Climate Change Quiz

Climate Change: Causes, Impacts, and Responses

• Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.

• Climate change can be caused by natural factors such as plate tectonics, the sun, the earth's orbit, unforced variability, and greenhouse gases, as well as human activities such as burning fossil fuels.

• Tectonic motion can alter the arrangements of the earth, affecting the formation of ice sheets, ocean circulation, and contributing to the formation of the Antarctic ice sheet.

• The sun is getting brighter over time, but it is unlikely to be the main reason for climate change as the stratosphere temperature is not changing.

• The Earth's orbit is not a perfect circle and varies with time, leading to events such as the Snowball Earth, which affected the development of life.

• Greenhouse gases trap the sun's heat and raise temperatures, and emissions continue to rise, with the Earth now about 1.1°C warmer than it was in the late 1800s.

• Climate change can affect health, ability to grow food, housing, work, and can lead to vulnerable people being impacted, such as those living in small island nations and other developing countries.

• Responses to climate change can be broadly split into three categories: adaptation, mitigation, and geoengineering.

• Mitigation policies aim to prevent climate change by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, usually through policies that encourage the transition from fossil fuels to energy sources that do not emit greenhouse gases.

• Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power have pros and cons, including intermittency, high initial costs, noise pollution, and environmental impact.

• Nuclear power is a contentious option for reducing GHG emissions, with concerns around reactor safety, nuclear waste, and proliferation.

• Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal are also options for reducing GHG emissions, but they come with challenges such as the scale required and unforeseen impacts on ecosystems.Climate Change Responses: Mitigation, Adaptation, and Solar Radiation Management

• Climate change is caused by both natural and human factors.

• Responses to climate change can be divided into three categories: adaptation, mitigation, and solar radiation management.

• Mitigation aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit temperature increase.

• The impact of mitigation can be seen in decades due to the time required for emissions reduction and temperature decrease.

• Adaptation involves adjusting to the impacts of climate change that cannot be avoided.

• Solar radiation management involves reflecting sunlight back into space to counteract warming.

• One method of solar radiation management is injecting reflective aerosols into the stratosphere.

• This method has advantages, including immediate temperature reaction and lower cost than nuclear reactors.

• However, solar radiation management may create other problems and is difficult to stop once started.

• Carbon dioxide removal is another method of mitigating climate change.

• Solar energy is a potential alternative to fossil fuels for energy production.

• Understanding climate change and its responses is essential for addressing and mitigating its impacts.

Overview of Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) of 1992 called on nations to enact measures to “facilitate adequate adaptation” to climate change.

• Adaptation research was initially driven by vulnerability and impacts research, but later shifted focus to identifying ways that vulnerable populations could adapt to future changes in climate.

• The evolution of adaptation conversations saw a shift towards the need for both adaptation and mitigation as climate change is not a future event, but impacts are already occurring.

• The current definition of adaptation is “adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities.”

• New typologies of adaptation include incremental, transitional, and transformational measures, with transformational measures being the most drastic and seeking to change the fundamental attributes of a system in response to climate change.

• Ideal characteristics of adaptation include being complementary to mitigation, decreasing vulnerability, avoiding maladaptation, promoting innovation, and being interdisciplinary.

• Funding for climate change adaptation has been missing and the cost of adaptation is estimated to be $49-171 billion per year by 2030, with the obligation on developed countries to provide funding for adaptation.

• Vulnerability is a function of risk, danger levels, level of exposure, or adaptive responses available and can be considered in relation to bio-physical or social factors.

• Adaptation is the ability to adjust to new or changing conditions in the environment and depends on the economic, social, and human resources of the entity.

• Vulnerability and adaptation assessment involves determining the risk of adverse effects on units, groups, or regions exposed to perturbations or stresses and identifying factors that augment/diminish adaptive capacity.

• Framework and method selection for vulnerability and adaptation assessment must be conscious of appropriate methods and tools, ensure stakeholder participation, highlight urgent problems, keep the objective of identifying possible adaptation options at the forefront, and pay attention to how models, scenarios, and results are used.

• The adaptation learning cycle involves identifying adaptation needs, identifying adaptation options, and appraising adaptation options to achieve the desired goals.Strategies for Climate Change Adaptation in Different Regions

• The adaptation process involves identifying risks, assessing and selecting options, planning and implementing actions, and monitoring and evaluating outcomes.

