Mitigation

• Alternative Energy Production

  • Burning fossil fuels for fuel, power and energy = 87% human CO2 emissions
  • Countries turning to renewable sources e.g. solar, hydro etc.
  • 2016 - Renewables = over 20% UK electricity, increased to 30% by 2020
  • Typical home with solar saves over 1 tonne of CO2 annually
  • Some companies incentivise and invest in renewable energy

  Pro: 28% of UK electricity renewable in 2017

  Con: Not always reliable
• Carbon Capture and Storage

  • Coal is the most polluting fossil fuel
  • Uses technology to capture CO2 at the source of emission
  • Captured, compressed, transported, and stored deep underground for long term storage

  Pro: 90% of CO2 that would enter atmosphere can be captured

  Con: We don't know how long it can safely be stored for
• Afforestation


  • Trees are carbon sinks
  • Trees release moisture
  • Trees transpire
  • Trees photosynthesize to produce O2
  • US invested $40 billion 2010 - 2015, increasing carbon storage by 28%

  Pro: Inexpensive

  Con: Uses too much land, and takes a long time to grow and work
• International Agreements

  • Governments work together to negotiate towards a more sustainable future and set climate budgets
  • 2005 - Kyoto Protocol, first international treaty, over 170 countries agreed to reduce CO2 emissions by 5% by 2012, no USA
  • 2009 - Copenhagen Accord, international agreements to tackle climate change beyond 2012, finance for NEEs and LICs
  • 2015 - Paris Agreement, 195 countries adopted first legally binding global climate deal. Aim to keep climate increase under 2 degrees, find balance between source and sinks.

  Pro: Carbon emission reduced

  Con: Not all countries comitted