Please enable JavaScript.

Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.

Climate Change (Factors in Solutions Assessment (Which route should we…

- - - - Uncertain of future adaptations, but certain of what to mitigate
      - We have yet to feel a great impact from climate change, but if we don't do anything to mitigate the damage we are currently inducing, future generations will be in big trouble
      - In the long run, mitigation at some point will be necessary - constant adaptation can lead to an unadaptable future
    - - At this point, some type of adaptation will be necessary due to the already existing effects of climate change
      - Eliminates free-rider problem since benefitting parties must incur the cost of adaptation
      - Even if climate conditions change less than expected, the adapted practices and policies may turn out to leave society better off
      - Adaptation really helps
  - - - Who makes or influences decisions?
        
        Those with more power
        
        Those most impacted
      - [International] rights of impacted communities
        
        No displacement
        
        A voice
        
        Wellbeing
    - - Differentiated responsibilities
      - Determination of global and domestic impacts
- - - - Negative effects on other climate and environmental aspects
      - Range of effect - could potentially create a global issue as opposed to a national one
        
        Will everyone be on board?
    - - Exacerbation of existing or surfacing of new climate issues
      - Creation of international conflict
        
        Who gave you the right/power to make this decision?
    - - Further research on potential effects on future generations and the rest of the world
        
        e.g. determining effect of sulfate aerosols on climate patterns, etc.
      - Permission from other nations
      - Approval from government
  - - - Uncertainties/potential issues
        
        What is the price of carbon?
        
        Tracking emissions to tax is tough
        
        leakage: firms may exit the industry due to increased costs from the tax
        
        Vehement opposition from businesses, politicians, etc. due to the nature of it being a tax
      - Unintended Consequences
        
        leakage
        
        legal and associated costs due to potential for bad practices
        
        Slowed/stagnant economic growth
      - Requirements
        
        Determining a price of carbon/the social marginal cost of carbon
        
        Government enforcement
    - - Uncertainties/potential issues
        
        How to determine a limit on emissions for everyone?
        
        Firms may leave the affected area to an unregulated area
      - Unintended consequences
        
        Lack of incentive for research and innovation to continue to reduce emissions once just under/at the limit imposed
      - Requirements
        
        Government enforcement
    - - Uncertainties/potential issues
        
        Creation of areas of high emissions and those of low emissions
        
        Potential for companies to engage in unlawful practices by using more carbon than they are allowed
        
        Uncertainties arise due to the market based approach
        
        Price of carbon is not as set as it is in a Pigouvian tax
      - Unintended Consequences
        
        Neglection of R&D into green energy in order to more efficiently use carbon
        
        Legal and associated costs due to potential for bad practices
      - Requirements
        
        Heavy government participation
        
        Firm participation - firms actually only emit the amount they have in allowances
  - - - no sunshine when cloudy or at night
        
        Pressurized air caverns that spin turbines when no sun
        
        Use concentrated solar power - use mirrors to heat up pipes that lead into insulated tank filled with molten salt, then extracting the heat from these tanks as steam to turn a turbine for energy
        
        this energy should be used within a day of collection due to heat loss
      - Concentration of solar power generation in the Southwest
        
        Instead of alternating curents (AC). use direct currents for long distances, then convert to AC and disperse to consumers using already existing regional transmission lines
      - The plan requires overhaul of the US's current energy infrastructure, and will cost $420 billion
        
        The proposed method of payment is a carbon tax, which is a controversial issue, and may not be a reality for some time
        #
      - Private companies/the government must be on board, which is often difficult to achieve
    - - Wasted time and resources - we invest tons of time and money into solar, but decades down the line a new, better, more efficient method is discovered
      - Losers - fossil fuel companies must cut back production, which cuts workers, potentially increasing unemployment if solar does not provide enough openings to offset
    - - Increase efficiency of cadmium telluride cells to 14%
        
