG Emissions Flashcards
What are net zero emissions?
Reducing carbon or GHG emissions to a minimum and offsetting them by removing an equal amount
What is net negative emissions?
Removing more carbon or GHGs than we emit
What are negative emissions technologies?
Methods deigned to actively remove GHG from the atmosphere
AKA Carbon or GHG removal
Which economic sectors are the highest for anthropogenic GHG emissions?
Electricity production = 25%
Food, agriculture and land use = 24%
Industry = 21%
What parts of the energy system are the hardest to decarbonise?
Aviation
Long-distance road transport
Steel and cement production
Provision of a reliable electricity supply
What are proposed to be anthropogenic sinks?
Certain fertilisers
Planting trees/plants
Carbon capture
What questions need to be asked about anthropogenic sinks?
Are they real?
Are they fast enough?
Are they permanent?
Are they verifiable?
What are the ways to achieve net-zero emissions?
Reducing sources - bringing emissions to zero
Improve society - fostering equality for all and behaviour changes
Improve sinks - e.g. carbon removal
Name some examples on how to achieve net-zero emissions
1) Phase out coal plants
2) Invest in clean energy and efficiency
3) Retrofit buildings
4) Decarbonise cement, steel and plastics
5) Shift to electric vehicles
6) Increase public transport
7) Decarbonise aviation and shipping
8) Halt deforestation and restore degraded lands
9) Reduce food loss and waste
10) Eat more plants and less meat
How much of emission reductions stem from behavioural changes and material efficiency?
7-8%
What is the UK plan to achieve net zero?
Reduce demand
Improve efficiency
Low- carbon solutions:
- Electrification
- H2
- Carbon capture, use and sequestration (CCUS)
Low-carbon energy
Land-use and GHG removal
Has the UK managed is far to achieve their proposed goals of net zero?
Showing improvements in few areas
Generally behind what was proposed
What is geoengineering?
The deliberate large-scale intervention in the Earth’s natural systems to address climate change
What are the types of geoengineering?
Solar Radiation Management (SRM) or Solar Geoengineering
Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR), CO2 Removal (CDR) or Carbon Geoengineering
What are some proposed techniques for Solar Radiation Management/ Solar Geoengineering?
Aerosol injection - artificially introducing aerosols into the atmosphere could have a similar cooling effect to a volcano
Marine cloud brightening - spraying saltwater into the clouds above the sea, clouds appear larger and brighter as water droplets increase so the brighter clouds reflect more sunlight
High-albedo crops and buildings
Ocean mirrors
Cloud thinning
Space sunshades
