8 – Climate Mitigation
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What role does technology play in solving the climate crisis, and what can economic policies do to harm or promote sustainability?
Climate Mitigation Overview
Drivers of Emissions (IPCC)
“Chapter 5 analyzes the anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emission trends until the present and the main drivers that explain those trends. The chapter uses different perspectives to analyze past GHG-emissions trends, including aggregate emissions ows and per capita emissions, cumulative emissions, sectoral emissions, and territory-based vs. con- sumption-based emissions…”
Read pg. 354-356 (Executive Summary), pg. 357 (Fig 5.1), pg. 358 (Fig 5.2), pg. 368 (Box 5.1), pg. 381-382 (Figs 5.18-19), pg. 384 (Box 5.3), pg. 396-397 (FAQs)
2014 • Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Climate Challenges Post-COVID-19
“A global crisis has shocked the world. It is causing a tragic number of deaths, making people afraid to leave home, and leading to economic hardship not seen in many generations. Its effects are rippling across the world…”
August 4, 2020 • Gates Notes
The Story of Solutions
Global Emissions Overview
“Where in the world does the average person emit the most carbon dioxide (CO2) each year? We can calculate the contribution of the average citizen of each country by dividing its total emissions by its population…”
Read sections: Per capita, annual, and cumulative CO2 emissions; CO2 emissions and prosperity; and CO2 intensity of economies
Published May 2017, revised Dec 2019 • Our World in Data
The Story of Stuff
Energy Production and Distribution
U.S. electricity generation by source
“President Trump signed in March orders to reverse the previous administration’s energy policies, a move that he framed as ‘an end to the war on coal’ and that comes amid a drop in the fuel’s use…”
March 28, 2017 • Washington Post
Burn: How the grid works
Debunking The Unscientific Fantasy Of 100% Renewables
“Last week, twenty-one prominent scientists issued a sharp critique to one of their own. Mark Jacobson of Stanford said America could easily become 100% renewable by mid-century, but refused to acknowledge sound scientific principles in his research and address major errors pointed out by the scientific community…”
June 26, 2017 • Forbes
Practical Engineering: How Electricity Generation Really Works
TED-Ed: Can 100% renewable energy power the world?
Key Mitigation Policies and Strategies
Interactive Sample of Emission Reduction Policies
“The United States is reducing its greenhouse gas emissions far too slowly to help avert the worst effects of global warming. But what would happen if the country adopted seven of the most ambitious climate policies already in place around the world…”
Click on NYT hyperlink to access the page
February 13, 2019 • New York Times
Cap-and-Trade Basics
“Cap and trade is an approach that harnesses market forces to reduce emissions cost-effectively. Like other market-based strategies, it differs from ‘command-and-control’ approaches where the government sets performance standards or dictates technology choices for individual facilities...”
Accessed August 2020 • Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
More Carbon Stabilization “Wedges”
“We already have the technology we need to take the world off the path toward dramatic climate change...”
Accessed August 2020 • Princeton Environmental Institute
Carbon Tax Basics
“Under a carbon tax, the government sets a price that emitters must pay for each ton of greenhouse gas emissions they emit. Businesses and consumers will take steps, such as switching fuels or adopting new technologies, to reduce their emissions to avoid paying the tax...”
Accessed August 2020 • Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
Decarbonization Pathways: A Global Business Perspective
“Amid the coronavirus pandemic, everyone is rightly focused on protecting lives and livelihoods. Can we simultaneously strive to avoid the next crisis...”
April 30, 2020 • McKinsey & Company
Explore Issues by Sector
(Additional resources for each sector are available in the “Optional” section)
Energy
Buildings, Business & Industry
Waste
Transportation
Agriculture, Forestry & Land Use
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Optional Resources
Overview, Energy Basics & Policies
Energy
Buildings, Business & Industry
Waste
Transportation
Agriculture, Forestry & Land Use