Carbon Emission as a Global Problem - Report Example

Critical Evaluation of the Current Political and technological Drivers to Mitigate CO2 Emissions in UK Name Student Number Institution Course Code Instructor Date Introduction Carbon emission is a global problem that has caused great concern due to increased global warming resulting. Global warming refers to increased temperatures levels near the earth surface caused by trapping and build up of heat in the atmosphere (Paterson 2003). Increased carbon emission acts as a proxy to climate change due to its greenhouse effects of trapping emitted heat and containing it within atmosphere. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the fundamental greenhouse gas (GHG) that is produced by human activities. Graph showing the proportion of CO2 to other Pollutants Human activities that result to GHGs production include industrial production, farming, motor vehicles, aviation, and electricity production among others (Scientific Assessment 2010). The United States of America contributes greatly to the global carbon emissions with other fast developing nations following suit due to increased burning of fossil fuel. From graph 1 in the Appendix, it is evident that growth rates in CO2 emissions have been on the sharp increase in the past decade compared to other decades. Before 2002, annual increments of CO2 had not hit the 1 billion metric ton mark, but since 2002, three-one billion incremental tonnes of CO2 have been observed in 2003, 2004 and 2010 (Rapier 2012). Arguably, 2010 had an increment of 1.58 billion tonnes of CO2 annual emission being the largest. This essay evaluates the political and technological drives towards carbon dioxide (CO2) emission mitigation in the United Kingdom (UK). Global Conferences, Treaties, Protocol and Technologies to Mitigate CO2 Emissions Burning fossil fuels produces CO2 into the atmosphere resulting to global warming. This result to high atmospheric temperatures which have negative climatic consequences in the latter years if the trend is not corrected (Paterson 2003). The effects of global warming have been observed with tremendous changes in climatic conditions. According to Scientific Assessment of Ozone Layer Depletion (201), carbon dioxide though not the most potent among GHGs, it is the most significant gas brought about by human activities causing imbalances in the natural cycle of the greenhouse effect and related processes. The developed, as well as developing nations in the world have come up with regulations and safeguards through conferences, protocols, treaties, technological innovations and legal formulations to ensure subjugating production of high level of CO2 (Rapier 2012). The main agenda of these conferences, protocols and treaties have been to come up with guidelines and measures aimed at curbing the increased production of green house gases into the troposphere. This study looks into the Kyoto and Montreal protocols, as well as Villach and Toronto Conferences and finally the Green Climate Fund. The Kyoto Protocol formally termed as the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate change is an international treaty adopted in Japan in December 1997 with the main aim of reducing gases that greatly contribute to global warming (UN 2014). The Protocol has been in force since 2005 calling for the reduction of six GHGs in 41 countries, as well as the European Union to 5.2% below the levels recorded in 1990s during the commitment period “2008-2012.” The Protocol has been lauded as the most significant treaty touching on environmental matters that has ever been negotiated through its effectiveness has been questioned considerably (Blanco, et al 2014). There have been new commitments, with the proposal having been made in 2012 with regard to Doha Amendment with 37 countries having binding targets. In 2014, negations held in Paris was aimed at coming up with a post-Kyoto legal framework which would lead to countries contributing greatly to pollution having an obligation to pay for CO2 emission (UN 2014). Nevertheless, some nations are reluctant on committing to the legal framework. The Montreal Protocol was adopted in Montreal Canada on 16th September 1987 as an international treaty with the aim of phasing out Ozone depleting substances (ODSs) (Montreal Protocol 2007). The substances include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) which are not only Ozone depleting substances, but also have grave climate-damaging consequences. With an initial support of 46 countries, there are now close to 200 signatories to the treaty. The Villach Conference held in Austria on October 5-9th 1985 was a continuous effort of various global entities (Franz 1997). The major aim of the meeting was to comprehend the issues that lead to the stratospheric ozone layer depletion, as well as climatic changes. The conference saw scientists agree to an initial consensus on the technical features of GHGs, depletion of the Ozone layer and the chemical reactions that were relevant (Blanco et al. 2014; Scientific Assessment 2010). After the signing of the UN Vienna Convention on protection of Ozone layer in 1985 and the Villach conference in 1985 with the aim of developing a basis for further actions on the same. Successive deliberations led to the Toronto Conference held between 27-30th June 1988 and combined science and policy to come up with measures to curb global warming and effective climatic changes (Franz 1997). Finally, the Green Climate Fund involves a fund by the UNFCCC with the aim of ensuring global efforts towards achieving set targets by International community in fighting changes of climate. The decision was made in Durban South Africa in December 2011, albeit the fact that the initial