Climate Change Mitigation Methods
– Transitioning to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power
– Implementing electrified public transport systems
– Undertaking reforestation projects to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
– Promoting plant-based meals as a sustainable dietary choice
– Investing in carbon sequestration processes like enlarging forests and restoring wetlands
– Shifting to sustainable energy sources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels
– Conserving energy and improving energy efficiency
– Implementing carbon capture and storage technologies to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
– Electrifying infrastructure to reduce emissions from vehicles and heating appliances
– Cutting emissions from industrial processes through carbon capture and storage
Agriculture-related Emissions Reduction
– Reducing food waste to minimize greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture
– Encouraging a shift towards a more plant-based diet to lower emissions
– Protecting ecosystems to mitigate agricultural emissions
– Improving farming processes to reduce emissions
– Implementing sustainable agricultural practices and green industrial policies
Urban Planning and Design for Climate Change Mitigation
– Incorporating sustainable energy and transport systems in urban planning
– Promoting energy conservation and efficient energy use in cities
– Implementing sustainable agriculture practices in urban areas
– Enhancing carbon sinks through urban greening initiatives
– Developing resilient and climate-friendly infrastructure in cities
Climate Change Mitigation Policies and Targets
– Implementing carbon pricing mechanisms such as carbon taxes and emissions trading
– Easing regulations to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy
– Reducing fossil fuel subsidies and divesting from fossil fuels
– Providing subsidies and incentives for clean energy technologies
– Setting global warming targets and aligning policies with international agreements such as the Paris Agreement
Low-carbon Energy
– Rapid and deep reductions in carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector are necessary
– IPCC recommendations include reducing fossil fuel consumption and increasing production from low- and zero-carbon energy sources
– Renewable energy and increased energy efficiency are crucial in limiting global warming
– Deployment of renewable energy needs to accelerate six-fold to keep global warming under 2°C
– Solar photovoltaic and wind power are increasingly providing a larger share of power capacity
– Wind and solar energy can provide large amounts of low-carbon energy at competitive costs
– Solar photovoltaics (PV) have become the cheapest way to generate electricity in many regions
– Concentrated solar power (CSP) and solar water heating are also viable technologies
– Wind power generation is higher in winter, complementing the lower PV output
– Offshore wind farms deliver more energy per installed capacity with less fluctuations
– Hydropower plays a leading role in countries like Brazil, Norway, and China
– Tidal power can be used in coastal regions
– Bioenergy can provide electricity, heat, and transport fuel, with biogas offering dispatchable electricity generation
– Geothermal power is used in 26 countries for electricity generation and in 70 countries for heating
– Aviation is starting to use renewable biofuels, contributing to emissions reduction
– Electrical power systems must be flexible to accommodate variable renewable energy sources
– Most electrical grids were designed for non-intermittent energy sources like coal-fired power plants
– Adapting the energy system is necessary to ensure electricity supply matches demand as solar and wind energy are integrated
– Various methods can make the electricity system more flexible
– Energy storage is a key component in integrating variable renewable energy sources
– Wind energy production is higher at night and during winter
– Linking different regions through transmission lines reduces variability
– Energy demand management and smart grids help match high energy production times
– Sector coupling can provide flexibility by connecting electricity, heat, and mobility sectors
– Building overcapacity for wind and solar generation ensures sufficient electricity production
– Pumped-storage hydroelectricity is the most commonly used storage method
– Batteries are also widely used but have low energy density
– Battery storage is practical for short-term electricity storage
– Some locations have implemented pumped hydro storage for multi-month usage
– Energy storage helps overcome barriers to intermittent renewable energy
– Nuclear power can complement renewables for electricity generation
– Environmental and security risks may outweigh the benefits
– Constructing new nuclear reactors takes longer compared to scaling up wind and solar
– Nuclear power may be cheaper in China due to significant plant construction
– Extending nuclear power plant lifetimes is competitive with other generation technologies
– Natural gas has lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to coal
– Natural gas combustion produces less air pollution than coal
– Methane leaks during extraction and transportation can negate advantages of switching from coal
– Curbing methane leaks is a widely available technology but not always used
– Switching to natural gas reduces emissions in the short term, but doesn’t lead to net-zero emissions
– Reducing demand for high-emission products and services helps mitigate climate change
– Behavioral and cultural changes, such as reducing meat consumption, can reduce demand
– Improving infrastructure, like public transport networks, reduces demand
– Changes in end-use technology, like better insulation, decrease energy demand
– Mitigation options that reduce demand for products or services have social and psychological aspects
– Personal choices in diet can reduce food-related greenhouse gas emissions
– Avoiding frequent flying and petrol-fueled cars can have a high impact
– Using clothes and electrical products for longer can reduce environmental footprint
– Electrifying homes can contribute to climate change mitigation
– High-income countries with high-consumption lifestyles can adopt these actions more easily
– Avoiding meat and dairy foods can significantly reduce environmental impact
– Shifting towards a plant-based diet can cut food-related greenhouse gas emissions
– China aims to reduce meat consumption by 50% to lower greenhouse gas emissions
– Food accounts for nearly 20% of the global carbon footprint
– Plant-based diets reduce emissions, water pollution, land use, and destruction of wildlife
– World population has tripled since 1950
– Population growth contributes to higher greenhouse gas emissions
– Economic growth has a bigger effect on emissions than population growth
– Rising incomes Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decarbonisation
Climate change mitigation (or decarbonisation) is action to limit climate change. This action either reduces emissions of greenhouse gases or removes those gases from the atmosphere. The recent rise in global temperature is mostly due to emissions from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. There are various ways that mitigation can reduce emissions. These are transitioning to sustainable energy sources, conserving energy, and increasing efficiency. It is possible to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. This can be done by enlarging forests, restoring wetlands and using other natural and technical processes. The name for these processes is carbon sequestration. Governments and companies have pledged to reduce emissions to prevent dangerous climate change. These pledges are in line with international negotiations to limit warming.
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Solar energy and wind power have the greatest potential for mitigation at the lowest cost compared to a range of other options. The availability of sunshine and wind is variable. But it is possible to deal with this through energy storage and improved electrical grids. These include long-distance electricity transmission, demand management and diversification of renewables. It is possible to reduce emissions from infrastructure that directly burns fossil fuels, such as vehicles and heating appliances, by electrifying the infrastructure. If the electricity comes from renewable sources instead of fossil fuels this will reduce emissions. Using heat pumps and electric vehicles can improve energy efficiency. If industrial processes must create carbon dioxide, carbon capture and storage can reduce net emissions.
Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture include methane as well as nitrous oxide. It is possible to cut emissions from agriculture by reducing food waste, switching to a more plant-based diet, by protecting ecosystems and by improving farming processes. Changing energy sources, industrial processes and farming methods can reduce emissions. So can changes in demand for energy, for instance by moving towards low-carbon diets or more sustainable transport in cities. Urban planning and design are among the most effective tools in dealing with climate change, because they address both mitigation and adaptation.
Climate change mitigation policies include: carbon pricing by carbon taxes and carbon emission trading, easing regulations for renewable energy deployment, reductions of fossil fuel subsidies, and divestment from fossil fuels, and subsidies for clean energy. Current policies are estimated to produce global warming of about 2.7 °C by 2100. This warming is significantly above the 2015 Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 °C and preferably to 1.5 °C. Globally, limiting warming to 2 °C may result in higher economic benefits than economic costs.
Globally, financial flows for climate mitigation and adaptation are estimated to be over $800 billion per year, while requirements are predicted to exceed $4 trillion per year by 2030.
