Register now or log in to join your professional community.
Technologies and practices for greenhouse-gas mitigation;
A 2007 climate change report released by the global climate authority IPCC re-affirms in no uncertain terms that “there is very high confidence that the net effect of human activities since 1750 has been one of warming.’’
It is, first of all, the types of technology and energy that we use to power our industrialized lifestyles, and, second, the way we use our land, that are causing pollution and driving the process of global warming.
The most important gas interms of quantative emissions isCO2,it accounted for 76%.
Major Greenhouse Gases Contributing to Climate Change;
Greenhouse Gas
Human Source(Examples)
% of Total Global GHG Emissions (2010)
CO2
Fossil fuel combination ,landuse changes,cement production
76%
CH4
Fossil fuel mining /distribution ,livestock ,rice agriculture,landfills
16%
N2O
Agriculture(fertilizers) and associated landuse change
6%
HFCs
Liquid coolants
<2%
PFCs
Refrigerant ,electronics industryand aluminum industry
<2%
SF6
Insulatorin electronics and magnesium industry
<2%
NF3
Eletronics and photovolataic industries
<2%
Global ‘’Carbon Budget’to Avoid Warming Beyond 2degreeC
Total Budgetof Anthrapogenic CO2 emissions to limit warming to 2 dC
Appr.1000GTC .As of 2011,morethan half this amount or over 500GTC,has already been emitted since 1861-1880.
Current annual emissions levels are at 9.5 GTCand are likely to grow everyyear due to popularly growth and economic development patterns
When the effects of other greenhouse gases are included ,evenless CO2 could be emitted to keep below a 2 degree warming.
Total anthropogenic CO2 emission 1870-2011
Remaining ‘’Carbon Budget’’
Lessthan 500GTC.
If annual emissions continue to grow as in pastyears( business asusual scenario)the carbon budget will be exhausted in the next three decades.
If no action is taken ,carbon budget will be exhausted in 30 yrs.
Estimated and Projected levels of Annual GHG Emission;
1990-37GTCO2
2005-45GTCO2
2010-49GTCO2
2020-58GTCO2
Mitigating GHG Gases;A shared Global Responsibility;
1.Global emissions need to be reduced by atleast 50% by 2050.
2.The emission pledges made ,if fully met,place the world on a trajectory for a global warming of wellover 3 0 C by 2100(IPCC SRESAIF) warning-4 0C towards end of 21st century.
3.Without emission reduction in developing countries it will not possible to stay within the maximum temperature increase of 2 0 C.
Table2;Cutting Energy –related emissions in half by 2050 requires deep decarbonization of the power sector;
Estimated % of Carbon that must be removed by sector ,2005-2050
Sector
IEA
Minicam
Power
-71
-87
Building
-41
-50
Transport
-30
+47
Industry
-21
-71
Total
-50
-50
Global Energy mix for 450 ppm CO2e
The 450 ppm CO2e trajectory requires a globalenergy revolution –large reductions in total energy demand demand and major changes in the energy mix.To achieve this ,global climate-energy models call for aggressive energy-efficiency measures that dramatically reduce global energy demand from around 900 exajoules by 2050 under a business –as-usual scenario to 650-750 exajoules –a 17-28 percent cut.
Most models project that fossil fuels would need to drop from 80 percent of energy supply today to 50-60 percent by 2050.The future use of fossilfuels (particularly coal and gas)in a carbon –constrained world depends on widespread use of carbon capture and storage (CCS),which would have to be installed in 80-90 percent of coal plants by 2050 ,assuming that capture –and storage technology becomes technically and economically feasible for large-scale applications in the next decade or two(table).
