Managing Climate Change (AQA GCSE Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Bridgette Barrett
Reviewed by: Jenna Quinn
Mitigation & Adaptation
Global warming and climate change require an international response because it affects the entire globe
Responses can involve either adaptation or mitigation
Mitigation
One form of mitigation is international agreements:
In 1988 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was set up to assess the 'risks of human-induced climate change
This was followed by several international agreements:
Earth Summit, Rio 1992
Set out aims to stabilise greenhouse gas levels
Kyoto Protocol 1997
Delegates from 150 countries agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
It stated that industrialised countries would reduce emissions to below the levels in 1990
Developing countries including China and India were exempt from the agreement
The USA did not sign up for the treaty
Canada withdrew in 2011 stating that without China and USA the treaty would not work
Paris Agreement 2015
Global agreement to limit global warming to 2oC (preferably 1.5oC) above pre-industrial levels
Agreement also includes reducing CO2 emissions by at least 60% by 2050
Signed by 196 countries including the USA and China (the USA withdrew in 2020 and later, re-joined in 2021)
Conference of the Parties (COP)
The United Nations (UN) holds an annual (every year) meeting to discuss climate change.
COP26 was held in Glasgow, UK in 2021 and in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt in 2022
All nations agreed to take actions to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Other forms of mitigation include:
Alternative energy production
Wind, solar, HEP, tidal and geothermal are all renewable energy sources which reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted:
Gases are released in the construction of turbines, dams, solar panels etc... but these emissions are lower than fossil fuels
They are becoming cheaper
Renewable energy is not as efficient as fossil fuels
Afforestation
Planting trees increases the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere
Oxygen is created during photosynthesis
Increased transpiration increases cloud formation which reduces incoming solar radiation
Carbon capture and storage (CCS)
Captures and removes CO2 before it is emitted:
The CO2 is then compressed and stored underground
This is an expensive process and is not economically viable yet
It is unknown whether the CO2 will be able to be stored long term
Adaptation
These are ways in which people can adapt to the impacts through:
Change in agricultural systems
Managing water supplies
Reducing risks from rising sea levels
Change in agricultural systems
Agricultural systems will need to adapt to changing weather patterns, different pests and diseases
Changing crops or the livestock raised to suit the climatic conditions
More irrigation may be required which will need careful management of water supplies
Development of drought-resistant crops
Floating gardens where crops are planted on platforms which rise with the level of water
Managing water supplies
Reducing demand through the use of water-efficient appliances and devices (shower heads, dual flush toilets)
Increasing supply through desalinisation
Water storage facilities
Improved irrigation systems which waste/use less water
Reducing risks from rising sea levels
Construction of sea walls as in the Maldives
Mangrove forest restoration which protects the land from coastal flooding
Raised homes on stilts to allow waters to flow underneath
Construction of artificial islands up to 3m high
Flood barriers such as the Thames Barrier
Worked Example
Explain how alternative energy production and planting trees may help to reduce the rate of climate change
[4 marks]
The command word in this question is 'Explain'
This means that you need to give an account of how and why the mitigation strategies of alternative energy and planting trees are helpful in reducing the rate of climate change
You need to clearly outline that both attempt to deal with the source of the problem by preventing or reducing the release of greenhouse gases which led to climate change
This is a levelled answer so to achieve 4 marks you need to give clear explanations or linked statements with use of geographical terms
Answer:
Renewable energy sources such as HEP/solar/wind/tidal do not emit large amounts of CO2 [1] Nuclear is another source with little or no release of CO2 [1]
Trees act as carbon sinks [1] removing CO2 from the atmosphere during photosynthesis [1] They also release moisture which produces more cloud and reduces incoming solar radiation [1]
Examiner Tips and Tricks
It is important to be clear about the difference between mitigation and adaption. Adaptation is the actions actions taken to adjust to natural events to reduce potential damage or deal with the consequences such as building homes on stilts to adapt to increased flooding. Mitigation is the actions taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from climate change such as international agreements to reduce carbon emissions.
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