Climate Change Mitigation Strategies

• Climate change mitigation involves reducing or preventing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, or enhancing the sinks.
• Mitigation strategies are crucial for limiting future climate change and related impacts.
• Strategies span energy, transport, industry, agriculture, and forestry.

Renewable Energy

• Renewable energy sources: solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass produce little to no greenhouse gas emissions during operation.
• Investing in renewable energy infrastructure reduces reliance on fossil fuels.
• Government subsidies, tax incentives, and feed-in tariffs encourage renewable energy adoption.
• Technological advancements continuously improve efficiency and reduce costs of renewable energy systems.

Energy Efficiency

• Improving energy efficiency reduces energy use to perform tasks.
• Measures include upgrading building insulation, using energy-efficient appliances, and improving industrial processes.
• Energy-efficient buildings reduce demand for heating/cooling, lowering energy consumption and emissions.
• Energy efficiency standards and building codes drive widespread adoption of energy-saving measures.
• Public awareness campaigns promote energy conservation among individuals and businesses.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

• CCS captures carbon dioxide emissions from sources, such as power plants and industrial facilities.
• Captured CO2 is transported and stored underground in geological formations, preventing atmospheric entry.
• CCS technology is still under development, but could significantly reduce emissions from fossil fuel-based industries.
• Economic viability and long-term safety of CO2 storage are important for CCS deployment.
• CCS can be applied to existing power plants and new facilities.

Afforestation and Reforestation

• Afforestation is planting trees where there were previously no forests, whereas reforestation replants trees in degraded/destroyed forests.
• Trees absorb CO2 from the atmosphere via photosynthesis, acting as carbon sinks.
• Sustainable forest management ensures long-term health and carbon sequestration capacity.
• Afforestation and reforestation projects provide environmental benefits, like habitat restoration and soil conservation.

Sustainable Transport

• Sustainable transport reduces greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector.
• Strategies include promoting public transportation, cycling, walking, and electric/hybrid vehicles.
• Investing in public transportation infrastructure, such as bus rapid transit and light rail systems, can make sustainable travel options more attractive.
• Congestion pricing and parking fees can discourage private vehicle use in urban areas.
• Electric vehicles are cleaner alternatives to gasoline-powered cars, especially when powered by renewable energy.

Carbon Pricing

• Carbon pricing mechanisms put a price on carbon dioxide emissions, incentivizing emissions reduction.
• Two main types of carbon pricing are carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems.
• A carbon tax is a direct tax on each ton of CO2 emitted.
• A cap-and-trade system sets a limit on the total amount of emissions allowed for companies to trade emission allowances.
• Carbon pricing encourages businesses and individuals to adopt cleaner technologies and practices.
• Revenues from carbon pricing can fund climate mitigation projects or reduce other taxes.

Sustainable Agriculture

• Agricultural practices contribute to greenhouse gas emissions through deforestation, fertilizer use, and livestock production.
• Sustainable agriculture reduces these emissions and enhances carbon sequestration in soils.
• Practices include no-till farming, cover cropping, and crop rotation, which improve soil health and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers.
• Reducing food waste and promoting sustainable diets, such as plant-based diets, can also lower agricultural emissions.
• Improved manure management techniques can reduce methane emissions from livestock operations.

International Cooperation

• Climate change is a global problem requiring international cooperation.
• The Paris Agreement is an international agreement where countries commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Developed countries provide financial and technical support to developing countries to help them mitigate and adapt to climate change.
• International collaboration is essential for sharing knowledge, technologies, and best practices for climate mitigation.
• Monitoring and verification mechanisms ensure that countries are meeting emission reduction targets.

Geoengineering

• Geoengineering refers to large-scale interventions in the Earth's climate system to counteract the effects of climate change.
• Two main types of geoengineering are solar radiation management (SRM) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR).
• SRM techniques aim to reflect sunlight back into space, reducing the amount of solar radiation absorbed by the Earth.
• CDR techniques aim to remove CO2 directly from the atmosphere.
• Geoengineering technologies are controversial and carry potential risks and side effects.
• Further research is needed to fully understand the feasibility and impacts of geoengineering.