2.3 RESPONDING TO GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

MITIGATION

Attempts to reduce the causes of climate change

ADAPTATION

Attempts to reduce vulnerability to climate change

greenwashing

making brands appear more sustainable than they actually are

-appear to care while also increasing profit

--> as many eco-conscious ppl will buy from them

Paris Agreement (2015)

-BOTTOM UP (everyone comes to agreement together)

-goal of limiting g warming to 2 degrees C higher than pre ind. levels

-not country specific

Kyoto Protocol (1997)

-developed countries had to reduce their emissions

-had a specific amount of CO2 emissions that they could produce

-many tried finding loopholes, eg China

-TOP DOWN (from scientists/experts)

-carbon credit traded on market (but didn't really work)

The three amigos summit

-Mexico, USA, Canada

-promotes cleaner energy and reduction of hydrofluorocarbons

carbon taxes

tax for each ton of CO2 emitted

carbon trading

system where each country has a permit to produce certain amount of CO2

-can trade units with other countries

-ex 90 and 110 (both benefit from trade)

carbon offsetting

compensating for one's emissions by funding projects that reduce equivalent amount of CO2 elsewhere

**promotes belief that you can continue operating as usual

-ex. additional optional cost when buying plane ticket to plant trees and offset CO2 emissions from flight

exposure

degree you are exposed to sth

-ex. doctors and teachers are more exposed to the flu

vulnerability

determined by exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity

(how much risk and ability to cope/adapt with unfortunate/dangerous events)

sluice gate

gate used in a channel used to control rates of water flow - used in Netherlands and Bangladesh

storm surge

a rising of the sea as a result of atmospheric pressure changes and wind associated with a storm

decarbonization

a decrease in the amount of carbon dioxide (and other GG) emitted into the atmosphere annually per unit of GNP (gross national product)

sensitivity

degree/measure of how hard you will be hit/affected

adaptive capacity

Degree you can reduce potential harm

civil society

Organizations outside of the state that help people define and advance their own interests

risk

a situation involving exposure to danger

-made up of magnitude and probability of hazard

-magnitude X probability

corporate strategies

-companies who make green products or services

ex) solar panel producers

**H&M

--> greenwashes

aerosol injection

-small particles released into atm that cool earth

-aerosol left in atm

DOWNSIDE:

-costly

-consequences: could start raining particles

marine cloud brightening

-spraying saltwater onto clouds

--> become big and fluffy

--> higher albedo

--> more insolation is reflected back into space

cirrus cloud thinning

cirrus clouds are found at high altitudes, and often absorb more sunlight than they reflect

-goal: eliminate/thin cirrus clouds to allow heat to escape into space

ocean fertilization

adding nutrients to the upper (sunlit) layers of the ocean to stimulate phytoplankton growth in an attempt to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels

space sunshade

-sunlight blocking space shield

-extremely expensive

-would block out solar radiation (insolation) and lower earth's temp

geo engineering

-ex: blanket over snow in the mountains!!!

lobbying

lawfully attempting to influence or bribe govt decisions

carbon capture and storage (CCS)

-captures CO2 and stores it deep underground

DOWNSIDE: 1. too expensive

2. carbon might escape from storage

govt intervention

✔

-can operate nationally/internationally

-have lots of money and can pass actual laws

-are usually elected, so represent the people

X

-often short-term thinkers

-governments may have limited money

-may chose 'popular' instead of 'right'