Lesson 8:

Climate Change Management Strategies

What you should know by the end of this lesson:

The difference between mitigation and adaption strategies for tackling Climate Change.
Have a general idea about several climate change management strategies

Mitigation and Adaption

Climate_Change_Solutions_Full HD 1080p_HIGH_FR30.mp4

Mitigation focuses on stopping the emissions of greenhouse gases to reduce their impact and slow global warming

Adaption focuses on dealing with the current consequences of global warming by changing practices

We are going to spend a fair amount of time on management strategies. This is the most detailed part of this topic as there are literally 1000s of strategies about how to deal with Climate Change. I have detailed a few below and avoided some of the more obvious ones, however, in answers you can still use the obvious ones! All you need to do is describe the strategy and say HOW this tackles climate change.

Digital Workbook and Paper Jotter

Read through the material below.
Create either a mindmap or table to input the information. I have added to examples below to help you.
Be aware you might want to plan space to add in the evaluations of strategies from the next lesson.

Mitigation

Education Programmes

Schools and institutions play an important part in teaching as many people as possible how to lead a carbon-neutral life, which people need to know to make appropriate life choices. Only by mass awareness and engagement can small strategies actually work in lowering emissions.

Refrigeration Management

Every air conditioner and refrigeration unit use a huge amount of energy, absorbing and releasing heat to enable chilling. This is done through HCFCs, the replacement for banned CFCs. HCFCs have 1000 to 9000 x greater capacity to warm the atmosphere than C02. The Kigali Accords 2016, will remove HCFC from usage which is expected to lead to a reduction in global warming by 1oF

Renewable Energy Sources

We have an ever-increasing demand for energy supply. If this can be generated from renewables energy sources it will remove the production of greenhouse gasses through burning fossil fuels in coal and gas power stations.

Renewable energy sources are:

Wind Power
Solar Power
Tidal Power
Hydro Electric Power
Biofuel
Biomass
Geothermal Energy

Housing Improvements & Planning

Newly built houses have strict planning in place since 2015 the Scottish government introduced legislation that encouraged developers to add solar panels to new houses as standard. This will help meet energy production from renewable sources as set by the Scottish Government.

Existing houses will benefit from improved insolation and upgrades to windows. Triple glazing windows and home insulation can be costly, but the government offers grants to low-income homes. Home insulation will reduce heating needs which will reduce the amount of CO2 produced by energy creation.

Carbon Capture

Carbon capture (also known as sequestration) and storage is the process of capturing waste carbon dioxide usually from large point sources, such as a cement factory or a biomass power plant, transporting it to a storage site, and depositing it where it will not enter the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide can be deposited in empty oil wells or underground fissures in the rock, or by using trees to store the carbon.

Family Planning

Carbon footprints are a common topic. Addressing population – how many feet are leaving the carbon tracks – remains controversial, despite widespread agreement that greater numbers place more strain on all of the planet’s resources enhancing all other causes and limiting the impact of solutions.

Adaption

Afforestation

This is the planting of trees and biomass in areas of degraded pasture and agricultural lands or areas corrupted by mining. Afforestation creates a carbon sink, drawing in and holding on to carbon and distributing it into the soil. Planting trees will also hold soils together and encourage vegetation growth, this prevents soil from being blown or washed away.

LED Lighting and

Turn off the TV

LED use 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs for the same amount of light. When the sun sets more than a billion people live in the dark, low consuming LED reduces the strain on the electricity grid.

This is also the reason we are encouraged to turn off TVs, computers and lower heat settings on washing machines.

Carbon Tax

This is a tax that can be placed on any business or service provider. It will charge a company based on how much greenhouse gasses they produce. This should encourage companies to reduce their carbon emissions as they do not want to face heavy charges.

Normally the money raised by these taxes can then be used to support green initiatives or programmes. Tackling Climate Change from both a reduction of emissions and a promotion of mitigation strategies.

Shop Local & Organic Farming

Transporting exotic fruits, foods and products requires a lot of energy, normally with the burning of fossil fuels. Buying local products removes these transport costs. Through this, you can also encourage organic farming methods which use fewer pesticides & chemicals which reduce methane and nitrous oxide from being produced as a greenhouse gas.

Facebook video #469025140291728.mp4

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

For each item purchased and used, energy and resources are used in its manufacture, packaging, transportation, retail, and ultimately its disposal. Pollution is created in each step of the process and substantial greenhouse gases are also released.

Reducing, reusing and recycling helps to conserve resources and energy, and reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions produced.