ESS Unit 7: Climate Change And Energy Security

Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse Gases

Gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming. The main greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and water vapor. These gases are released through human activities.

Fossil Fuels (Oil, Coal, and Natural Gases)

Non-renewable sources of energy formed from the compressed, decomposed remains of organic life.

Pros: easy to set up, relatively cheap, high energy source

Cons: not sustainable, extraction destroys habitats, Combustion produces air pollutants that contribute to photochemical smog and acid deposition

Nuclear Power

Pros: abundant energy is produced, long lifespan, low GHGs emissions

Cons: non-renewable, nuclear accidents (Chernobyl), high costs

Renewable Energy

Energy from a source that is not depleted when used. It will not run out.

Solar, Wind, Tidal, Geothermal, Wave, Hydroelectric.

Solar Power

Pros: silent (no noise pollution), cheap to operate, doesn’t produce air pollutants

Cons: production of panels produces pollution, limited energy due to the dependency in sunlight.

Wind Power

Pros: doesn’t produce air pollutants, cheap to operate, abundant in supply.

Cons: noise pollution, can kills flying organisms as birds, wind dependent.

Hydropower

Pros: safety record, creates water reservoirs for recreation purposes and habitats for organisms cheap to operate

Cons: affects sedimentation and water supply downstream, construction can lead to displacement of humans and organisms,

Geothermal Energy

Pros: cheap to operate, low emissions of GHGs

Cons: limited areas that could work on.

Factors Affecting Energy Choices

• Physical availability

• Economic availability

• Technological improvements

• Politics

• Cultural (lifestyles of society)

• Environmental considerations

Energy Security

Ability to secure sufficient, reliable, and affordable energy supplies for the needs of particular country

Factors Affecting Energy Security

• Physical availability

• Economic availability

• Political relationships with energy secure neighbor countries

Strategies to increases energy security

• Diversification (mix of energy sources)

• Increase energy efficiency (lower demand)

• Invest in renewable energy

Improvements in technology can improve energy efficiencies and conservation strategies.

Example: Venezuela (Country w/ a energy security issue)

Due to economic mismanagement, reduction in oil production, political instability, and dependence of a single energy source lacks energy security.

Climate vs Weather

Climate describes how the atmosphere behaves over long periods.

Weather describes conditions over short amount of time

Factors Affecting Climate

• Solar Radiation (reduction of solar radiation = lower temperatures)

• Atmosphere and ocean circulations

• GHGs that trap heat (A rise in GHGs concentration increases the amount of energy absorsed = raising global temperature)

• Volcanic Activity

Climate Positive Feedback Loops

1. Water Vapor: temperatures rise → water evaporates → water (a GHG) warms temperature → temperature rise

2. Ice Albedo: ice and snow (reflective surface = high albedo) → temperatures increases → ice/snow melts → reduces solar radiation reflected back into space due to lower albedo

Climate Negative Feedback Loop

Plant Photosynthesis: temperatures increase → levels of plant photosynthesis rise → more CO2 is absorbed → reduces levels of CO2 → reduces temperature

Climate Change

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperature patterns and weather conditions on Earth. It is primarily caused by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, which release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, leading to a rise in global temperatures.

Climate Change Causes and Impacts

• Ocean: Sea levels rise (risk of flooding), pH levels increase (affecting marine life)

• Polar Ice Caps: melts, colder climate in areas, releases trapped methane, opens up new trade routes, allows exploitation of minerals,

• Weather Patterns: Extreme weather conditions causing erosion, loss of habitats, severe droughts.

• Food Production: Warm temperatures increase photosynthesis expansion of crops in areas, heatwaves can kill livestock

• Species my become extinct, changes in migration routes, decreased water availability due to evaporation

Mitigation

The reduction and/or stabilization of GHGs

Mitigation Strategies to reduce GHGs

• Reducing energy consumption: reducing demand by changing lifestyles, energy efficiency technologies, carbon taxes (charging for motor vehicles), and credits (a permit that allows a certain amount of emission of GHGs)

• Reducing emissions from agriculture: reduce methane production by changing cow’s diets, use sustainable techniques (less fertilizers), alternative sources of protein

• Use low emission energy sources

• Geo-engineering: Large scale intervention projects. ex. Mirrors into space the deflect solar radiation

Mitigation Strategies to remove CO2 from atmosphere

• UN-REDD Programme: the flagship UN knowledge and advisory partnership on forests and climate to reduce forest emissions and enhance forest carbon stocks.

• Biomass as a fuel source: If the same crop is replanted each year then an equal amount of CO2 is captured by photosynthesis as is released from burning. This is carbon neutral.

• Carbon Capture & Storage: Capturing CO2 and storing it underground, or reacting it to form mineral carbonates is one option. Require lots of energy.

• CO2 absorption in oceans: Oceans ‘fertilised’ with N/P/Fe. Encourage growth of plankton. They use CO2 for photosynthesis. Growth helps increase fish populations. When they die they sink to the bottom storing CO2 away from the atmosphere.

Adaptation Strategies for climate change

• Infrastructure: Design and build infrastructure that can withstand the impacts of extreme weather events, such as floods, storms, and heatwaves. This includes constructing buildings resistance.

• Water Supplies: Implement sustainable water management practices to address changes in precipitation patterns and ensure water availability. Like constructing rainwater harvesting systems, improving water storage infrastructure.

• Ecosystem: Preserve and restore natural ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands, and coastal habitats, as they provide important services like flood protection, carbon sequestration, and habitat for biodiversity.

• Agriculture: Encourage farmers to diversify their crops and grow to drought resistant crops.

Paris Agreement (2016)

• 195 countries agree to act on climate change

• Each country has specific, tailored goals and action plans depending on its personal circumstances.

• Benefits LEDC’s who often feel punished or what MEDC’s have contributed most to

Kyoto Protocol (1997)

• First legally binding commitments to reduce CO2 emissions to 5.2% below 1990 levels

• Signed by some 160 countries

• Still ineffective by 2004 as less than 55 countries had fully adopted the commitments, and less than the required number of MEDC’s