steps had been laid earlier in a non-binding ‘Copenhagen Accord’ of 2009 (Climate Finance and Markets 2015). Policies and Technologies in European Union (EU) to Mitigate CO2 Emission The European Union has been considering ways and means of achieving cost effective ways to make the European economy climate-friendly and utilise minimum energy (Blanco et al. 2014). The European Commission aims at reducing considerably its GHG emissions by 2050 through clean technologies. For short term measures, the EU has strategised legislations for cutting emissions in the region by 205 below the 1990 levels by year 2020 (Carbon Market Watch 2014). To critically understand the policies and technologies undertaken by the EU to mitigate CO2 emission, EU Emission Trading Systems (EU ETS) and EU Energy Efficiency Directives will be analysed. The EU Emission Trading Systems forms a foundational policy in the EU to curb climatic changes by embracing cost effectiveness to reduce GHG emissions by the industries (Ellerman and Joskow 2008). EU ETS is the biggest international trading system for GHGs reduction covering more that eleven thousand (11,000) power stations and industrial plants and airline from thirty one (31) countries. The system is based on a ‘cap and trade’ principle where a limit is set on the amount that given GHGs can be emitted from factories, power plants, as well as other installations covered by the system (Carbon Market Watch 2014.). The limit keeps going down to ensure considerable drop in the total emissions. The target is that by 2020, emissions from sectors that are under the EU ETS will be lowered by 21% in comparison to statistics of 2005 and proposals are that by 2030, emissions will be lowered by 43%. This system covers around 45% of total GHGS emissions within 28 countries (EU Commission 2015a). The EU energy efficiency directives initiated in 2012 brings to life measures aimed at helping the EU achieve its 20% energy efficiency target by 2020 (EU Commission 2015b). The directive requires that all member countries utilise their energy resources more efficiently at all stages of production to full consumption. Complete use of energy ensures efficiency, as well as reducing wastage and pollution (Carbon Market Watch 2014). The major benefits from efficient use of energy resources by the EU would result to reduction of costs bring down reliance on external suppliers of oil and gas and thus, lead to safeguarding the environment against fuel by-products pollutants. The EU summit of October 2014 saw the member countries come up with a new energy efficiency target of 27% of greater by 2030 (EU Commission 2015b), though the initial proposition by EU Commission was 30%. The directives have resulted to policies and measures aimed at improving energy efficiency in the future. The EU struggle to manage energy efficiency has resulted to new buildings being set up consuming half the energy in comparison to the once built in the 1980s (Blanco et al. 2014). Further, energy intensity within the EU industry sector has decreased by close to 19% between years 2001 and 2011. More emphasis is being carried out to ensure that in every one percent improvement of energy efficiency in the EU region, importation of gas falls by 2.6% (EU Commission 2015b). Critical Evaluation of Political and Technological Drivers to Mitigate CO2 Emissions in UK The United Kingdom has been committed towards reducing its carbon emissions considerably as per the global and EU requirements (Blanco et al. 2014). Notable have been the signing of the Kyoto protocol among other requirements in the world aimed at reducing the level of green house gases in the atmosphere. Being an industrialised country, United Kingdom’s is live to the reality of the need to reduce carbon emissions and thus, curb global warming and worsening global climate. Various legal and technological measures have been introduced with the basic aim of reducing the levels of GHGs emissions to the atmosphere (Ellerman and Joskowm 2008). There has been significant reduction of CO2 emissions between the years 1990 to 2000 largely due to switching of coal fuel to gas for electricity generation, as well as increased nuclear energy production. The need for clean energy has been progressively praised as one of the surest ways of reducing carbon emission considerably to the atmosphere (Gault 2012). Nevertheless, increased use of industrial activities, transportation modes and aviation services continue to contribute considerably to the carbon emission proportion in the UK. The need for technological progress in respect to incremental improvements coupled with extensive essential innovations need to keep the aspect of utilising clean energy aspect to contribute to the overall carbon mitigation aspect (Gault, A. 2012). With various changes in the global climate, the world has come together to ensure responsibility towards curbing GHGs effects in the future. According to Gault (2012), the United Kingdom is expected to meet its carbon budgets by 2022 and further meet its share of the EU’s commitments under the UNFCCC. These achievements have come up supported by UK’s political and technological measures that have enhanced the quest for GHGs emission mitigation. The undertakings targets both corporate and individual entities in the overall achievement of national energy efficiency utilisation, minimising cost of production and reducing carbon contents during energy consumption. The undertakings made by various stakeholders in UK aims at enhancing energy efficiency, bring down the demand for emissions intensive goods and services, undertake technologies that switch to lower carbon measures and action to no-energy emissions like deforestation (Ellerman and Joskowm 2008). The