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Energy & Development > Unit 6 - Environmental Implication > Flashcards

Unit 6 - Environmental Implication Flashcards

1
Q

UNFCCC definition of climate change

A

a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.

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2
Q

UNFCCC distinction between CC and climate variability

A

CC = purely anthropogenic phenomenon caused by human activities altering the composition of the athmosphere

Climate Variability = attributed to natural causes

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3
Q

IPCC definition climate change

A

A change in the state of the climate that can be identified (using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. It refers to any change in climate over time, wether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity.

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4
Q

How are energy use and CC linked?

A
  • about 70% of all GHG emissions worldwide come from energy related activities.
  • energy use impacts are assumed to exceed the impact from other sources like land-use and other industrial activities.
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5
Q

What are the atmospheric concentrations of CO2

A

Pre-industrial level is 280 ppm
2005 - 380 ppm
2007 - 396 ppm
2013 - 400 ppm

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6
Q 
Increased levels of: 
CO2
MH4
N2O
Since pre-industrial times
A 
CO2 = 40%
MH4 = 150%
N2O = 20%

(IPPC, 2014)

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7
Q

What is the greenhouse effect?

A

The athmosphere controls the heat budget of the earth
Incoming solar radiation has short wavelength, the outgoing terrestrial radiation (heat) has a longer wavelenght
Different gases absorp different wavelenghts: absorption spectrum
Little incoming solar radiation is absorbed but a lot of outgoing terrestrial radiation = heat is retained in the atmosphere
This depends on the composition of the atmosphere as some gasses absorb more than other gases.

This is a natural process that keeps the earth at around 20 degrees warmer as without.

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8
Q

Anthropogenic GHGes

A 
CO2
CH4
N2O - nitrous oxide
HFCs - hydrofluorocarbons
PFCs - perfluorocarbons
SF6 - sulfur hexafluoride

+ water vapour (not anthropogenic)
+ ozone (not anthropogenic)

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9
Q

The importance of different gases in promoting global warming depends upon:

A

1) their concentration in the atmosphere
2) the GH effect of each molecule as a result of their absorption of radiation, a consequence of their chemical structure
3) the length of time that the gases stay in the atmosphere

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10
Q

The global warming potential (GWP)

A

The estimate of the GWP compared with the same quantity of CO2 in CO2equivalent

  • greenhouse effect of each molecule (absorption rate)
  • length of time in the atmosphere
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11
Q

What is the anthropogenic green house effect?

A

An accumulation of heat-absorbing (or heat-trapping) GHGs in the atmosphere.
As long as the atmospheric concentrations of GHG remain constant, there is no imbalance in the radiative budget of the earth, and no radiateive forcing and no CC.

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12
Q

Reasons of accumulation of GHGs:

A
  1. as a result of human activities (especially the combustion of fossil fuels)
  2. Sinks are destroyed and degraded (as a result of human activity)
    - release previously stored sinks
    - loss of absorbtion
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13
Q

Explain the 2 degree target and its likelihood to be reached

A

The global mean surface temperature has risen by 0.85 +/- 0.2 degres C between 1880 and 2012.

2 degrees C is by 2100 threshold is between acceptable and daberous climate change.

For a 50% chance of achieving the 2 degree target, a global atmospheric CO2 equivalent concentration of 400-450ppm should not be exceeded which would require an immediate reduction of global GHG emissions of about 60-80 % by 2100.

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14
Q

Impacts of climate change:

A
  1. Temperature rise
  2. More extreme weather events
  3. irreversible changes to the earth’s ecosystem, especially the oceans, which are a large absorber of CO2 and become more acidified 4. Changes in cryosphere
  4. Sea level rise
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15
Q

The reasons for sea level rise

A
  • thermal expansion of the ocean

- melting water

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16
Q

CC impact on oceans

A

Oceans have absorbed >80% of the heat added to the climate system.

