Case study 16
What do you need to know:
The different views that exist surrounding the management of climate change at the local, national and international level.
The different views that exist surrounding the management of climate change at the local, national and international level.
Is a low carbon future the answer in the UK?
A low carbon future could be achieved by combining three approaches:
· Using new technologies to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels for energy and transport
· Better energy conservation and efficiency. This means changing our lifestyles so that each of us plays a part in reducing carbon emissions. For example, individuals can reduce energy consumption by:
o Insulating their homes
o Using low energy appliances
o Using more public transport
o Taking fewer flights
o Finding ways to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in long-term sinks such as forests or in rocks underground
For each of these approaches to the low carbon future has advantages and disadvantages, and some may prove more popular than others
Local actions
Have an energy audit
Install energy efficient light bulbs
Fuel efficient cars
Use less heating
Turn appliances off standby
Eat less meat
Local views- Town councillor - can win subsidies for their voters/ House holder - can get money to build solar panels to help save money with electricity bills
National/Government strategies
Promote low-carbon technologies
Incentives for solar panel installation firms
Green subsidies on electricity bills to promote the use of sustainable fuels/energy
Promote new fuel efficient cars
National views - UK Government - wants to protect the UK from the effects of sea-level rise to protect votes in vulnerable areas - WWF - Measures have to be put in place to prevent the loss of rare plant species in Scotland
International strategies
–Kyoto Protocol – 1997
•Designed to reduce CO2 emissions to pre 1990 levels
•Reduction of 15%
–Bali Conference
•2007 – agreed targets were not working
•USA and China refused to sign up to Kyoto Protocol
–Copenhagen accord
•2009 – all countries agreed that Carbon dioxide levels need to be reduced
•No specific targets were agreed
International views
Maldives Government - world needs to tackle climate change to prevent their islands being submerged by the sea
USA Government - whole world should take action so efforts are noticeable - no point if other countries such as China do not do anything to tackle climate change
· Using new technologies to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels for energy and transport
· Better energy conservation and efficiency. This means changing our lifestyles so that each of us plays a part in reducing carbon emissions. For example, individuals can reduce energy consumption by:
o Insulating their homes
o Using low energy appliances
o Using more public transport
o Taking fewer flights
o Finding ways to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in long-term sinks such as forests or in rocks underground
For each of these approaches to the low carbon future has advantages and disadvantages, and some may prove more popular than others
Local actions
Have an energy audit
Install energy efficient light bulbs
Fuel efficient cars
Use less heating
Turn appliances off standby
Eat less meat
Local views- Town councillor - can win subsidies for their voters/ House holder - can get money to build solar panels to help save money with electricity bills
National/Government strategies
Promote low-carbon technologies
Incentives for solar panel installation firms
Green subsidies on electricity bills to promote the use of sustainable fuels/energy
Promote new fuel efficient cars
National views - UK Government - wants to protect the UK from the effects of sea-level rise to protect votes in vulnerable areas - WWF - Measures have to be put in place to prevent the loss of rare plant species in Scotland
International strategies
–Kyoto Protocol – 1997
•Designed to reduce CO2 emissions to pre 1990 levels
•Reduction of 15%
–Bali Conference
•2007 – agreed targets were not working
•USA and China refused to sign up to Kyoto Protocol
–Copenhagen accord
•2009 – all countries agreed that Carbon dioxide levels need to be reduced
•No specific targets were agreed
International views
Maldives Government - world needs to tackle climate change to prevent their islands being submerged by the sea
USA Government - whole world should take action so efforts are noticeable - no point if other countries such as China do not do anything to tackle climate change
