6.3 Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS): HL): Flashcards

A cross-border carbon tax is a levy on imported goods based on the carbon emissions produced during their manufacture, aiming to equalise the cost of carbon between countries.

The UK aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, Germany by 2045, and China by 2060.

Climate change mitigation is the process of reducing and stabilising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to limit the extent of climate change.

Mitigation of climate change is crucial because it aims to reduce the negative impacts of global warming on human societies, such as sea level rise, extreme weather, and threats to food and water security.

Climate change mitigation strategies focus on reducing and stabilising greenhouse gas emissions.

The two main approaches to climate change mitigation are reducing greenhouse gas emissions at their source and removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

Afforestation is the process of planting trees on land that has not been previously forested in order to create a new forest.

Reforestation is the process of restoring or replanting trees in an area that was once forested but has been deforested or degraded.

True.

A carbon tax is a financial charge on emissions of greenhouse gases to encourage reduction of GHG emissions.

Mitigation strategies in transport include promoting electric vehicles and investing in public transport infrastructure.

A climate change adaptation strategy is an approach or action taken to reduce the negative impacts or maximise potential benefits of climate change by building resilience and adapting to changing conditions.

The main goal of climate change adaptation strategies is to reduce adverse effects of climate change and maximise any potential positive outcomes.

Adaptation strategies focus on building resilience and adapting to changing climate conditions.

Flood defences are structures and systems designed to prevent or reduce flooding, such as levees, barriers, and natural buffers like wetlands.

Sustainable drainage systems (SUDs) help manage the impacts of climate change by controlling excess water during heavy rainfall and reducing the risk of flooding.

Restoring and preserving floodplains and wetlands can act as natural buffers against flooding.

Vaccination programmes help populations adapt to health risks associated with climate change, such as the spread of vector-borne diseases into new areas.

Desalination plants increase freshwater availability in water-scarce regions.

Drought-resistant crops are plant varieties that can survive and produce yields with limited water, helping agriculture adapt to drier conditions caused by climate change.

The purpose of land zoning and building code changes as adaptation strategies is to reduce vulnerability to climate risks such as flooding, sea-level rise, and extreme weather, by restricting development in high-risk areas and requiring resilient construction.

Promoting resilient crop varieties and adopting soil management techniques help agriculture adapt to climate change.

False.

Mitigation strategies aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while adaptation strategies focus on adjusting to the impacts of climate change.

The main aim of economic measures is to use market-based strategies to encourage low-carbon practices and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon pricing is a market-based approach that assigns a cost to greenhouse gas emissions to incentivise their reduction.

The European Union's Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) places a cap on emissions and allows companies to buy or sell emission allowances.

Subsidies lower the cost of renewable energy projects, while tariffs make high-emission products more expensive. This encourages a shift to clean energy sources and supports the growth of the renewable industry.

Legislative measures are laws or regulations designed to enforce emission reductions and promote accountability for climate action.

True.

The UK's Climate Change Act makes it a legal requirement to reach net zero emissions by 2050, ensuring accountability for long-term climate planning.

Corporate sustainability goals encourage companies to voluntarily set measurable targets for reducing emissions and adopting sustainable business practices.

B Corp certification recognises companies that meet high environmental and social performance standards, incentivising them to operate sustainably.

Reducing meat consumption lowers methane emissions associated with livestock farming.

True.

Smart thermostats conserve energy by automatically adjusting home temperatures, reducing both emissions and energy costs.

The UNFCCC works to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to limit severe climate impacts.

The Paris Agreement was adopted at COP21 in 2015 to limit global warming to well below 2°C.

The Loss and Damage Fund provides financial support to climate-vulnerable countries to help them cope with the impacts of climate change.

The Kigali Amendment is a 2016 update to the Montreal Protocol that aims to reduce emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 85% by 2047 to prevent further global warming.

A greenhouse gas emissions scenario is a model used to predict future climate outcomes based on different levels of human actions and policies.

The main purpose of creating greenhouse gas emissions scenarios is to predict future climate outcomes and to define targets to reduce the risk of catastrophic climate change.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions scenarios are developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

True.

Uncertainties in emissions scenarios are primarily due to unknown future actions, technological progress, and policy changes.

The Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) are five scenarios developed by the IPCC to model different future greenhouse gas emissions based on a range of socio-economic factors.

The IPCC’s Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) combine potential emissions changes with factors such as global cooperation, economic policies, population growth, and technological development.

SSP1 features strong global cooperation, reduced inequalities, and investments in green technologies. Its climate impact is lower GHG emissions, likely to limit global warming to around 1.5–2°C.

SSP3 describes a world with regional conflicts, minimal cooperation, and high reliance on fossil fuels. This leads to high GHG emissions and a high risk of severe climate impacts.

