1.4.4 Managing Climate Change

Mitigation Strategies

Mitigation Strategies

Carbon Capture

• Carbon Capture (CCS) is a new technology that involves capturing CO2 and storing it deep underground.

Alternate Energy

• Replacing fossil fuels with nuclear power and renewable energy will reduce greenhouse gases.
• In the UK, more offshore wind farms are being built, and tidal power projects are planned.

International Agreements

• In 2015 most countries in the world agreed to monitor and cut greenhouse gases by signing the Paris Agreement.
• Each country was set a target to cut emissions. The EU agreed to cut emissions by 20% by 2020.

Planting Trees

• Planting trees increases the amount of CO2 that is absorbed as trees act as a carbon sink.

Planting Trees

Adaption Strategies

Changing Agriculture Systems

• Changing rainfall patterns and higher temperatures will affect the productivity of existing farming practices.
  1. It may be necessary to plant a new type of crop that are more hardy and suitable for harsh conditions.
  2. In some regions, biotechnology is being used to create new crop varieties which are more resistant to extreme weather.

Managing Water Supply

• Dry areas are predicted to get drier, leading to water shortages. 3. Water meters can be installed in people's homes to discourage use. 4. Rainwater can be collected and waste water can be recycled to make more water available.

Coping with Sea Level Rise

• Dry areas are predicted to get drier, leading to water shortages. 5. Physical defences such as flood barriers are being built (Thames Barrier - London). 6. In LIC countries, with less money, houses are being built on stilts and flood shelters are being built.

Thames Barrier preventing a flood in London