IB Environmental systems and societies 6.3A Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies Notes

Climate Change Demands Coordinated Global Action

1. Climate change is a planetary-scale issue whose drivers and impacts cross borders, generations and political boundaries.
2. Because greenhouse gases mix globally, emissions released in one country affect the whole Earth system, so no single country can solve it alone.
3. Local or national policies alone cannot prevent dangerous warming, so coordinated global action is required.
4. This cooperation is coordinated through the UN climate framework and international agreements, which are covered in 6.3B.

Decarbonisation: Cutting the Carbon Out of the Economy

1. Decarbonisation reduces the carbon intensity of the economy by shifting energy, industry and infrastructure toward low-carbon systems.
2. Most global emissions come from fossil-fuel use, so decarbonisation is central to stabilising the climate.
3. Without rapid decarbonisation, global warming is projected to exceed 1.5°C to 2°C, causing severe ecological, economic and social harm.

National Net-Zero and Carbon-Neutrality Targets

1. Many countries have set long-term carbon-neutrality goals, though the target dates differ.
   1. The EU, UK, Japan and South Korea target 2050.
   2. Germany aims for 2045.
   3. China aims for 2060.
   4. India aims for 2070.
   5. Bhutan and Suriname are already carbon-negative thanks to large forest sinks and low industrial emissions.

The Three Pillars of Decarbonisation

1. Optimise: reduce energy demand
   1. Insulating and retrofitting buildings and improving industrial efficiency lowers overall demand.
   2. Upgrading manufacturing and expanding circular-economy practices cut waste and emissions.
   3. Reducing food waste and shifting consumption lowers the carbon footprint of homes and businesses.
2. Electrify: replace fossil-fuel technologies
   1. Electrifying vehicles, heating and industrial processes cuts direct fossil-fuel use.
   2. Expanding charging infrastructure and electric public transport supports the long-term transition.
   3. Electrification only cuts emissions when the electricity comes from renewable sources.
3. Decarbonise energy supply: clean and renewable sources
   1. Expanding solar, wind, tidal, geothermal and hydroelectric power replaces fossil-fuel electricity.
   2. Green hydrogen and ocean-based energy add further low-carbon options.
   3. Phasing out coal power is critical for rapid emission cuts.

Mitigation Tackles the Cause; Adaptation Manages the Impact

1. Mitigation is action that reduces or prevents greenhouse gas emissions, or increases their removal from the atmosphere.
2. Mitigation addresses the underlying causes of climate change rather than its consequences.