        As of 2016. First Solar predicts average module efficiency for commercial use to be about 19.5%, well above this requirement
        
        Max efficiency is higher, and current research is being conducted to further increase efficiency
      - Reduce installation costs
        
        Installation costs per Watt are now about $0.50-0.60, much lower than the required $1.20 as outlined by Zweibel, Mason and Fthenakis
      - Increase square mileage of solar panels from 10 to 30,000 by 2050, with a capacity of 2940 GW
        
        As of 2016 the US has 40 GW of installed photovoltaic capacity
- - - - Is dealing with climate change worth it?
      - Turning analyses into concrete policies
      - The social cost of carbon #
    - - Addressing non-quantifiable (intangible, unobservable) costs and benefits
      - Determining the proper discount rate
      - CBA on climate change as a global vs. national inquiry: does domestic cost > foreign cost?
  - - - Solidifying a global conversation on climate change
        
        An acknowledgement from all involved parties on the necessity of action
      - Does not impose mandated changes, but encourages it through accountability
      - Encourages wealthy nations to support developing countries
        
        Wealthy nations generally contribute more to climate issues, but face less impact than developing nations
  - - - Will domestic governments change regulation to allow solution development?
      - How will international politics change in its stance on climate change in the future?
        
        Will people like Trump remain in / come to power?
    - - How should expectation of emerging tech influence today's decisions?
    - - How fast will the impacts we predict actually happen, and how severe will these impacts actually be?
        
        Variation in impact, affects response
        
        Developing/marginalized communities may be impacted first, wealthier countries with power but little stake in these communities may delay response
        
        Tipping points
    - - Keep them in mind
- - - - Human emissions of greenhouse gases
        
        Massive increase in CO2 concentration in the atmosphere
        
        Friedman's Equation: economic growth + population growth + dependence on fossil fuels = dangerous global warming
    - - Stefan-Boltzmann Law implies small changes in temperatures lead to exponential changes in energy radiation
      - Warming planet leads to melting ice which disrupts albedo which causes more, accelerating warming
    - - Homogenization of fauna and flora
      - Melting of ice caps disrupts albedo
        
        Earth cannot cool itself like it used to, exacerbating warming
    - - Increased awareness of climate change
        
        More regulation on/decreased use of fossil fuels
        
        More research into green energy and renewable resources
- - - - Stakes
        
        The current generation's actions directly impact the well-being/quality of life of future generations
        
        The base we lay determines the set of actions future generations have in tackling their issues
    - - Agendas
    - - Indigenous Peoples
        
        80% of remaining biodiversity
        
        95% of remaining cultural diversity
        
        Not only have the practices of fossil fuel companies interrupted their way of life, but the policies enacted attempting to help the environment have also cause disruption
      - Marginalized Communities #
  - - - Consequentialism
        
        The consequences of inaction necessitate action (a moral decision)
      - Deontology
        
        Caring about the well-being of our fellow humans and future generations is a moral truth, so action on climate change which jeopordizes this well-being is necessary
      - Virtue Ethics
        
        By taking action, responsibility, and leadership in fighting climate change, you develop good character traits that make you a better, well-rounded individual
    - - Marginal Benefits
        
        Private
        
        Acknowledgement and better public image
        
        Wider consumer base => more profits
        
        Social
        
        Better environement
        
        Benefit of future generations
      - Marginal Costs
        
        Private
        
        Cost of research
        
        Cost of restructuring/integration of new technologies #
        
        Social
        
        Effect of carbon on the environment, and thus society
- - - - ocean acidification kills marine wildlife (i.e coral reefs, plankton)
        
        killing prey will kill predators
      - deforestation destroys habitats
    - - change in water supplies
      - increased sea levels
    - - breaks from regular weather patterns (Polar vortexes, Indian summers, etc.)
      - More intense tropical storms
  - - - Displacement of marginalized communities #
        
        Overcrowding of inland cities
        
        Easier, rapid spread of communicable diseases in overcrowded cities