mitigation measures for carbon dioxide and other GHGs require various measures to be put in place within various sectors. With the absence of effective mitigation measures, there will be no mitigation prospects to bring down the increasing carbon contents in the atmosphere and consequently reduce global warming and worsening climatic conditions (Scientific Assessment 2010). The following section outlines various political and technological drivers towards carbon emission reduction in UK. The Climate Change Act 2008 is a domestic legislation in the United Kingdom that commits the nation to an 80% reduction of emission by 2050 in comparison to the 1990 levels. Further, the Act commits UK to a five year system of carbon budgets to progress towards the target of 80% reduction of GHGs. The set carbon budgets expect the nation to reduce emissions from the 1990 levels by 34% in 2020 and 50% in 2025 (Gault 2012). Through climatic condition measures, targets are made to ensure reduced negative climatic conditions are achieved, as well as effective measures towards improvement of energy compliance measures. The second item under consideration is the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme. This is commonly referred to as CRC Scheme and was established to increasingly enhance energy efficiency, as well as ensure large energy consumers within the public and private sectors cut emissions in the UK (Department of Energy, 2012). The scheme target close to 10% of the UK’s GHGs emissions. The design of the scheme targets emissions that are not within the Climate Change Agreements (CAAs), as well as in the UE ETS. It has various drivers aimed enhancing organizations to create energy management strategies with the capacity to promote effective understanding of energy consumption, as well as take up prospects that are cost-effective in respect to energy efficiency (Department of Energy 2012). Companies covered by the criteria are required to take part and have the obligation of buying allowances for each and every given tonne of carbon emitted by their facilities. These measures have the capacity of placing corporate at limited chances of overstretching the limits which equally result to compliance within the set limits. Another mitigation measure towards carbon dioxide emission and other GHGs pollutants involve the Carbon Price Support Mechanisms. Carbon Price Support Mechanisms was introduced in 2011 with the aim or providing stronger carbon price signals to investors and subsequently enhance measures towards carbon emission reduction (Department of Energy and Climate Change, 2014. Energy Savings Opportunity Schemes 2014). This is an extra tax that is payable by companies generating power from fuels believed to contribute considerable carbon contents like gas, LPG, oils and coal. The increased charges on carbon contents emission makes companies set limits and measures to cut their usage of fuels that contribute towards carbon emission into the atmosphere. Further, the Energy Act 2013 was introduced to critically address issues surrounding energy production, its effectiveness, efficiency and cost-friendliness. The Act is entrenched in chapter 32 and makes provisions for coming up with target ranges for decarbonisation, as well as duties related to them, enhancing production of electricity with low carbon contents emission, and ensuring security of supply (Energy Act 2013). It further, provides provisions for the establishment of nuclear energy and its regulation, gas and pipeline supply strategies and transmission of power. The Act also highlights requirements for making orders required in energy livening and regulation (Energy Act 2013). These are critical measures aimed at ensuring that legal frameworks are put in place to ensure effective production, transmission and utilisation of energy in UK. The United Kingdom has also embraced the Carbon Budget initiative as a measure to curb carbon emission. The main aim of introducing the Carbon Budget initiative was to ensure curbing of GHGs total amounts produced for a period of five years in the UK by placing restrictions (Department of Energy 2012). The initiative aims at contributing towards effective realisation of the goal by the Climate Change Act of reducing national emissions by at least 80% in the UK for 1990 levels by the year 2050 (Department of Energy, 2014). United Kingdom is the first country globally to come up with carbon budgets that have legal backing. Between now and 2050, any given tonne of GHGs emitted will count as per the system of carbon budgets. This means that in the event that emissions rise in one quarter, there will be considerable reductions in others. Four carbon budgets are legally binding covering the periods 2008 to 2027 where UK targets reducing the emissions by half in comparison with the levels of 1990 in the fourth carbon budget period of 2023 to 2027 (Carbon Budget 2015). The carbon budgets will ensure benchmarks towards effective realisation of the set 2050 climatic target in UK by ensuring regular progress in the corporate and household undertakings by improving on investment to low carbon economy. The initiative will considerably enhance the contribution of the corporate and individuals towards carbon emission reduction. The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme is a compulsory energy evaluation and saving identification scheme for enormous activities. The scheme applies throughout UK and aims at enhancing profitability and competitiveness through cost-effectiveness measures through strategic energy efficiency undertakings (Department of Energy 2014). Energy audits are carried out and one has to make sure their total consumption is compliant with ESOS requirements. Through audits and