Greenhouse Gas Emissions Lecture 01 PDF

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS Lecture 01: Greenhouse gas emissions as a global phenomena Department of Architecture, Prof. Dr. Vijayalaxmi Iyer K School of Planning and...

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS Lecture 01: Greenhouse gas emissions as a global phenomena Department of Architecture, Prof. Dr. Vijayalaxmi Iyer K School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada 1 Content 1. Introduction to Greenhouse gas emissions 2. Factors influencing GHG emissions 3. Global scenario and initiatives 4. Indian scenario 5. Strategies to reduce GHG emissions 6. Policies, regulations and initiatives in India 7. Challenges and future trends in reducing GHGs in building industry 8. Summary Lecture 1: GHG as a global phenomena 2 01 Introduction to GHG emissions Greenhouse phenomena Fig : The Greenhouse effect (Source: NIOS) Lecture 1: GHG as a global phenomena 3 01 Introduction to GHG emissions Types of Greenhouse gases Fig: The Greenhouse gases (Source: NOIS ) Lecture 1: GHG as a global phenomena 4 01 Introduction to GHG emissions Abundance of Greenhouse gases in Atmosphere Fig : Global averaged Greenhouse concentrations (Source: IPCC, 2014) Lecture 1: GHG as a global phenomena 5 Fig : Global Anthropogenic CO2 Emissions (Source: IPCC, 2014) Lecture 1: GHG as a global phenomena 6  01 Introduction to GHG emissions Global warming potential of GHGs Fig: GWP and atmospheric lifetime of GHGs (Source: IPCC, 2012) Fig: Total annual GHG 1970-2010 (Source: IPCC, 2014) ◦ The Global Warming Potential (GWP) facilitates comparisons between gases, measuring how much energy one ton of a gas absorbs over 100 years relative to one ton of carbon dioxide (CO2). ◦ A higher GWP signifies a greater warming effect compared to CO2. This standardized metric aids in assessing the varied contributions of different GHGs to global warming. Lecture 1: GHG as a global phenomena 7 01 Introduction to GHG emissions Effects of GHGs : Eucidated through Climate Modeling Fig: GHG emission pathways (Source: IPCC, 2014) Fig: Changes in average surface temperature and average precipitation (Source: IPCC, 2014) ◦ A Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) is a greenhouse gas concentration trajectory adopted by the IPCC. Four pathways were used for climate modeling and research for the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) in 2014. The pathways describe different climate change scenarios, all of which are considered possible depending on the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted in the years to come. The RCPs – originally RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6, and RCP8.5 – are labelled after a possible range of radiative forcing values in the year 2100. The higher values mean higher greenhouse gas emissions and therefore higher global temperatures and more pronounced effects of climate change. The lower RCP values, on the other hand, are more desirable for humans but require more stringent climate change mitigation efforts to achieve them. 8 Lecture 1: GHG as a global phenomena 01 Introduction to GHG emissions Effects of GHGs : Evidence of Climate change ◦ With the global mean surface temperature on the rise, it is almost certain that there will be a more frequent occurrence of hot temperature extremes and a reduction in cold temperature extremes across most land areas on daily and seasonal scales. ◦ the high latitudes and the equatorial Pacific are expected to witness an increase in annual mean precipitation. ◦ Conversely, many mid-latitude and subtropical dry regions may see a decline in mean precipitation, ◦ While wet regions in mid-latitudes are anticipated to experience an increase. ◦ It has impacted the pattern of cloud cover and precipitation, melting of ice caps and glaciers, and increasing ocean temperature and acidity Lecture 1: GHG as a global phenomena 9 02 Factors influencing GHG emissions ◦ Factors influencing GHG emissions: Energy Production, Industrial Activities, Transportation, Agriculture, Land Use Changes, Waste Management, Industrial Processes, Use of Fluorinated Gases Fig: GHG emissions by sector (Source: GHG Platform India, 2018) Lecture 1: GHG as a global phenomena 10  ◦ This picture depicts the share of global emissions from 03 Global scenario different sectors: Transportation, Industry, Buildings, Agriculture and Land Use, and Electricity and Heat generation. GHGs by economic sectors ◦ Notice