water and carbon -mitigating climate change Flashcards
what is meant by climate change mitigation?
.refers to the efforts to reduce or prevent emission of greenhouse gases
what was the panel that was set up by the UN called?
Intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC)
what was the point in the IPCC?
.to share knowledge about climate change
what does the IPCC state?
.states that countries need to reduce the amount of co2 emitted by human activity to prevent larger temperature rise
what are the 2 types of mitigation for climate change?
.reducing the transfer of carbon to the atmosphere
.increase store of carbon in biosphere and lithosphere
how many mitigation strategies are there?
4
what is carbon capture and storage?
.co2 from combustion process is liquified, piped and returned to lithosphere
what is a positive to CCS?
.potential to contribute 10-5b% of mitigation efforts
.locks carbon away
what is a negative to CCS?
.safety concerns -leaks
.additional expense for industry
what is meant by afforestation?
.planting trees, because photosynthesis removes co2 from the atmosphere to the biosphere
what is as positive to afforestation?
.supported by IPCC -successful with Brazil (reduced deforestation by 70% since 2005)
what is a negative to afforestation?
.not a quick fix as trees take time to mature
how does renewable energy work?
.reduces emissions due to combustion and lessens transfer of co2 to atmosphere
what is a positive to renewable energy?
.investment in sustainable energy -significant potential
what is a negative to renewable energy?
.initial investment is expensive, support needed
how do international emissions agreement work?
.treaties that set a limit on emissions eg -Paris agreement 2015
what is a positive to internal emission agreements?
.participants invest in strategies that keep emissions within limits
what is a negative to international emission agreements?
.hard to enforce
.limits are frequently exceeded
