MITIGATION STRATEGIES FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PRODUCTION

To replace fossil fuels with alternative, often renewable sources of energy. Hydroelectric power
(HEP), solar, wind, nuclear powers and tides
-low carbon alternatives
-the burning of fossil fuels accounts for 87% of all CO2 emissions.
Investments in renewable energy projects- new nuclear reactor at Hinkley Point in Somerset
-Jaisalmer Wind Park in the Thar desert
hydroelectricity affects rivers/wildlife

CARBON CAPTURE

Carbon capture and storage (CSS) uses technology to capture CO2 from burning fossil fuels in
electricity generation and industrial processes
-Once captured, CO2 is compressed, piped, and injected as a liquid underground for long-term
storage in suitable geological reservoirs
example: The Orca Plant, in Hellishiedi, Iceland, the world’s first large-scale carbon dioxide
removal plant
Reduces cost of CO2 and removes CO2 from the atmosphere
expensive, takes up a lot of space

PLANTING TREES

Trees act as carbon sinks, removing CO2 from the atmosphere by photosynthesis.
Reduces solar radiation
Plantations more efficient at absorbing CO2 than natural forests
time-consuming, needs a lot of land, expensive
example: China bid to plant 36,000 square kilometres of trees, 70 billion trees by 2030

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

aims to manage climate change through uniting countries and creating awareness about the global
problem
-governments working towards a more sustainable future

2005- The Kyoto Protocol

first international treaty, over 170 countries agreed to reduce CO2 emissions by an average of 5.2%
below the 1990 levels by 2012, only USA and Australia refused to sign treaty
2009- Copenhagen
The Copenhagen Accord- pledged to reduce emissions with financial support for developing nations
to help them cope- no legally binding agreement
2015- Paris Agreement
195 countries adopted first ever legally binding climate deal. Aimed to keep global temperature below
2°C, review progress every five years and $100 billion a year to support climate change initiatives in
developing countries by 2020
criticism that agreements are ‘promises’ not firm commitments
countries can step out of agreements if fines become too high, like Canada (expensive)
Cop26- goal to reach Net-Zero