that the "grid" (i.e. electricity and heat production) only accounts for 25% of total emissions. If we replaced all coal, gas, and oil plants with renewable sources, we would only be part of the way there. ◦ Direct emissions arise from activities within a specific sector, such as the energy sector's direct release of CO2 during fossil fuel combustion for electricity generation. ◦ Indirect emissions, on the other hand, result from the sector's activities but occur elsewhere, such as the emissions embedded in products consumed or used by that sector. ◦ For example, building industry contributes both directly, through on-site processes, and indirectly, through the production of goods like cement and steel. ◦ Globally Electricity and heat production marks the highest contributors of GHG emissions (25%) whereas, Building industry marks highest indirect contributor of GHG emissions.(12%) (IPCC, 2014) Fig: Total anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from economic sectors in 2010 (Source: IPCC, 2014) Lecture 1: GHG as a global phenomena 11  03 Global Initiatives International processes Fig: International Processes for Climate change (Source: UNFCCC ) ◦ COP is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention. All States that are Parties to Convention is represented at OP. It meets every year, unless the Parties decide otherwise. Lecture 1: GHG as a global phenomena 12 03 Global Initiatives COP 3 : Kyoto Protocol o The Kyoto Protocol, established in 1997, is an international treaty (COP3) aimed at addressing climate change by setting binding targets for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. o Under the protocol, these countries committed to specific emission reduction targets during the first commitment period (2008- 2012). o While the Kyoto Protocol played a pivotal role in advancing global climate action, it faced challenges, including the absence of binding commitments for developing nations and the withdrawal of some key countries. o It laid the foundation for subsequent climate negotiations and agreements, contributing to ongoing international efforts to combat climate change.(Source: UNFCCC) Fig: Kyoto protocol (Source: VisionIAS) Lecture 1: GHG as a global phenomena 13 03 Global Initiatives COP 21 : Paris Agreement o The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015 in COP21, sets ambitious targets to address climate change by limiting global temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. o Unlike the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement involves all countries, with each setting its own nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. o These contributions are intended to be progressively enhanced over time. The agreement emphasizes a transparent and participatory process, encouraging international collaboration to achieve its goals. The Paris Agreement represents a landmark effort to unite nations in a Fig: Paris agreement(Source: VisionIAS) collective endeavor to combat climate change and build a more sustainable future.(Source: UNFCCC) Lecture 1: GHG as a global phenomena 14 04 Indian scenario Greenhouse gas emissions in India o According to the World Resources Institute Climate Analysis Indicators Tool (WRI CAIT), India’s 2014 GHG profile was dominated by emissions from the energy sector, which accounted for 68.7% of total emissions. o Within the energy sector, 49% of emissions were due to electricity and heat generation, followed by 24% from manufacturing and construction. o Agriculture was the second highest source (19.6% of total emissions), with enteric fermentation contributing 45% of agriculture emissions. o Industrial processes (IP), land use change and forestry (LUCF), and waste contributed 6.0%, 3.8% and 1.9% of 2014 total emissions, respectively. Fig: GHG emissions by sector (Source: WRI CAIT , 2017) Lecture 1: GHG as a global phenomena 15 04 Indian scenario Greenhouse gas emissions in India o International Energy Agency data show that total electricity generation quadrupled between 1991 and 2014, o As of 2014, 74% of electricity was generated by coal, followed by hydro (11%), natural gas (5%), nuclear (3%), wind (3%), fuel oil (2%), and biofuels (2%) o Industries consume 42% of the electricity generated, followed by the residential sector (26%), agriculture and forestry (15%), commercial and public services (10%), and other (8%). Fig: GHG emissions by sector (Source: WRI CAIT , 2017) Lecture 1: GHG as a global phenomena 16