• The adaptation learning cycle includes participation, impact analysis, capacity analysis, scenario analysis, behavioral analysis, institutional analysis, formal decision-making, valuation methods, tools for planning and implementation, and methods for monitoring and reflection.

• Outdoor air adaptation strategies include reducing vehicle emissions, choosing cleaner commutes, combining errands, keeping engines properly tuned, and following gasoline refueling instructions for efficient vapor recovery.

• Indoor air adaptation strategies include maintaining proper ventilation for moisture control and pollutant dilution, weatherization or retrofitting, and adjusting ventilation to accommodate weatherization changes.

• The UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2017 identifies 56 risks, including the impact of heatwaves and overheating on buildings, risks to health and productivity from high temperatures, flooding events, water shortages, food supply disruptions, infrastructure malfunction, impact on natural capital and ecosystems, and international risks.

• Adaptation options in the EU can involve accepting impacts and bearing losses, off-setting losses by sharing risks, avoiding or reducing exposure to risks, and exploiting new opportunities.

• Developing countries prioritize adaptation in agriculture, freshwater supplies, health, energy sector risks, fisheries, and local livelihoods.

• Kenya has a Climate Change Bill, National Climate Change Strategy, National Climate Change Action Plan, draft national climate change framework policy, and draft climate finance policy.

• Bangladesh has a climate change strategy and action plan, Climate Change Trust Fund, and Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund financed by donors for river bank protection, afforestation, and disaster management.

• Burkina Faso published a National Adaptation Programme of Action in 2007 and released its National Adaptation Plan in 2015, but lacks capacity and financing for implementation.

• The University of Notre Dame’s Global Adaptation Index (ND-GAIN) provides a tool for assessing countries’ vulnerability and readiness for adaptation.

• Urban nature-based solutions offer potential adaptation strategies, including green roofs, urban forests, and green infrastructure, to mitigate climate risks and improve urban resilience.

Valuation of Ecosystem Services and the Importance of Understanding Human Well-being

• The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment found that humans have rapidly and extensively changed ecosystems to meet growing demands for food, water, timber, fiber, and fuel, leading to degradation of ecosystem services and increased poverty.

• The assessment was prepared by 1360 experts from 95 countries and authorized by governments through 4 conventions, with a partnership of UN agencies, conventions, business, non-governmental organizations.

• Ecosystem services are categorized as provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services, and changes to these services have consequences for human well-being and poverty reduction.

• The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) was founded on the concept of ecosystem services for human well-being, underpinned by biodiversity, and aims to fill gaps in economic evidence provided by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.

• Valuing ecosystem services can help to generate better information, identify the true costs of business as usual, improve decision-making, provide a basis for policy formation and analysis, and set incentives and regulations for use.

• The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) found that from 1970 to the present, 14 of the 18 categories of nature's contributions to people have declined.

• The Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) recognizes the main categories of ecosystem outputs as provisioning, regulating, and cultural services, but does not cover supporting services.

• The concept of ecosystem services is criticized for its anthropocentric focus and economic production metaphor, but it can also challenge exploitative practices and reconceptualize humanity's relationship with nature.

• Ecosystem services can be used as a conservation goal, but planning and executing conservation strategies based only on ecosystem services may not safeguard biodiversity.

• Valuation of ecosystem services leads to more informed decisions and awareness of the relative importance of ecosystem services compared to man-made services.

• The TEEB approach towards ecosystem valuation follows a three-tiered approach of recognizing, demonstrating, and capturing value, and it expands beyond monetary valuation methodologies using quantitative and qualitative methodologies.

• The TEEB approach is not a narrow, market-centric view of nature, but a holistic view that takes into account environmental and social values and not just market values of nature.Ecosystem Valuation: Challenges and Opportunities

• The concept of ecosystem services (ES) has been criticized for being ambiguous, open to interpretation, and inconsistent.

• The term ES implies that all outcomes of ecosystem processes are good, masking the fact that some ecosystems provide "disservices" to humans.

• Valuation of ES involves estimating the monetary or non-monetary value of ES and ecosystem disservices (EDS).

• The Total Economic Value (TEV) framework is concerned with the eventual impacts on human well-being and captures all benefits that humans obtain from nature.

• TEV categories of value include direct use, indirect use, option use, and non-use values.

