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GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Coggle Diagram
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE
ESTABLISHMENT OF CONFERENCES
Paris Agreement (2015)
the Paris Agreement was the first major acknowledgment of the climate crisis and one of the most crucial for future development. it was legally adopted by 196 countries/parties
BENEFITS
-- 196 countries were united and all agreed to aim for the same overall goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and limit the global warming to 2 degrees celsius.
-- it is estimated from this agreement, that over 8 million deaths relating to environmental factors (e.g air pollution, diet based, etc.) will be avoided.
-- it is predicted that approximately 26 trillion USD could be made from transitioning to a low carbon economy as a result of the Paris Agreement
DISADVANTAGES
-- although it was legally adopted, the agreement runs on the premises that targets are voluntary and nationally determined. climate goals are politically encouraged rather than legally bound.
-- no fixed set of goals has been strictly determined on. furthermore, the cost of the agreement is huge (some estimate it will reach over 450 billion USD annually)
-- reducing the levels of greenhouse gas emissions will not immediately stop the effects and issues of climate change.
Kyoto Protocol (1997)
the Kyoto Protocol was an international treaty that focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, based on the fact that global warming was being amplified as a result of human activity
BENEFITS
-- all signers of the treaty agreed that by 2012, they would cut their greenhouse gas emissions accordingly to their current rate of emissions
-- countries involved accounted for approximately 55% of greenhouse gas emissions/air pollution.
-- although the agreement was not very successful, it raised the issue of a climatic crisis to the global population before all extreme changes.
DISADVANTAGES
-- the major fault of the agreement was that many developing countries (such as China, India & Indonesia) involved in the agreement did not commit to climate targets, instead prioritising personal development
-- very few nations actually participated in the agreement. many more countries would be required to join if global scale change was to occur
-- raises the challenge on how to get entire countries populations involved in the treaty as opposed to just governments.
REDUCE ENRGY USE
economic incentives
charging companies that emit pollution (greenhouse gas tax) to encourage reduction in emissions
using subsidies to encourage usage of sustainable technology and research
encourage higher usage of public transport via subsidies & use road toll/parking charges to discourage use of cars
strategies that require
government action
education campaigns to teach regular citizens on ways to reduce energy consumption
install electric recharging stations so people are encouraged to switch to electric cars/more sustainable technology
increase the use of renewable energy sources (e.g installation of wind turbines, solar panels, etc.)
introduce laws that limit & control levels of greenhouse gas emissions
REPLACE FOSSIL FUELS
types of sustainable energy
SOLAR ENERGY
-- photovoltaic panels convert sunlight into electrical energy
-- thermal panels can be used to heat buildings and water
WIND ENERGY
-- first form of wind energy were windmills. they were used to pump water and drive machinery
-- wind turbines take the form of a windmill with less turbines. wind turbines that produce electricity are called aero-generators
-- more suitable energy source for windier locations
HYDROPOWER
-- the most used form of renewable energy
-- hydroelectric power is formed when flowing water drives turbines connected to a generator that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
-- heat from the interior of the earth is used to generate electricity
-- in enhanced geothermal systems, holes are drilled into the ground in hot dry rock areas. pressurised water is passed through and collected as steam, which is used to drive turbines that generate electricity
REDUCE EMISSIONS FROM...
AGRICULTURE
reducing the use of fertilisers can reduce nitrous oxide emissions. furthermore is can minimise eutrophication and preserve ecosystems
levels of methane emitted can be lowered by selectively breeding to produce cattle that produce less methane & changing the feedstock given
methane can be collected from biodegradation of animal waste and used as an energy source
specific crops such as rice can be grown in drier conditions with higher yields to overall reduce the levels of methane produced
TRANSPORT
legislation can be used to cap the amount of pollution being emitted via road transport. many countries have vehicle emissions standards that are a requirement to meet before buying a new vehicle.
planning regulations in local areas can provide alternate ways of travel (e.g installation of bicycle paths, development of public transport, etc.
subsidies can be used to promote public transport and further research into more sustainable forms or transport/technology