Rise:
1901-2010 a rise of 1.7mm/year
1971-2010 a rise of 2.0mm/year
1993-2010 a rise of 3.2mm/year

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17
Q

CC impact on cryosphere

A

The

  • greenland ice sheet
  • antartic ice sheet
  • worldwide glaciers
  • artic sea ice

Have declines

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18
Q

CC impact on weather events

A

The number of disaster risks has increased:

  • Increased heavy percipitation events,
  • more frequent droughts,
  • increases in tropical cyclones
  • increased flooding

CC related disasters accounted for about 45% of he deaths and 80% of economic losses caused by natural hazards.

19
Q

Main forms of natural resource depletion and degradation because of energy use:

A
  1. Fossil fuel depletion
  2. Deforestation
  3. Water
  4. Land
  5. Degredation/loss of ecosystems, biodiversity, habitat and teh destruction of landscapes
  6. Uranium mining & radioactive waste
  7. Black carbon
20
Q

Fossil fuel carateristics

A

High carbon content
Includes coal, oil and natural gas
Has been formed over millions of years from the organic remains of prehistoric animals and plants.

21
Q

Two most environmentally unfriendly forms of fossil fuel resource depletion:

A
  1. Coal mining: destruction and degradation of natural econsystems and landscapes (above and underground) - loss of habitat for animals&plants and threats to biodiversity.
  2. Oil field exploration (on and offshore): destruction and degradation of natural ecosystems, landscapes and habitats for animals and plants, including marine ecosystems. This also comes with high risk of polluting rivers, oceans, groundwater and other water bodies.
22
Q

What is peak oil (and peak coal)

A

Peak Oil is the concept that describes first an increase in oil production up to a peak and afterwards a decline in all production: it is the point of maximum oil production.

People argue if this has already been reached or not. UK ERC suggests it will happen before 2030.

People are using it so much quicker than it is being produced.

Peak coal could be before 2020 (Roper, 2013)

23
Q

Energy security

A

Energy security is defined as availability of affordable energy supply at adequate times, in adequate quantities and adequate quality to an extent that guarantees the economic and social development of a country.

(IPCC, 2014)

  1. The sufficiency of resources to meet national energy demand at competitive and stable prices
  2. The resilience of the energy system
24
Q

OPEC

A

Organization of the petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

Depending on imports from these countries may be a risk to national energy security and could jeopardise economic growth and prosperity.

25
Q

The increase of consumption of traditional biofuels is mainly due to:

And it can lead to:

A
  1. Population growth
  2. The unavailability of alternative fuels
  3. Changes in income
  4. Degree of urbanisation
  5. Degree of industrialisation

Decrease of woodlands and forest:

  • deforestation
  • erosion
  • desertification
  • loss of biodiversity
  • negative impact on water and food security
  • loss of natural protection
26
Q

Relationship energy and deforestation

A

People rely on collecting fallen branches etc or on felling trees. Especially for charcoal making felling trees is frequent. Can lead to decrease in of woodlands and forests which could lead to deforestation, erosion and desertification > decrease in biodiversity and negative impacts on water and food security.

27
Q

What is the fuel wood gap

A

Based on the assumption that fuel wood collection leads to large scale deforestation and not enough forest supply to meet growing demand: gap in fuel wood supply.

Rejected in 1990 no direct link between large-scale deforestation due to fuel wood collection. But other factors:

  1. Transforming forest into agricultural land
  2. Natural resource extraction
  3. Mining
  4. Buidling sites.

ALSO FOR CLEARING LAND (LAND GRABS) FOR BIOFUEL PRODUCTION.

High degree of uncertainthy for this link.

28
Q

what is fracking and the downsides

A

Hydraulic fracturing or fracking
A method of extracting unconventional fossil fuels such as shale gas, tight gas, tight oil and coal bed methane.
Water, sand and chemicals are injected in boreholes/deep rock formations.

Expensive and requires a lot of energy and water
Millions of tons of freshwater are needed for small shale gas well.

Potential contamination of ground water due to the use of chemicals
Health concerns
Release of air pollutants and GHG emissions

29
Q

What is embedded water or virtual water?

A

Water that is embedded within products and services, in energy this applies to water embodied in power plants, nuclear reactors, wind turbines, solar panels, grids and electricity generation.

30
Q

What is the waterfootprint?

