Energy Security and Climate Change Impacts

Energy security

The ability to secure affordable, reliable and sufficient energy supplies for the needs of a particular country.

Energy choices

Depend on factors made by society, including availability of supply, technological developments, politics, economics, cultural attitudes, sustainability, and environmental considerations.

Approaches to meeting increasing energy demands - Ecocentric

Focuses on reducing consumption and making humans live within their means.

Approaches to meeting increasing energy demands - Technocentric

Involves using technology to minimize pollution and create alternative energy sources.

Sources of energy - Renewable

Energy sources that are sustainable and do not deplete natural capital, including solar, wind, geothermal, water, wood, and biofuel.

Sources of energy - Non-renewable

Energy sources that are not sustainable and finite, such as gas, oil, coal, and nuclear.

Peak oil

The point at which the maximum amount of oil production is reached, after which production is expected to decline.

CO2 emissions

Emissions from energy sources, with lower emission sources including solar, wind, geothermal, water, wood, biofuel, and nuclear, and higher emission sources including gas, oil, and coal.

Energy in NZ

New Zealand's energy profile, with main sources being hydropower, wind, geothermal, gas, and coal, mainly renewable but with non-renewable sources producing CO2.

Climate vs weather

Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate is the average weather pattern over a long period, showing long-term trends.

Greenhouse gases

Gases like water vapor, CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, and CFCs that trap heat energy in the troposphere, crucial for sustaining life on earth.

Greenhouse effect

The process where greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb and re-emit longwave radiation, warming the earth's surface and lower atmosphere.

Greenhouse gases - Water

The most abundant natural greenhouse gas, contributing to heating of the ocean surface and lower atmosphere.

Greenhouse gases - Methane (CH4)

An effective absorber of longwave radiation, with sources including coal mines, natural gas, and microbial decomposition in various environments.

Greenhouse gases - Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

Agricultural and industrial sources of this greenhouse gas, produced from anaerobic denitrification processes and high-temperature combustion of fossil fuels.

Greenhouse gases - CFC's and halocarbons

Gases that contribute to warming and ozone depletion, with sources like foam, cleaners, aerosol sprays, and refrigeration coolants, but have been phased out globally.

Greenhouse gases - Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

A naturally present gas that has increased in concentration due to burning fossil fuels, affecting plant growth and deforestation.

CO2 Levels and Global Temperature

Elevated levels of CO2 and other greenhouse gases are strongly correlated with an enhanced greenhouse effect, leading to increased global temperatures.

Evidence of Earth's temperature increase

Indicators like rising global temperatures, sea level rise, melting ice caps, glacial retreat, and increasing extreme weather events point to global warming.

Global Warming

Increase in earth's temperature due to human activities

Deforestation

Clearing of forests leading to loss of carbon sink

Ocean Acidification

Increase in acidity of ocean waters due to absorption of CO2

Biome Distribution

Geographical areas with distinct ecosystems

Global Dimming

Pollution reducing the amount of radiation reaching earth

Greenhouse Gases

Gases trapping heat in the earth's atmosphere

Carbon Sinks

Natural environments absorbing and storing CO2

Biomass

Renewable organic material used as fuel

Mitigation

Actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Adaptation

Measures to reduce vulnerability to climate change effects

Carbon Tax

Fixed price on emitting carbon with abatement determined by emitters

Carbon Trade

System fixing carbon emissions with emitters determining permit prices

Flood Defences

Structures to protect against flooding

Desalination Plants

Facilities converting seawater to drinkable water

Global Summits

Meetings shaping sustainability attitudes and actions

Public Media

Influential in shaping public opinion, e.g., 'An Inconvenient Truth' by Al Gore

IPCC

Intergovernmental UN body advancing knowledge on human-induced climate change

Montreal Protocol

International treaty to protect ozone layer by phasing out CFC production

Rio Earth Summit

Gathering focusing on human socio-economic impact on the environment

UNFCCC

Treaty combating human impacts on climate, aiming to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions

Kyoto Protocol

Treaty limiting greenhouse gas emissions, not highly successful

NAPA

Plans submitted to UNFCCC by LEDCs for urgent climate change adaptation needs

Paris Agreement

Legally binding treaty aiming to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius

COP26

UNFCCC main decision-making body, held in Glasgow resulting in 'Glasgow Climate Pact'

COP15

Focused on biodiversity, included clear targets and finance alignment

COP27

Held in Egypt, aimed to turn previous agreements into action

COP28

Took place in Dubai, focused on accelerating climate action by 2030

Sea Level Rise

Result of human-caused global warming, influenced by melting ice and greenhouse gases

Price on Climate Pollution

Imposes a cost on emitting greenhouse gases to discourage pollution

Emissions Trading

Market-based approach putting a price on emissions to reduce greenhouse gases

Controversy: Polar Bears

Dependent on sea ice, facing threats due to declining Arctic sea ice extent