• Valuation creates a framework that can help nature's values become more economically visible and accounted for in decision making.

• Valuation can contribute to economic accounting and planning, creating more effective strategies for natural resource management.

• Moral and ethical challenges include the idea of placing monetary value on ecosystems, which buys into the free-market system.

• Technical challenges include accounting for inter-linkages between different ecosystem services and dealing with incomplete or inaccurate data.

• Systemic challenges include creating new notions of ownership and property rights and promoting equity distribution and value aggregation at the local level.

• Economic approaches to valuation include direct market valuation, revealed preference approaches, and stated preference approaches.

• Direct market valuation approaches use data from actual markets, while revealed preference approaches are based on observations of individual choices related to an ecosystem service. Stated preference approaches use simulated markets to elicit willingness to pay or accept values for changes in ecosystem service provision.Valuation Methods for Ecosystem Services and Disservices

• Contingent valuation method elicits values from respondents on a hypothetical market for a specified level of an environmental good or service.

• Choice modelling is a type of conjoint analysis where survey respondents make choices across environmental goods with varying bundles of attributes to reveal their values.

• Group valuation combines stated preference techniques with deliberative techniques to offer a deeper exploration of environmental information, values, and preference formation.

• Economic approaches to valuation include market-based, cost-based, and revealed and stated preference methods.

• Ecological valuation assesses an ecosystem's functional integrity, health, or resilience to sustain life by measuring biophysical indicators such as diversity or carbon stock.

• Sociocultural valuation focuses on the non-monetary value of ecosystem services and disservices and considers value as a social construction from the cultural contexts of a time and place.

• Sociocultural values can inform and raise awareness of decision-makers and the public for varying perceptions of ecosystem services.

• Deliberative valuation involves distributing "importance points" to ecosystem services and "concern points" to ecosystem disservices, discussing trade-offs and future generations, and assessing changes in value source and constituency.

• A study in the Philippines used online focus groups to conduct deliberative valuation of ecosystem services and disservices in a park, revealing differences in how stakeholders assigned points to different attributes.

• Highly valued ecosystem services included ecotourism, enjoyment and spending free time, and sports and physical fitness, while highly valued ecosystem disservices included expensive maintenance and traffic.

• Deliberative valuation can be a useful tool for informing priority setting and instrument development in ecosystem management.

• Valuation methods have limitations, including the hypothetical nature of markets, potential biases in survey design and implementation, and insensitivity to scope and scale.Deliberative Valuation of Urban Parks: The Influence of Source and Constituency on Participants' Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Ecosystem Disservices

• Participants assigned different points to ecosystem services (ES) and ecosystem disservices (EDS) depending on the source and constituency.

• In the first five valuation exercises, participants assigned higher points to ES such as ecotourism, aesthetic information, revenue for locals, parking space, and increasing green areas, while assigning higher points to EDS such as expensive maintenance, traffic, land being wasted, and exposure to pollution.

• Deliberative valuation discussions led to changes in participants' perspectives, as they considered other participants' opinions and experiences before assigning points to ES and EDS.

• There were no significant differences in the points assigned by participants to ES and EDS before and after deliberating, when individual source and future generations were considered as the constituency.

• When considering the future generations as the constituency, participants assigned lower points to ecotourism and higher points to green areas as ES, while assigning higher points to traffic and exposure to air pollution as EDS.

• Participants' perspectives changed after considering the impact of urban parks on people, particularly future generations.

• Participants expressed concerns about the maintenance of greens in the park, wishing to see more greens in the future.

• The study highlights the importance of considering different sources and constituencies when valuing ES and EDS in urban parks.

• Deliberative valuation discussions can lead to changes in participants' perspectives and promote a more inclusive and comprehensive valuation of ES and EDS.

• The study provides insights into the complex nature of urban parks and the need for participatory approaches in their management and decision-making.

• Urban parks can provide multiple ES, which can be valued differently depending on the source and constituency.

• EDS can also have different impacts on different people, highlighting the need for a more nuanced and context-specific approach to their valuation and management.