A

the volume of water needed for the production of goods and services consumed by the inhabitants of that country (Hoeks and Chapagain, 2007)

Largest share comes from Agri products (especially crops, cereals, animal products)

31
Q

4 factors affect the water footprint of a country:

Hoekstra and Mekonnen, 2012

A
  1. Volume of water consumption
  2. Consumption patter (high/low meat consumption for example)
  3. Climate and growth conditions
  4. Agricultural practices, water use efficiency
32
Q

Energy related water pollution:

A
  1. Fracking
  2. Embedded/virtual water of energy extraction, generation and use
  3. Water pollution from oil resources (oil spills, oil rigs, shipping)
  4. Hydropower
33
Q

Hydropower dams come with a series of environemental impacts:

A
  1. Decline in water quality
  2. Changes in river flow and hydrology (impact up- and downstream)
  3. Changes to sediment loads
  4. Eutrophication
  5. Impacts on aquatic fauna and flora
  6. Geomorphological changes
  7. Risk of landslides
  8. Dam-induces seismicity
34
Q

The biofuel generations

A
  1. First generation - edible biomass-based starch, sugar or vegetable oil - food products like corn, wheat, cereals, cassave, sugar beets, sugar cane for bioethanol or soy, jatropha, palm oil for biodiesel.
  2. Second generation - feedstock and waste
  3. Third generation - advanced,/unconventional biofuels - algae, cellulose and other forms of plant biomass which it harder to extract fuel.
35
Q

Definition of Air Pollution

A

A situation in which substances that result from anthropogenic activities are present at concentrations sufficiently high above their normal ambient levels to produce a measurable effect on humans, animals, vegetation or materials.

36
Q

Local air pollution

A

The combustion of fossil fuels from transport and industry and hh’s

Emissions of SO2, CO, NOx, pm’s, HC’s (hydrocarbons) VOCs (voletile organic compounds).

O3 could form from a chamical reaction of NOx and HCs.

Another problem is SMOG - causes cell damage to plants

Especially in urban areas.

37
Q

Transboundary pollution sources

A
  1. Acid Rain
  2. Ozone

Example: trafic jam, lots of emissions of NOx and HCs in the air. Hours later, kilometers away the sun shines and ozone is formed.

38
Q

What are socio-economic effects (co-benefits) of energy mitigation options

A

Employment
Energy security
Better access to energy services in rural areas (rural development)

39
Q

What are the main mitigation options?

A

IPCC, 2014

  1. Energy efficiency
  2. Reduction of fugitive non-CO2 GHG emissions
  3. Fuel switch (coal to natural gas)
  4. RE
  5. Nuclear
  6. CCS
40
Q

Measures to try to attracht private-sector capital to invest in GHG mitigation scenario’s:

A
  1. Climate investment funds
  2. Carbon pricing
  3. FIT’s
  4. RE quota’s
  5. RE tendering/bidding schemes
  6. Carbon offset markets
  7. Removal of fossil fuel subsidies
  8. Private/public initiatives aimed at lowering barriers for investors.
41
Q

The path dependency of the energy sector:

A

Typical lifetime of fossil energy systems are 30-40 years, and for e- and gas-infra 25-50years.

If trends continue (IEA, 2011) by 2015 at least 90% of the available “carbon budget” will be allocated to existing energy and industrial infrastructure and in a small number of subsequent years there will be extremely little room for manoeuvre at all (450ppm scenario).

Effective (high carbon) lock in.

42
Q

(IPCC, 2014) most countries combine policy instruments from 3 domains:

A
  1. Economic instruments - to guide investments of profit maximizing firms
  2. Information and regulation approaches - to guide choices where economic instruments are politically not feasible or not fully reflected in satisficing behaviour of private actors.
  3. Innovation and infrastructure policies - reflecting public investment in long term transformation needs.
43
Q

Annual CO2 emissions

A

2005 - 25 Gt
2010 - 30 Gt
2011 - 32 Gt

44
Q

Acid rain causes

A

Acidification of water bodies and forest die-back

Death of fish and aquatic organisms

Energy & Development (10 decks)

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