Responsibilites Of Developed Countries Flashcards
What steps has Norway stated to help move towards sustainable consumption?
- Improving analysis, public awareness and participation
- Providing incentives for sustainable consumption
- Energy: suitable use, efficiency and renewable sources
- Implementing new strategies for transportation and sustainable cities
- Accelerating use of more efficient and cleaner technologies
- Strengthening international action and cooperation
When was the Kyoto Protocol?
1997
What was the main target set in the treaty?
Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 5% of 2990 levels by the nations signed up by 2012
As of 2006 how many countries signed up to the Kyoto Protocol?
- 169 (Representing 61.6% of emissions)
- US not signed up (Many believe they are reluctant to accept targets due to their high energy demand)
Which nations are exempt from the emission reduction targets?
Developing countries e.g. China and India, as they were not formed to be the main contributors in the past
When was the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation formed?
1989, when electricity generation in U.K. was privatised
What was the money raised in the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation used for?
- Originally, subsides the U.K. nuclear power generators
- Now includes renewable energy sector, providing financial support for renewable technologies
In 2002 the U.K. government said what?
Electricity suppliers should source 10% of their supply from renewable technologies by 2010
By 2010 what is wind energy set to account for?
8% of Europe’s electricity
What is a ‘carbon footprint’?
Measure of the impact human activities have in the environment in terms of greenhouse gases produced
Give 4 ways that an individual can save energy in the household
- Energy-saving lightbulbs
- Turning off appliances when not in use
- Car sharing
- Public transport
What is carbon offsetting?
Way of compensating for the emissions produced with an equivalent CO² saving
Give 4 ways a manufacturer can reduce their carbon footprint
- Apply life-cycle assessment to accurately determine carbon footprint
- Identifying ‘hot spots’ in production
- Optimising energy efficiency
- Identifying carbon offsetting solutions to neutralise CO² emissions
Give 6 problems associated with timber production on the forests
- Deforestation (Full-scale removal forests for timber or to make way for infrastructure. Global deforestation rate 17m hectares per year)
- Environmental degradation of forest areas (Result of deforestation, can be soil erosion, watershed stabilisation or micro-climate change)
- Loss of biodiversity (Deforestation and environmental degradation contribute to rapid reduction in ecosystem, species and genetic diversity in forests)
- Loss of cultural assets (Indigenous people’s live are destroyed by deforestation)
- Loss of livelihood (Those dependent on forests in poorer countries suffer)
- Climate change (Forests play major role in carbon storage, with their removal CO² is released)
How can the amount of deforestation and the effect on the environment be minimised?
- No longer import from sources that involve deforestation
- Moving to supply sources in areas of ecological surplus e.g. Brazil
- Certification systems that ensure forest produce good for U.K. are properly managed
- Timber tracing systems to ensure products from certified forest can be identified
- Reducing consumption through education and advisory approaches
- Encouraging exporting countries to make necessary policy changes for suitable forest management
- Supporting international efforts to control the trade of unsustainable timber
- Improving the aid process to poor communities involved in current deforestation
