week 9 Flashcards
(8 cards)
what affect does nitrous oxide have?
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a greenhouse gas (GHG).
-accounts for 6% of all greenhouse gas emissions
-about 300 times as potent as carbon dioxide at heating the atmosphere
-staying for an average of 120 years before removal
contributes to the overall impacts of climate change
Who Should Pay for Global Mitigation: Polluters Past, Present or Future?
TheParis Agreementhighlights that thedeveloped nations should shoulder a significant share of the financial and technological burden for climate mitigation. These nations are historically responsible for themajority of GHG emissionsthat have driven the climate change we face today and in the future.
Their early industrial development came at the cost of largescale emissions, yet these countries have retained the benefits of that progress (e.g. wealth, infrastructure, and technology). This underscores the argument that they shouldcompensate for the damage caused, particularly to vulnerable nations that contributed little to the problem but now suffer disproportionately.
While past emissions set the stage for the current crisis,rapidly developing economiessuch as China, India, and Brazil are now among the big emitters. Although they have less historical responsibility, they now possessgreater capacity and influenceto take meaningful climate action. A shared responsibility model suggests thatcurrent high emitters must also contribute, especially as their emissions continue to rise.
This approach shows thatcurrent generations must act on behalf of future generations.
The principle forms the foundation of theParis Agreement, which calls on all nations to act while recognising thatdeveloped countries must provide enhanced support (financial, technological, and capacity) to those in greater need.
Should adaptation be prioritised over mitigation?
Both are essential, but the balance depends on local and global contexts.
Adaptationaddresses current and unavoidable climate impacts (e.g., flood defences, drought resistant crops).
Mitigationtackles the root cause, GHG emission, and aims to prevent worsening impacts through emission reductions or NETs
The lecture emphasises atwo-pillar approach, wheremitigation is necessary to limit future change, whileadaptation helps manage committed impacts (think about the lifetime of the WM GHGs).
Overreliance on adaptation can lead to escalating costs and less incentive to mitigate.
How can education empower individuals and communities to adapt to climate change?
Education can play a big part in talking climate change. Examples of this include:
Awareness of risks(e.g., floods, heatwaves, droughts)
Knowledge of adaptation strategies(e.g., efficient water use, crop selection)
Community resiliencethrough shared knowledge and preparedness
It encouragesinformed decision makingandcollective action.
Education also enhances acceptance and support forpolicy and infrastructure adaptation and encourages sustainable behaviour.
Compare emissions and mitigation potential from key sectors: energy, transport, agriculture, industry, and buildings
Energy (largest sector, ~33% of emissions):
High emissions from coal, oil, gas.
Mitigation:Renewables, nuclear, carbon capture/NETs, behavioural demand reduction.
Transport (~14%):
Dependent on oil.
Mitigation:Public transport, EVs, biofuels, efficiency improvements.
Agriculture:
Emissions from livestock (CH4), rice (CH4), fertiliser (N₂O).
Mitigation:Dietary shifts, soil carbon sequestration, livestock feed changes.
Industry (~33%):
Emissions from production processes and energy use.
Mitigation:Efficiency, low-carbon materials, recycling, product longevity.
Buildings (~19%):
Emissions from heating, cooling, cooking.
Mitigation:Insulation, efficient appliances, net-zero designs, behaviour change.
How can urban areas be redesigned to cope with floods, heatwaves, and storms?
Here are some examples:
Green infrastructure(e.g., parks, green roofs) to absorb heat and water.
Permeable surfacesanddrainage upgradesto prevent flooding.
Resilient building practicesto withstand storms and temperature extremes.
Tree planting, and reflective surfaces to reduce heat islands.
Compact, connected citiesthat reduce emissions
Is individual action (e.g. flying less, eating less meat) meaningful, or is it a distraction from wider larger change?
Both perspectives are very valid:
Individual choices (e.g., flying less, dietary changes) canreduce emissions and influence different economic sectors positively.
However, structural and systemic change (e.g., energy grids, policy) is necessary for large-scale mitigation.
Individual actions arepart of the solution, especially when coupled with collective action.
Why Do We Need Negative Emission Strategies?
NETs are required to:
Offset emissionsthat are hard to eliminate. An example of this is the aviation and shipping sector
Compensate for past emissions.
Achieve the ambition of not exceeding 2OC warming (think about the pathways)
But there are some real challenges:
High cost, untested at scale, risk of delaying real emission cuts.
Potential overreliance is risky; some NETs compete with food production or harm biodiversity and therefore might have unintended consequences.
Lecture emphasises NETs shouldcomplement, not replacemitigation.