Carbon Management Plan for the University of Nottingham

• The University of Nottingham is expanding, which poses challenges for reducing carbon emissions.
• The university has energy-intensive research facilities and greater expectations for building heating, cooling, and ventilation.
• The 2009/10 baseline for CO2 emissions was 68,000t with a 2020 target of 41,000t, and the university aims to reduce emissions by 63% by 2030.
• The university is investing £10m per year in replacing engineering assets and refurbishing spaces for energy efficiency gains.
• The university plans to generate power through large-scale solar PV and potentially wind turbines, as well as transitioning away from gas to electric heat pumps.
• Carbon offsetting will be used to offset difficult-to-remove emissions, prioritizing additional and permanent solutions.
• Projects to reduce energy use include turning off or reducing the face velocity of fume cupboards, installing a combined heat and power system, and replacing the chilled water system.
• The university has installed a 1000m2 photo-voltaic array, a 500kW wind turbine, and is proposing a 1.4MW solar PV array.
• The proposed 1.4MW solar PV array will cover 6,570m2 and generate an annual yield of around 1,278,000kWh.
• The university is proposing to invest up to £18m to replace the district heating system with a gas-fired boiler supplemented by renewable energy source heat pumps.
• The replacement of the district heating system could lead to annual carbon savings of up to 2,995 t CO2.
• The university's sustainability efforts and progress can be found on their website and social media platforms.

Mitigating the Impact of Air Quality and Climate Change

• Air quality pollutants and greenhouse gases have different impacts on climate change, and reducing precursors of secondary aerosol may lead to an increase in temperature.
• Black carbon emitted from incomplete combustion, particularly from diesel vehicles, is a significant contributor to PM2.5 and has a positive radiative forcing effect.
• Tropospheric O3 is one of the largest components of radiative forcing, and NOx and VOC are its precursors that require control.
• The radiative forcing of climate is more influenced by ozone at higher altitudes, and the relationship between pollutants and regional temperature response is unclear.
• Increasing temperatures due to climate change can lead to changes in chemistry associated with ozone formation and an increase in water vapor in the atmosphere, leading to an increase in urban ozone where NOx is high.
• Heatwaves are predicted to be more frequent, leading to an increase in summer pollution events, and increasing temperatures can lead to an increase in biogenic volatile organic compound emissions.
• The emissions of BVOC are different for different tree species, and hot/dry summers can lead to a decrease in O3 uptake through the stomata of plants.
• Mitigation measures for air pollution and climate change can be categorized into conservation, efficiency, abatement, fuel switching, demand management, and behavioral change.
• Most attention has been focused on mitigating air quality impacts through legislation and technology changes, with little consideration for their impact on climate change.
• Energy conservation measures, fuel switching to lower carbon or renewables, and improvements in technology and efficiency can help reduce emissions of both air pollutants and climate-active pollutants.
• However, some measures, such as increased aircraft fuel efficiency, fuel switching to diesel, and the use of biofuels under certain circumstances, can lead to an increase in emissions of air pollutants and climate-active pollutants.
• Climate models need to improve their temporal resolution to examine processes with daily variations and seasonal changes in emissions from natural sources, and surface temperature and soil dryness are key to understanding future summer pollution episodes.
• There are inherent methodological difficulties in identifying the impact of measures on emissions of pollutants of concern from an air quality perspective and those that have impacts on climate, and trade-offs can occur between measures that benefit one and harm the other.

Climate Change Mitigation in the National Forest

• The National Forest is an area located in central England, covering 200 square miles and spanning across multiple cities.
• The landscape of the National Forest has been transformed from a coal mining area to a green space, with over 9 million trees planted in the last 30 years.
• The National Forest Company aims to work at the intersection of environment, economy, and society, with a focus on sustainable living, low carbon, high nature, and positive wellbeing.
• Tree planting mechanisms include grant aid to landowners, working with local authorities, and land acquisition.
• The National Forest has had a positive impact on biodiversity, with an increase in species abundance and richness for small mammals, bats, birds, and butterflies.
• The National Forest stores approximately 450,000 tonnes of carbon, with the potential to improve carbon sequestration rates by balancing carbon sequestration and local fit for biodiversity and landscape.
• The RestREco project aims to restore resilient ecosystems by considering complexity and resilience as fundamental aims for restoration projects.
• The Biochar Demonstrator Project is testing the effects of adding biochar to temperate woodland for carbon capture.
• Sustainable low carbon tourism is being promoted in the National Forest, with an increase in visitor numbers, spending, and tourism jobs.
• The National Forest Company is supporting the development of sustainable tourism accommodation and embedding sustainable design principles.
• The National Forest Company is promoting nature connection and wellbeing through creating a forest for learning, the natural health service, and green social prescribing.
• The National Forest Community Woods project involves over 60 community groups and organizations managing woodlands and community greenspaces, with support from various funding sources including the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Nature for Climate fund, corporate sponsorship, and private investors.

