Embedded Files
Significant Ideas
- Mitigation attempts to reduce the causes of climate change.
- Adaptation attempts to manage the impacts of climate change.
7.3_climate_change-mitagation_and_adaptations.pdfMitigation
Mitigation
- Mitigation involves reduction and/or stabilization of GHG emissions and their removal from the atmosphere.
7.3.pdfReduction of emissions
Reduction of emissions
- Mitigation strategies to reduce GHGs in general may include:
- reduction of energy consumption
- reduction of emissions of oxides of nitrogen and methane from agriculture
- use of alternatives to fossil fuels
- geo-engineering.
Removal of GHGs
Removal of GHGs
- Mitigation strategies for carbon dioxide removal (CDR techniques) include:
- protecting and enhancing carbon sinks through land management; for example, through the UN collaborative programme on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (UN-REDD)
- using biomass as a fuel source
- using carbon capture and storage (CCS)
- enhancing carbon dioxide absorption by the oceans through either fertilizing oceans with compounds of nitrogen, phosphorus and iron to encourage the biological pump, or increasing upwellings to release nutrients to the surface.
- Even if mitigation strategies drastically reduce future emissions of GHGs, past emissions will continue to have an effect for decades to come.
Adaptation
Adaptation
- Adaptation strategies can be used to reduce adverse affects and maximize any positive effects. Examples of adaptations include flood defences, vaccination programmes, desalinization plants and planting of crops in previously unsuitable climates.
- Adaptive capacity varies from place to place and can be dependent on financial and technological resources. MEDCs can provide economic and technological support to LEDCs.
- There are international efforts and conferences to address mitigation and adaptation strategies for climate change; for example, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
- Discuss mitigation and adaptation strategies to deal with impacts of climate change.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of international climate change talks.
We covered discussion of mitigation and adapation during the lessons. For international climate change talks:
You should evaluate these strategies with regard to their effectiveness and the implications for MEDCs and LEDCs of reducing CO2 emissions in terms of economic growth and national development.
- A full ratified Kyoto Protocol would achieve a reduction of warming by around 0.5 degree
- Concerns about fair target setting between MEDCs and LEDCs continue to cause disagreement
- International agreements affect large number of people
- Countries may not sign or agree to international agreements
- Concerns about the economic cost and impacts on development are widespread
- Carbon storage in ecosystems are not well understood and difficult to monitor
- Simulated volcanic eruptions are unpredictable and could damage the ozone layer
- Adaptation methods do not require international cooperation
- Emission mitigation attempts over two decades appear to have failed
Consider:
- Was agreement reached: By which countries?
- Do commitments focus on mitigation or adaptation?
- Will the emissions commitments achieve effective reduction in CO2 levels”?
- Did the talks reach consensus, or were they contentious?
- Are the commitments legally binding?
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