SSP5: Fossil-fuelled Development is characterised by high fossil fuel use and rapid economic growth, leading to very high GHG emissions.

SSP4 results in moderate to high GHG emissions with variable adaptation and mitigation success, while SSP1 produces lower emissions and SSP3 leads to very high emissions and severe climate impacts.

The IPCC’s emissions scenario SSP2-4.5 is considered an intermediate scenario, with CO2 emissions around current levels until 2050.

The projected warming for the SSP5-8.5 scenario by 2081–2100 is about 4.4 °C (very likely range: 3.3–5.7 °C).

In the SSP1-1.9 scenario, CO2 emissions are cut to net zero around 2050, resulting in very low greenhouse gas emissions.

Geoengineering is the intentional alteration of the Earth’s climate systems on a large scale to treat the symptoms of climate change, not its root causes.

The two main types of geoengineering are Solar Radiation Management (SRM) and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR).

Solar radiation management (SRM) aims to cool the Earth by reflecting sunlight, while carbon dioxide removal (CDR) removes CO₂ from the atmosphere.

False.

Geoengineering treats the symptoms of climate change, not its root causes such as greenhouse gas emissions.

Stratospheric aerosol injection is a solar radiation management technique that releases reflective particles, such as sulphates, into the stratosphere to reduce sunlight reaching Earth.

The main goal of cloud brightening is to make clouds over oceans brighter and more reflective, reducing ocean surface temperatures and potentially slowing coral bleaching.

Ocean fertilisation adds nutrients like iron to the ocean to boost algae growth, which absorbs CO₂.

Geoengineering carries high uncertainty; for example, stratospheric aerosols could alter rainfall patterns and potentially cause droughts in some regions.

Climate mitigation technology refers to innovations designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit the effects of climate change.

Renewable energy technologies use natural resources, such as solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal energy, to produce energy with minimal emissions, helping to replace fossil fuels and reduce climate change.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies capture CO₂ from power plants and store it underground.

Energy efficiency technologies reduce greenhouse gas emissions by lowering energy consumption in buildings, vehicles, and industries, for example through smart buildings and electric vehicles.

Precision agriculture uses sensors and drones to monitor crop health and minimise fertiliser use, reducing emissions from agriculture.

True.

Direct air capture (DAC) removes CO₂ directly from the atmosphere, making it both a carbon removal technology (climate mitigation) and a type of geoengineering.

A climate management strategy is an approach or set of actions aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change.

Two major barriers are social and economic challenges, such as lack of public support and insufficient financial resources.

Some individuals do not view climate change as a serious or immediate threat.

True.

Financial constraints may reduce funding for the research, development, and use of climate-friendly technologies.

A stakeholder is any individual, group, or organisation that can affect or is affected by climate management strategies.

A lack of leadership leads to poor coordination and less impact of climate initiatives.

Low-income countries are often more vulnerable to climate impacts but have fewer resources for adaptation.

They face difficulties transitioning to renewable energy sources due to economic dependence on fossil fuels.

The tragedy of the commons is a situation where shared resources are overused and depleted due to individual self-interest, such as the atmosphere in the context of climate change.

When one nation burns fossil fuels, all nations and their ecosystems share the costs.

Global cooperation is essential because no single nation can resolve climate change alone, and coordinated efforts are required to mitigate its effects.

False.

Low-income countries are often more vulnerable to climate change impacts, even though high-income countries may contribute more to emissions.

A climate stakeholder is an individual or group who influences or shapes perspectives and actions related to climate change.

An example of a charismatic individual is Greta Thunberg, a young climate activist who has inspired global youth movements for climate action.

Community groups often address climate issues specific to their area, making climate action more relevant and actionable.

NGOs influence climate action by researching, educating, and advocating for climate policies and actions, often working internationally to shape public and government perspectives.

False.

Media can both increase awareness and create confusion depending on the reliability of information presented.

Educational institutions help develop a scientifically accurate understanding of climate change and motivate students to take climate action.

A climate perspective refers to an individual's or group's view and approach regarding climate change and appropriate action, shaped by factors such as age, location, and economic interests.

Younger generations often view climate change as a more urgent issue and are more likely to support immediate action than older generations.

Developing countries may prioritise economic growth and poverty reduction over climate action due to limited resources.

Coastal communities face direct threats like sea-level rise and increased storms, making climate change a more urgent concern for them compared to inland communities.

Countries with economies dependent on fossil fuel industries may have mixed views on climate action, while those not reliant on these industries may support renewable energy policies.

True.

Perspectives are influenced by age, location, economic interests, and other factors, creating challenges for unified climate action.