regulations, UK ensures that in the future individuals will effectively comply with the audits and consequently contribute towards efficiency in the energy consumption. Through the ESOS, companies are expected to greatly comply within cost effective and efficient ways and create energy saving opportunities for the benefit of the organisation ((Department of Energy, 2014)). Building Management Systems (BMS) are improved and technological approaches undertaken using computing system to monitor and enhance energy consumption of devices within a building (Gault 2012). These systems provide critical information, as well as tools necessary for managers to comprehend the energy usage of their premises and thus, initiate control measures through improvements of energy consumption. The main target of BMS is to ensure effectiveness of services within building premises, enhance energy performance and eventually contribute towards energy saving measures necessary to cost reduction, as well as mitigating emissions resulting energy production (Department of Energy 2014). Further, the Green Deal is an initiative supported by the government to help understand the energy saving improvements at homes (Green Deal 2015). These are improvements conducted to contribute in energy saving measures like house insulation, double glazing, draught-proofing and utilisation of renewable energy sources like solar panels. Individuals are given options for getting help on how to improve their properties and how to get funding or companies to carry out the improvements meant for energy efficiency purposes (Green Deal 2015). The undertakings are meant to ensure the aspect of energy efficiency and utilisations of clean energy commences at the lowest unit of the society and subsequently contribute towards mitigating carbon emission contents. To acquire the improvements, the property has to be assessed by an authorised Green Deal Assessor company and then, improvements are proposed. The renovations done are paid for by the owner, but the overall benefits are ensured in the long term effectiveness in energy consumption and carbon content reduction. In conclusion, carbon emission mitigation measures are on-going in UK. The realisation of low carbon emission is a goal of every nation but a tough one for achieving. The various political and technological measures discussed in this study indicates great strides made in the UK to contribute in the global strategies of reducing GHGs, thus, contributing towards global climatic improvements. The United Kingdom targets enhancing energy efficiency, increasing clean energy utilisation and doing away with high carbon content fuels to reduce carbon emission to the atmosphere. Through policy formulation and implementation, various drives have been effectively enhanced like the Carbon Budget initiatives, Building Management System among others which greatly are enforced to curb carbon emissions. References List Blanco, G., Gerlagh, R., Suh, S., Barrett, J., de Coninck, H.C., et al., 2014. “Drivers, Trends and Mitigation.” In O. Edenhofer, et al. (Eds). Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Carbon Budget 2015. Carbon Budgets: Reducing the UK’s Greenhouse Gas Emission by 80% by 2050. Accessed on March 26, 2015 from . Carbon Market Watch 2014. What’s needed to fix the EU’s Carbon Market: Recommendations for the Market Stability Reserve and Future ETS Reform Proposals, Carbon Watch Policy Briefing. Climate Finance and Markets 2015. Green Climate Fund. Accessed March 26, 2015 from . Department of Energy and Climate Change, 2012. Reducing Demand for Energy from Industry, Businesses and the public Sector. Accessed on March 26, 2015 from . Department of Energy and Climate Change, 2014. Energy Savings Opportunity Schemes (ESOS): Guide to ESO, Version 1.1. Ellerman, A.D. and Joskowm P.L., 2008. The European Union’s Emission Trading System in Perspectives. Arlington: Pew Centre on Global Climate Change. Energy Act 2013. 2013 Chapter 32. Accessed on March 25, 2015 from . EU Commission, 2015a. Climate Action: The EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS). Accessed March 27, 2015 from . EU Commission, 2015b. Energy: Energy Efficiency. Accessed March 27, 2015 from . Franz, W.E., 1997. “The Development of an International Agenda for Climate Change: Connecting Science to Policy.” Discussion Paper E-97-07. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Gault, A. 2012. GHG Mitigation in the United Kingdom: An Overview of the Current Policy Landscape. Working Paper, World Resources Institute. Green Deal 2015. Green Deal: Energy Saving for Your home. Accessed on March 24, 2015 from . Montreal Protocol, 2007. Backgrounder: The 20th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol- A Landmark Environmental Treaty. . Paterson, M., 2003. Global Warming and Global Politics. New York: Taylor & Francis. Rapier, R., 2012. Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions- Facts and Figures. Energy Trends Insider. Accessed March 25, 2015 from http://www.energytrendsinsider.com/2012/07/02/global-carbon-dioxide-emissions-facts- and-figures/>. Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion 2010. Executive Summary. World Meteorological Organisation Global Ozone Research and Monitoring Project- Report No. 52. . United Nations (UN), 2014. Framework Convention on Climate Change: Kyoto Protocol. Accessed on March 24, 2015 from . Appendix Graph 1: Global CO2 Emissions (Source: Rapier 2012) Graph 2: Breakdown of CO2 Emissions by Region (Asia Pacific, US and EU Countries) (Source: Rapier 2012) Graph 3: Breakdown of CO2 Emissions by Region (Africa, Central/South America and Middle East) (Source: Rapier 2012) Graph 3: Global Per Capital CO2 Emissions (Source: Rapier 2012) Read More