Unit 7: climate change energy production

Non-renewable energy

Gas, coal, oil (nuclear)?

Renewable energy

Solar, wind, geo-thermal,hydro-electric, tidal, etc

Non- renewable energy advantages

• Cheaper and easier

• Generally accessible

• No need to technological developments

Non-renewable disadvantages

• Will eventually run out

• Heavily pollutant ( not nuclear) → increases gw

Renewable energy advantages

• Low carbon emissions (when running, not making)

• Won’t run out

• Generally accessible (sun & wind)

Renewable energy disadvantages

• Move expensive

• Not as efficient

• Needs technological →only few places produce→ needs maintaining/ changing

• Some aren’t accessible (tidal, hydros)

What is hydro-electric energy?

is the natural flow of water and gravity and turns it into energy

How does hydro work (generates)?

• Water needs to move at a sufficient speed and volume to turn a turbine

• Turbine turns the generator that converts kinetic energy into electrical energy

Advantages of hydro?

• Can be sustainable and unpolluting

• Is inexpensive in the long run

• Is flexible - energy is constant

• we can control the amount of water needed

Disadvantages to hydro?

• Blocking rivers to create dams → damage habitats,block the migration of fish, displace local communities

• Can be expensive up-front

• Unavailable everywhere due to geographical locations

Energy security

The ability a country has to secure all its energy requirements

→ depends on adequate, affordable, reliable supply of energy that provides degree of independence

Reasons for insecurity

• Dependence on other countries/nations

• Costs → going into debt

• Political instability

• Conflicts (between countries)

• Increase and demands

• decrease in reserves

• Global warming and natural disasters

• Terrorist activity (eg . Iraq)

Potential for conflict

There is an inbetween having and not having enough energy.

If one country has more energy than it needs the other country that lives in energy insecurity could attack

Factors of energy choice

• Availability

• sustainability

• Scientific/technological development → LEDs are disadvantage

• Politics

• Economics / cost

• Cultural attitudes

• Environmental factors (geographical location)

Energy conservation: what do we do about reducing energy demands

• Smart meters

• Enhanced environmental standards

• Reduced energy use and emissions of CO2

• Reduction of waste

• Improved thermal efficiency of windows and doors

• Reduction of heat loss between walls

• Energy efficient domestic appliances

• Use less (turn things off when not in use)

Climate vs. Weather

weather - day-to-day / hr-to-hr change, specific location

Climate- change over decades, less specific location (over regions)

Systems that drive climate / weather

• Ocean circulation systems

  → the great ocean conveyor belt

• Atmospheric circulators system

  → air motion

Greenhouse gases and human activity

• CO2 is what is emitted the most but contributes the least to GW

  → because it is the worst at trapping heat

• Sulfure hexaflourine contributes the most

  → out of CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, HFCs, PFCs and SF

Global climate models predictions:

• An increase in frequency and intensity of extreme weather events

• A rise in sea levels

• Biomes moving towards poles and higher altitudes

• Extinction of species

Model predictions on possible effects for humans:

• Water shortages (increased conflict)

• Agricultural relocation (towards poles)

• Decrease in food production

• Coastal residence relocations

• Increase in tropical diseases

Problems with global climate models

• Complex - interactions between atmosphere, ocean, and land masses

• Predicting is difficult

• Natural human forces at work (explosives/fire works, etc)

• Not all feedback mechanisms are fully understood

• Long-term effects of some process are still unknown

Air pollution has a cooling affect?

Pollutant particles create a kind of barrier to solar radiation

For example: planes leave vapour trails reflect lightwaves and heat from the sun

Mitigation

Going to the source directly to stop the problem

Efforts to reduce GHG

• Reduction of energy consumption

• Reduction of emissions of NOx and CH4

• Use alternative energy sources

• Geo-engineering

Efforts to reduce CO2 (CDR)

• Protecting and enhancing Carbon sinks

  → protection of forest, coral reefs, etc.

• Use biomass (waste products) as fuel sources

• Use carbon capture and storage (CCS)

• Improve CO2 absorption in the oceans

  → fertilising the oceans (could cause eutrophication)

  → whale babies (increasing sperm whale population)

Adaptation

How we can live with the problem / move around it

Adaptation strategies

• Flood defences

• Vaccination programs

• Desalination plants (for water shortages)

• Changing location of crops

The general problem of p politics of CO2

Lack of incentive to change → especially when solutions ave move expensive

Solution to politics of CO2

• Carbon taxes

• Carbon trading

• Carbon offset

Political obstacles

Major fossil fuel countries

→ Canada, China, Russia, USA, and countries in the middle east

Political efforts:

• Kyoto protocol

• Paris agreement

• IPCCN

• UNFCC - NAPAs

Kyoto protocol → Dec, 11,1997 (legally binding)

Meds ave forced to reduce their carbon emissions due to their historical emissions and high capacity

LEDs were forced to prioritize their economic development

Paris agreement → Dec 12, 2015 (legally binding)

• Preventing the average global temperature from going above 2°C(frompre-industrial levels)

• Encourage developed countries to set carbon neurtrality goals

  → provided money and funds to developing nations

Rio earth summit → June 3, 1992

• Create broad agendas / blueprints that guide international cooperation and development

• Produced 5 major international agreements

IPCC →intergovermental panel on climate change

They establish logical foundations for policy making so they can develop sustainable climate related strategies