H Geography - Global Issues - Global Climate Change - Management Strategies

Management Strategies for Climate Change

• The government encourages households to reduce, reuse, and recycle products so that less refuse is sent to landfill sites. This reduces the amount of methane entering the atmosphere.

• Households could reduce their energy consumption by insulating their homes or switching lights off

• All newly built houses in Scotland since 2024 have low carbon heating systems

• People could be encouraged to use public transport, walk, cycle, or use hybrid or electric cars to cut down on fossil fuel consumption. However hybrid and electric cars are expensive to purchase.

• Disposal of older fridges should be managed carefully to ensure CFC gases don’t escape and contribute to trapping heat. However, older fridges are still common in low income countries which could lead to an issue in the future.

• Government policies such as “Helping Households to cut their Energy Bills” encouraged the use of smart meters to improve energy efficiency. However, the deadline was moved to 2025 as the technology was not ready.

• Increasing the use of low carbon technologies such as windfarms. The UK government is committed to creating 20% of energy by renewable sources. In 2020 97% of Scotland’s electricity demand was met by renewables.

• The Paris Agreement outlined agreements between leaders of developed and developing countries to limit climate change to below a 2°C rise.

• To prepare for extreme weather events such as flooding, defences could be built to hold back flood water. For example, the Thames Flood Barrier is a series of gates which can be raised across the river to prevent sea water from flooding London. This has successfully protected London from flooding on numerous occasions. However, a second barrier may be needed to cope with flooding beyond 2070.

• The UK has implemented hosepipe bans to reduce water usage in drought periods but these are unpopular and difficult to enforce.

• A desalination plant has been built in London to provide additional fresh water in periods of drought. This uses 100% renewable energy to operate. However, some feel the money should have been invested in reducing water wastage.

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