ESS Topic 7: Climate change and energy production

Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, natural gas

Rich countries

Newly industrialising countries (NICs)

Timber

Natural resources with a sustainable yield or harvest equal to or less than their natural productivity

fossil fuels

oil, coal, natural gas, shale gas

cheap, versatile, easy to transport, enough to be consumed for another 40 years, 2/3 found in the middle east

damage to coastlines / fish stocks / communities dependent on sea, water pollution, will eventually run out, burning it releases co2

renewable, clean form of energy that doesn’t emit greenhouse gases

very costly to build, need a lot of water but not many places have that much water, affects routes of migratory fish, increased evaporation behind the dam

received support form the environmental movement, does not emit greenhouse gases

very expensive, risks of radiation, chernobyl and fukushima, led japan to turn back on nuclear power

fostered the development of Western industrial growth, produces electricity, used in smelting industry, important in producing aspirin, steam coal is used to generate electricity

coal is dirty, bulky, costly, difficult to transport

availability of energy sources at an affordable price

affordable supply, accessible supply, reliable supply

carbon dioxide, CFCs, methane, nitrogen oxide

energy, industrial processes, land use, agriculture, waste

biomes shifting, change in crop-growing locations, change in weather patterns, human health, spread of tropical diseases, loss of species diversity, increased primary productivity

coastal inundation, impact on human health, changes in weather patterns.

flooding; intrusion of salty water on land / freshwater, coral reefs unable to sustain sufficient light, contamination of soils that decline agricultural production

more mosquitos that carry diseases, people forced to leave homes, saltwater intrudes agricultural land causing hunger / malnutrition

increase of temperatures, changes in winds, changes in precipitation, continental areas become drier.

increase in timber yields because more primary productivity, agriculture shifts to the north, increased potential for tourism because increased temperature

increase in drought / soil erosion, increase of invasive species, increased demand for water, damage from flooding and erosion, increased infection from diseases

increased temperature in polar areas causes increased melting of polar glaciers causes less albedo causes more solar energy absorbed by Earth’s surface causes increased temperature

increased atmospheric energy causes increased evaporation from tropical areas causes increased precipitation in polar areas causes increased albedo causes cooling causes change in global temperature

a reduction in global temperatures as a result of pollution

chemtrails reflect solar energy, has cooling effect

reduction and / or stabilization of GHG emission and their removal from the atmospherer

reduction of energy consumption (ex. public transport, energy conservation), reduction of nitrogen oxide / methane oxide in agriculture (ex. less chemical fertilizers), alternatives to fossil fuels (ex. more HEP, wind / solar energy), geo-engineering (ex. co2 capture from air, ocean fertilization)

carbon taxes (makes using Co2 more expensive), carbon cap & trading

reducing adverse effects, maximizing positive effects

flood defense, vaccination programmes, planting crops in previously unsustainable climates