The Role of Agriculture in Climate Mitigation

• The learning outcomes include understanding the balance between feeding the human population and maintaining the environment, analyzing livestock production methods for mitigation, examining the role of producers in shaping their farming environment, reviewing goals for reaching net zero in agriculture, and appraising novel approaches for reducing emissions in agriculture.
• The Planet of Plenty website provides insight on sustainable agri-food production, and a quiz is available to test knowledge on agriculture's impact on the planet.
• The Green Revolution began 60 years ago, increasing crop production by 40% and animal production by 90%, while population only grew by 30%, with intensification and crop specialization allowing for this increase on 10% less land.
• There is a disconnect between food and farming, with 75% of people in a YouGov survey identifying as meat-eaters, but overreliance on animal products and food waste are issues.
• Self-sufficiency in food production can be sustainable, but imports may be cheaper or better quality, and the reliability of supply is a consideration.
• Soy is a predominant plant protein, but alternative sources of protein for poultry nutrition include animal co-products, milk co-products, fish products, and legumes.
• Mitigation methods for reducing emissions in agriculture include nutrition efficiency of conversion, influences on methane from silage and concentrates, unsaturated fatty acids and methane, feed additives and methane, and genetics.
• The producer plays a key role in sustainable farming, with incentives through ELMs, networking, support, and mental health awareness, and guidance is available on the Agricultural Transition Plan.
• Current actions taken by producers include optimizing fertilizer use, improving grazing management, reducing tillage, and improving soil health.
• Barriers to action include financial constraints, time constraints, and lack of knowledge or awareness.
• Novel approaches for reducing emissions include regenerative agriculture, feeding insect protein, intercropping, biodiversity, use of renewables, and use of technology.
• Further reading is available on topics such as reconnection in the UK food chain, pathways, targets, and temporalities for English agriculture's net zero futures, definitions of regenerative agriculture, and contested worldviews of regenerative agriculture as a practice change issue.

The Role of Agriculture in Climate Mitigation

• The learning outcomes include understanding the balance between feeding the human population and maintaining the environment, analyzing livestock production methods for mitigation, examining the role of producers in shaping their farming environment, reviewing goals for reaching net zero in agriculture, and appraising novel approaches for reducing emissions in agriculture.
• The Planet of Plenty website provides insight on sustainable agri-food production, and a quiz is available to test knowledge on agriculture's impact on the planet.
• The Green Revolution began 60 years ago, increasing crop production by 40% and animal production by 90%, while population only grew by 30%, with intensification and crop specialization allowing for this increase on 10% less land.
• There is a disconnect between food and farming, with 75% of people in a YouGov survey identifying as meat-eaters, but overreliance on animal products and food waste are issues.
• Self-sufficiency in food production can be sustainable, but imports may be cheaper or better quality, and the reliability of supply is a consideration.
• Soy is a predominant plant protein, but alternative sources of protein for poultry nutrition include animal co-products, milk co-products, fish products, and legumes.
• Mitigation methods for reducing emissions in agriculture include nutrition efficiency of conversion, influences on methane from silage and concentrates, unsaturated fatty acids and methane, feed additives and methane, and genetics.
• The producer plays a key role in sustainable farming, with incentives through ELMs, networking, support, and mental health awareness, and guidance is available on the Agricultural Transition Plan.
• Current actions taken by producers include optimizing fertilizer use, improving grazing management, reducing tillage, and improving soil health.
• Barriers to action include financial constraints, time constraints, and lack of knowledge or awareness.
• Novel approaches for reducing emissions include regenerative agriculture, feeding insect protein, intercropping, biodiversity, use of renewables, and use of technology.
• Further reading is available on topics such as reconnection in the UK food chain, pathways, targets, and temporalities for English agriculture's net zero futures, definitions of regenerative agriculture, and contested worldviews of regenerative agriculture as a practice change issue.

Water Resources and Climate Change: Impacts and Responses

• The water budget is a hydrological tool used to quantify the flow of water in and out of a system.

