Topic 14 Flashcards
Greenhouse Gases
Gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation, e.g., carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons. Emissions of CO2, CH4 and N2O have increased since the pre-industrial era, driven largely by economic and population growth, and are now higher than ever. Their effects have been detected throughout the climate system and are extremely likely to have been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century.
Climate Change
a change in global or regional climate patterns, in particular a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels. Warming of the climate system and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia. The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished, and sea level has risen.
Carbon Capture & Sequestration
a set of technologies that can greatly reduce CO2 emissions from new and existing coal- and gas-fired power plants and large industrial sources. CCS is a three-step process that includes:
Fugitive Emissions
emissions of gases or vapors from pressurized equipment due to leaks and other unintended or irregular releases of gases, mostly from industrial activities. As well as the economic cost of lost commodities, fugitive emissions contribute to air pollution and climate change.
Carbon Tax
a tax on fossil fuels, especially those used by motor vehicles, intended to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide
Cap and Trade
A regulatory system that is meant to reduce certain kinds of emissions and pollution and to provide companies with a profit incentive to reduce their pollution levels faster than their peers. Under a cap-and-trade program, a limit (or “cap”) on certain types of emissions or pollutions is set, and companies are permitted to sell (or “trade”) the unused portion of their limits to other companies that are struggling to comply
Kyoto Protocol
an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which commits its Parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets; was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on December 11 1997. The protocol puts the obligation to reduce current emissions on developed countries on the basis that they are historically responsible for the current levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As a result, it sets binding emission reduction targets for 37 industrialized countries, mostly members of the EU. These targets add up to an average five per cent emissions reduction compared to 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008 to 2012. The Protocol’s first commitment period started in 2008 and ended in 2012. A second commitment period was proposed in 2012, known as the Doha Amendment, which would commit only Europe to further CO2 reductions until 2020 but has yet to be ratified.
Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)
The European Union greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme was born on January 1 2005, and covers carbon dioxide emissions from six sectors of heavy industry, including electricity generation, steel-making, cement-making, pulp and paper, and glass. Companies covered by the scheme may emit only a certain quota of carbon dioxide each year, and are issued with carbon permits for every ton of the quota. They can trade these permits with each other. In successive phases of the scheme, the quota is reduced so that the overall emissions fall.
Climate Development Mechanism
one of the flexibility mechanisms defined in the Kyoto Protocol (IPCC, 2007) that provides for emissions reduction projects which generate Certified Emission Reduction units which may be traded in emissions trading schemes. It intends to meet two objectives: (1) to assist parties not included in Annex 1 ( the developed countries) in achieving sustainable development and in contributing to the ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which is to prevent dangerous climate change; and (2) to assist parties included in Annex I in achieving compliance with their quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments (greenhouse gas (GHG) emission caps).
RGGI
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative; regulate emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants with a capacity of 25 MW or greater located within the RGGI States.
Social Cost of Carbon
an estimate of the economic damages associated with a small increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, conventionally one metric ton, in a given year. This dollar figure also represents the value of damages avoided for a small emission reduction (i.e. the benefit of a CO2 reduction). The SCC is meant to be a comprehensive estimate of climate change damages and includes, but is not limited to, changes in net agricultural productivity, human health, and property damages from increased flood risk. However, given current modeling and data limitations, it does not include all important damages. As noted by the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, it is “very likely that [SCC] underestimates” the damages
Abatement Cost
A cost borne by many businesses for the removal and/or reduction of an undesirable item that they have created. Abatement costs are generally incurred when corporations are required to reduce negative externalities, like carbon, created during production
Abatement Curve
A marginal abatement cost curve or MAC curve is a set of options available to an economy to reduce pollution. They are valuable tools in understanding emissions trading, driving forecasts of carbon allowance prices, prioritizing investment opportunities, and shaping policy discussions
Parasitic Energy Requirements
Parasitic load is the non-useful energy produced. Parasitic energy requirements refer to the power used to run the emission mitigation machinery such as the regeneration of CO2 capture sorbents, compression of captured CO2 for transport and injection, the additional tower to minimize SO2 emission and the production of oxygen in oxy-fuel systems
Greenhouse Gases
Gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation, e.g., carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons. Emissions of CO2, CH4 and N2O have increased since the pre-industrial era, driven largely by economic and population growth, and are now higher than ever. Their effects have been detected throughout the climate system and are extremely likely to have been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century.