The energy mix to achieve 450 ppm CO2 e can vary,but we must make use of all options
Current Energy mix
Energy mix in 2050
Global
Global
United States
European Union
China
India
Energytype
% of total
Coal without CCS
26
1-2
0-1
0-2
3-5
2-3
Coal with CCS
0
1-13
1-12
2-9
0-25
3-26
Gas without CCS
21
19-21
20-21
20-22
9-13
5-9
Gas with CCS
0
8-16
6-21
7-31
1-29
3-8
Nuclear
6
8
10-11
10-11
8-12
9-11
Biomass without CCS
10
12-21
10-11
10-11
9-14
16-30
Biomass with CCS
0
2-8
3-9
3-9
1-12
2-12
Non-biomass renewables
3
8-14
7-12
7-12
10-13
5-19
OIL
34
16-21
20-26
11-23
18-20
18-19
Total
493
665-775
87-121
70-80
130-139
66-68
Sources;WDR team
How greenhouse-gas emissions can be stabilized;
Climate Change only makes the challenge more complicated .First, the impacts of a changing climate are already being felt, with more droughts, more floods, more strong storms and more heat waves –taxing individuals, firms and governments ,drawing resources away from development. Second, continuing climate change ,at current rates, will pose increasingly severe challenges to development. By century’s end,it could lead to warming of 50 C or more compared with preindustrial times and to a vastly different world from today, with more extreme weather events ,most ecosystems stressed and changing ,many species doomed to extinction and whole island nations threatened by inundation .Even our best efforts are unlikely to stabilize temperatures at anything less than 20C above preindustrial temperatures ,warming that will require substantial adaptation.
Valuing the co-benefits of energy efficiency and clean energy for development-more energy savings,less local air pollution, greater energy security ,more employment in local industry and greater competitiveness from higher productivity –can justify part of the mitigation cost and increase the appeal of green policies. Energy savings could offset a significant share of mitigation costs.The actions needed for the 450 parts per million (ppm) CO2e concentrations associated with keeping warming at 2degree Centigrade could reduce local air pollution (sulphurdioxide and nitrogen oxides ) by 20-35 percent compared with business asusual in 2030.In 2006 the renewable energy industry created 2.3 million jobs worldwide (directly or indirectly). And energy efficiency added 8 million jobs in the United States .The energy –efficiency and technology innovation programs in California over the past 35 yrs have actually increased gross state product.
Sustainable energy sources include all renewable energy sources. It usually also includes technologies designed to improve energy efficiency.Besides, Moving towards energy sustainability will require changes not only in the way energy is supplied, but in the way it is used, and reducing the amount of energy required to deliver various goods or services is essential. Opportunities for improvement on the demand side of the energy equation are as rich and diverse as those on the supply side, and often offer significant economic benefits.Renewable energy and energy efficiency are sometimes said to be the “twin pillars” of sustainable energy policy. Both resources must be developed in order to stabilize and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Efficiency slows down energy demand growth so that rising clean energy supplies can make deep cuts in fossil fuel use. If energy use grows too fast, renewable energy development will chase a receding target. Likewise, unless clean energy supplies come online rapidly, slowing demand growth will only begin to reduce total emissions; reducing the carbon content of energy sources is also needed. Any serious vision of a sustainable energy economy thus requires commitments to both renewables and efficiency.
Low Carbon andGreen Economy.In a nutshell low carbon development implies ‘’using less carbon growth’’.
The term green economy likewise encompasses the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions but also covers other environmental issues which are not directly related to climate change such as protecting health and environment from mercury.
The greeneconomy concept also puts emphasis on social benefits.
Key Stages in preparing a low Emission Climate Resilent Development Strategy;
1.Develop a multi-stakeholder climate planning process
2.Prepare climatechange profiles and vulnerability scenarios.
3.identify Strategic options leading to low emission ,climate resilent development.
4.Identify policies and financing options to implement priority climate change actions.
5.prepare lowemission climate –resilent development roadmap.
Low Carbon Development;
1-political vision
2-Redirecting Investment
3.Sustainable Consumption
The onset of climate change has come about following over 200 years' worth of unchecked manmade activity that's had a negative impact on the world around us - from deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels to driving cars or throwing away perfectly useable materials.
Now, we're beginning to feel the effects of climate change around the globe. Scientists estimate that by the end of the 21st century, temperatures in the summer of over 40 degrees Celsius could be commonplace in the UK.
While we can't undo the damage caused to the environment, we can help decelerate the rate of change - and long-term, change the fate of the planet altogether. Half the problem for us as individuals, however, is the knowing where to start.
To help you get to grips with climate change, we've identified several key areas we should all be addressing in our day to day lives to help you get started. We hope you'll find that becoming more environmentally friendly isn't as difficult as you might think!.
Thanks.
M. ARIF KHAN