• Water supply resilience ensures both quantity and quality support all aspects of socioeconomic sectors.

• Groundwater exists where there is porosity, but how well groundwater can flow is dependent on permeability.

• The geology of the South and East of England is primarily comprised of chalk, making it useful for holding large reserves of water.

• Water vapor is the most dominant greenhouse gas, accounting for about 60% of the Earth's greenhouse warming effect.

• Temperature is a cause of floods and droughts but these are caused by disruptions to the hydrological cycle and the water budget.

• Changes in both precipitation and temperature directly impact the water budget, leading to increased water stress.

• Polar regions are predicted to experience accelerated melting of glaciers, temporarily increasing water availability and stream flow.

• Water use is growing at twice the rate of population increase and combined with uncertain water supplies is exacerbating already water-stressed regions.

• Our hydrological system is a closed dynamic system so runoff volume will remain relatively stable, but the spatial distribution will change.

• Semi-arid regions, coastal hinterlands, and mountainous regions are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts on water resources.

• Water-related ecosystems, such as wetlands, are highly vulnerable to changes in water flows and provide valuable ecosystem services.Mitigating the Impacts of Climate Change on Freshwater Resources: The Role of Nature-Based Solutions

• Within the next 30 years, demand for water from agriculture and urban uses could increase by 50-70%.

• By 2035, the energy sector is projected to consume 85% more water, increasing strains and creating conflicts between different water uses.

• Water conservation measures such as efficient irrigation systems and promoting water-efficient appliances can increase freshwater availability.

• Investment in water storage infrastructure such as dams and reservoirs can help manage water availability during droughts or low rainfall.

• Addressing pollution sources and improving wastewater treatment can help ensure freshwater resources remain clean and safe for human consumption and the environment.

• Encouraging sustainable land use practices such as reducing deforestation and promoting sustainable agriculture practices can help maintain healthy ecosystems and ensure availability of freshwater resources.

• Conserving water is not a new concept, and examples like Bermuda's self-sufficient homes demonstrate effective water conservation measures.

• Sustainable land practices such as agroforestry and conservation tillage can help reduce erosion and sedimentation in waterways, improving water quality and reducing negative impacts of flooding and drought.

• Riparian buffer zones, wetland restoration, and conservation of natural vegetation can promote natural water filtration, reducing the need for expensive water treatment infrastructure.

• Eutrophication, caused by an excess of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, can result in algal blooms and negative effects on species diversity, water quality, and aquatic life.

• Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) are defined as a way to mitigate and adapt to climate change, secure water, food, and energy supplies, reduce poverty, and drive economic growth.

• NBS can contribute up to 37% of the mitigation required to meet the Paris climate goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial times.

• Wetlands act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing and storing carbon dioxide, and reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Protecting and restoring wetlands can help reduce the impacts of climate change on freshwater systems and moderate flood risk.Water Management Strategies for Climate Change Mitigation

• The National Bureau of Statistics aims to contribute at least 30% of the overall climate mitigation required by 2030.

• Scientific assessment and knowledge inform responses to climate change and its impacts.

• Expanding the range of water sources available is necessary to meet demand and avoid depletion of a single source.

• Water source options for a water company depend on the region's environmental characteristics.

• Building more dams and reservoirs may provide short-term solutions to water shortages but can have negative impacts on ecosystems and water quality.

• Improving water efficiency is a key part of managing water demand, with a 50% reduction in leakage rates from 2017–18 levels committed by water companies by 2050.

• Reduction in water consumption will reduce the demand for water supply, reducing abstractions and pressure on the environment.

• Algae can remove as much carbon as all the trees, plants, and land combined, and Brilliant Planet, a UK company, is unlocking its potential for carbon sequestration.

• The technology developed by Brilliant Planet has the potential to sequester 2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide per year by pumping sea water rich in carbon and nutrients from the ocean to algae aquacultures in coastal desert locations.

• Algae can double in biomass in less than a day and doesn't need to grow support systems, making it efficient for carbon sequestration.

• Shade balls, black plastic balls that cover the surface of reservoirs to prevent evaporation, have conserved up to 300 million gallons of water per year in LA during droughts.

• Producing 96 million shade balls requires an estimated 2.9 million cubic meters of water, but they have saved 1.7 million cubic meters of water during their time on the reservoir.