MET 112 Global Climate Change: Lecture 14

1. MET 112 Global Climate Change: Lecture 14 Energy & Climate Change Mitigation Dr. Craig Clements

2. Energy and Climate Change • Obviously, one of the main issues related to climate change is the burning of fossil fuels • Thus, energy use, and the continuing demand for energy are central to the challenges of climate change.

3. Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Country Data from 2006, Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC)

5. Tons of CO2 emitted per capita

8. US CO2 Emissions • Total emissions ~ 5,788.5 million metric tons • ~ 22 metric tons per person • Industry: 35% • Transportation: 33% • Residences: 18% • Commercial: 14% • 1,600 million metric tons due to personal use (~33%) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJpj8UUMTaI

9. Average US Personal Energy Use (Per Person) • Automobile fuel: 38 gallons per month Natural Gas: 15 therms per month • Electricity: 190 Kilowatt-hours per month • Airline Miles flown  147 miles per monthTotal: • Latest estimate ~ 17,600 lbs of CO2 • Kyoto allowance (for US): ~11,000 pounds • To stabilize climate (550ppm): 4,700 pounds

11. Mitigation of climate change • Mitigation: • Steps taken to avoid or minimize negative environmental impacts. • Mitigation can include: • avoiding the impact by not taking a certain action; • minimizing impacts by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action; • rectifying the impact by repairing or restoring the affected environment

12. Figure: Courtesy of IPCC

13. IPCC Assessment Report • IPCC-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change • Greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise (warming). “The balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence on global climate” (IPCC) 1997 "There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities.“ (IPCC),2001 (IPCC) 2007

14. IPCC Assessment Report • IPCC-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change • Greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise (warming). “The balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence on global climate” (IPCC) 1997 "There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities.“ (IPCC),2001 The IPCC finds that it is “very likely” that emissions of heat-trapping gases from human activities have caused “most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century. (IPCC) 2007

15. The Kyoto Protocol 1997 (in effect 2005) • A United Nations sponsored effort: • Calls for reductions of greenhouse gas emissions by industrialized countries of 5.2 per cent below 1990 levels. • The Protocol will go into force after • The protocol has been ratified by a minimum of 55 countries. • The ratifying nations comprise 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions. • Current status: • 156 countries have signed accounting for 61% of global CO2. • US not planning on signing protocol (US accounts for 36% of CO2 emitted) • Kyoto protocol went into force in Feb 2005

16. Articles of the Kyoto Protocol • Aim: • Ways to reduce increasing GHG • Goals: • Enhancement of energy efficiency in relevant sectors of the national economy

18. Articles of the Kyoto Protocol • Aim: • Ways to reduce increasing GHG • Goals: • Enhancement of energy efficiency in relevant sectors of the national economy • Protection and enhancement of sinks

20. Articles of the Kyoto Protocol • Aim: • Ways to reduce increasing GHG • Goals: • Enhancement of energy efficiency in relevant sectors of the national economy • Protection and enhancement of sinks • Promote sustainable agriculture

22. Articles of the Kyoto Protocol • Aim: • Ways to reduce increasing GHG • Goals: • Enhancement of energy efficiency in relevant sectors of the national economy • Protection and enhancement of sinks • Promote sustainable agriculture • Research and promote new and renewable energy

24. Altamont Pass, California

25. Geothermal

26. Hydro power

27. Tidal power

28. Articles of the Kyoto Protocol • Aim: • Ways to reduce increasing GHG • Goals: • Enhancement of energy efficiency in relevant sectors of the national economy • Protection and enhancement of sinks • Promote sustainable agriculture • Research and promote new and renewable energy • Phase out any incentives for ‘bad practice’

30. Articles of the Kyoto Protocol • Aim: • Ways to reduce increasing GHG • Goals: • Enhancement of energy efficiency in relevant sectors of the national economy • Protection and enhancement of sinks • Promote sustainable agriculture • Research and promote new and renewable energy • Phase out any incentives for ‘bad practice’ • Encourage ‘good practices’

33. If you buy an electric car, what is the most likely energy source • Natural gas • Coal • Petroleum

34. Articles of the Kyoto Protocol • Aim: • Ways to reduce increasing GHG • Goals: • Enhancement of energy efficiency in relevant sectors of the national economy • Protection and enhancement of sinks • Promote sustainable agriculture • Research and promote new and renewable energy • Phase out any incentives for ‘bad practice’ • Encourage ‘good practices’ • Cut GHG from aviation

35. Kyoto Targets • National targets • European Union - 8% below 1990 levels • USA - 7% below 1990 • Japan - 6% below 1990 • Russia 0% (stay at 1990 levels) • Australia 8% (over 1990 levels) • Developing countries (no target) • China, India etc.

36. Kyoto Targets: Developing countries • The UN Framework on Climate has agreed: • The largest share of historical and current global emissions of greenhouse gases • has originated in developed countries; • Per capita emissions in developing countries • are still relatively low; • The share of global emissions originating in developing countries • will grow to meet their social and development needs.

37. Emissions Trading • Each country has an emission limit. • If this country cannot meet it’s target, it may purchase carbon credits from other countries (on the open market) who are under their limit. • This financially rewards countries that meet their targets. • Example of Russia • Countries also receive carbon credits through • clean energy programs (i.e. greentags) • carbon dioxide sinks (i.e. forests, oceans)

38. CO2 emissions for various scenarios Kyoto’s eventual goal

39. Main reasons the US will not sign the Kyoto Protocol? Economic burden No limits on developing countries (i.e. China, India) Protocol is not going to help much "We will not do anything that harms our economy, because first things first are the people who live in America" - President Bush

40. Solutions - government • Kyoto Protocol • California potential leader

44. Solutions - personal • Transportation • Home • Food • Consumption www.earthday.net : Top 10 Actions; Ecological Footprint

46. Four R’s Rethink Reduce Reuse Recycle

47. Solutions - Consumption • Question your consumption urges • Material versus service based economy • Buy products that are in line with your values

50. Your Carbon Footprint • A Carbon Footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide. • http://www.carbonfootprint.com/