“Anthropogenic” – we did it, so we need to fix it. Please get out your homework for a stamp: Section 2.3 and 2.4 details added onto your bracket map. Power up and get ready to Kahoot!

Slowing anthropogenic climate change

350 ppm Considered to be the safe limit for CO 2

So if we’re going to fix it, we need to be strategic. What are the greenhouse gases, what are their sources, which should be of greatest concern?

Greenhouse gases CO 2

Methane CH 4 (25x more heat trapping ability than CO2!)

N 2 O Nitrous Oxide

Water!

CFC’s (chlorofluorocarbons)

And O 3

Greenhouse Warming potential Gas2010 Concentration Global warming potential (over 100 years) Residence time in atmosphere Water vaporVariable with temperature <19 days CO ppm1Highly variable CH ppm2512 years N2ON2O0.3 ppm years CFCs0.9 ppm1,6000 to 13,00055 to >500 years

You’re in charge. What would you suggest?

Improved vehicle efficiency Using less gas = fewer combustion pollutants Hybrids use friction from breaking to charge electric battery “regenerative breaking” Computer switches engine from gas to electricity.

Electric vehicles – Volt, Tesla, Leaf

Technology solution: fuel choices Burn low-sulfur coal (anthracite) Gasification turns solid coal to gas before it is burned – fewer particulates, SOx Natural gas creates ½ CO 2 of coal!!

Fuel choices Using natural gas to produce electricity instead of coal produces ½ the CO2

Fracking.... Major source of CH4 leaks. Flaring – when CH4 can’t be sold profitably, it is flared off. Eagle Ford – since 2009 burned billions of cubic feet of CH4 – enough to heat 335,000 homes/yr Need for pipelines/storage?

Switch to alternative energies! Wind power Solar power Hydro power Tidal power Geothermal heating and cooling

Energy Star appliances

HOW appliances and electronics are used Wash full loads Wash coolest, quickest setting possible Shutting off appliances when not in use Avoiding ghost/vampire charges

Lighting options: Incandescent  CFL  LED!

Carbon sequestration CO 2 can be injected to enhance oil production, leaving CO 2 underground Does not have to be part of secondary oil production – can just be done to reduce atmospheric CO2 concentration.

NRG plans to cut 90% of its carbon emissions Petra Nova project at WA Parrish: Post-combustion carbon capture project. CO2 will travel 80 miles through a pipeline for use in secondary oil recovery “A response to pressure from consumers and investors, and cheaper wind and solar plants.”

The divestment movement Individuals, universities and companies are dropping their investments in fossil fuels to send an economic message. An incentive for energy companies to move towards sustainables.

Three policy options Cap and Trade Carbon Tax Carbon offsets

Government actions Cap and Trade EPA sets total emissions for an area (cap) Divides total by number of sources Each source has permits to emit their fair share Extra permits can be sold or saved (trade)

Carbon Tax Adding tax to gasoline or other fossil fuels would reduce their use and bring in money to invest in cleaner technologies Sustainability. It’s worth it.

Carbon Credits/Carbon offsets Individual or company pays extra money when they create CO2. The money goes to a third company which plants trees or invests in clean technology

Lesson from the Ozone Hole: 1930’s – CFCs invented 1970’s – mechanism of O3 destruction understood; models of possible effects suggest general thinning of O3 layer 1985 – Ozone hole documented as complete surprise – models were wrong – Montreal Protocol ratified despite political and scientific uncertainty and the efforts of CFC manufacturers to fund disinformation campaigns

Which country is producing the most CO2? Check out the interactive map on this site!

International cooperation Kyoto Protocol 1997 – 161 nations Required developed nations to reduce GHG by 5% by 2012 Developing nations not required to cut Emissions trading created (carbon offsets) US, Australia, and Russia declined to participate Has now officially expired

International cooperation Last Fall – talks in Peru Paris – next international meeting November 2014 – US/China agreement to get serious about climate change Committed to working out 2015 plan US by 2025 will be 25% below 2005 CO2 levels China – peak fossil fuel emissions by 2030 and will derive 20% of energy from sustainables by that point

From the US/China agreement: At the same time, economic evidence makes increasingly clear that smart action on climate change now can drive innovation, strengthen economic growth and bring broad benefits – from sustainable development to increased energy security, improved public health and a better quality of life. Tackling climate change will also strengthen national and international security. Technological innovation is essential for reducing the cost of current mitigation technologies, leading to the invention and dissemination of new zero and low-carbon technologies and enhancing the capacity of countries to reduce their emissions. The United States and China are two of the world’s largest investors in clean energy and already have a robust program of energy technology cooperation. Check out details in #8 in link from title!

Geoengineering "options that would involve large-scale engineering of our environment in order to combat or counteract the effects of changes in atmospheric chemistry.“ New, unproven

Iron fertilization of ocean Would encourage phytoplankton growth to take up more CO2 (or cause massive disruption of marine ecosystems)

Stratospheric sulfate areosols Create global dimming with more clouds (or increase acid precipitation as SOx combines with H2O)