Managing Climate Change (SQA National 5 Geography): Revision Note

Key approaches to managing climate change include mitigation and adaptation strategies

Mitigation involves trying to reduce or stop greenhouse gas emissions to prevent climate change

Adaptation aims to help people cope with the impacts of climate change

Mitigation strategies to reduce climate change

Local scale approaches

• At a local level, individuals can change their everyday behaviour to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

  • Reduce, reuse, recycle

    • These reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and lower demand for newly manufactured goods

  • Switch to an electric vehicle or walk / cycle

    • Reduces carbon dioxide emissions from petrol/diesel engines

  • Reduce meat consumption

    • Reduces methane emissions from cattle farming

  • Improve energy efficiency 

    • Reduces demand for energy

    • Can be achieved when people insulate homes, use energy-efficient bulbs, turn heating down and turn lights off when not in the room 

National scale approaches

• At a national level, governments can introduce policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the whole country

  • Investment in renewable or nuclear energy

    • This reduces reliance on fossil fuels

  • Increasing forestation

    • Planting more trees helps to remove carbon from the atmosphere

  • Impose a ban on new petrol/diesel cars

    • Forces people to shift to electric vehicles

  • Improve public transport

    • Reduces the number of petrol/diesel vehicles on the road

  • Carbon taxes

    • Encourage businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

  • Net zero targets

    • Put pressure on successive governments to continue taking action to tackle climate change

Examples of UK government mitigation strategies

• Legally binding target to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

• The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) makes it more expensive to emit carbon, encouraging industries to reduce emissions

• Continuing investment in renewable energy, such as offshore wind and solar, allowed the UK to generate over half of its electricity from renewable sources in 2024

• A ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is planned for 2030

• The UK stopped using coal to generate electricity in 2024

• Legally binding target to reach 16.5% tree and woodland cover by 2050

International scale approaches

• Countries work together through agreements and coordinated action to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions

  • International agreements 

    • Countries set and agree on targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

  • Annual climate meetings

    • Nations meet at the UN climate summits known as COP (Conference of the Parties) every year to coordinate action and commit to new targets

  • Support for developing countries

    • Transfers of technology, such as renewable energy and financial aid, help countries to reduce emissions

  • Global monitoring and reporting 

    • Ensures transparency and encourages accountability with emissions reductions

Examples of international mitigation strategies

• Paris Agreement 2015

  • Global agreement to limit global warming to 2°C (preferably 1.5°C) above pre-industrial levels

  • Signed by 195 countries that submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to show how they will reduce emissions

  • Progress is reviewed regularly to encourage countries to set more ambitious targets

• REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation)

  • A global initiative to reduce deforestation and protect forests

  • Provides financial incentives to developing countries to conserve and manage forests sustainably

  • Countries put policies in place to prevent illegal logging and restore degraded forests

  • Regular monitoring and tracking ensure transparency and accountability

Adaptation strategies to reduce the impact of climate change

• Climate change is already impacting many countries

  • Mitigation strategies will take time to have an impact

  • Adaptations are needed to help populations cope with the impacts that are already being felt

• Examples of adaptation strategies include:

  • Installing coastal and river defences to reduce the impact of flooding

  • Improving building design to withstand increased storm intensity

  • More efficient use of freshwater resources and desalination

  • Growing different crops that are suited to the changing climate, e.g. drought-resistant crops

  • Relocating vulnerable communities

  • Installing early warning systems for storms and floods

  • Training emergency services to respond to extreme weather events