stored permanently underground Mitigation involves reduction and/or (geological sites used as repositories) or stabilization of GHG emissions and their chemically fixed to form a carbonate. removal from the atmosphere. Mitigation is the use of technology and Mitigation strategies to reduce GHGs in substitution to reduce resource inputs general may include: and emissions per unit of output. reduction of energy consumption Adaptation is the adjustment of natural or reduction of emissions of oxides of human systems in response to actual or nitrogen and methane from expected climatic stimuli or their effects, agriculture which either moderates harm or exploits use of alternatives to fossil fuels beneficial opportunities. geo-engineering. Two mitigation and two adaptation Mitigation strategies for carbon dioxide strategies should be considered. removal (CDR techniques) include: protecting and enhancing carbon International-mindedness: sinks through land management; The impacts of climate change are global for example, through the UN and require global mitigation. collaborative program on reducing emissions from deforestation and Theory of knowledge: forest degradation in developing countries (UN-REDD) There is a degree of uncertainty in the using biomass as a fuel source extent and effect of climate change—how using carbon capture and storage can we be confident of the ethical (CCS) responsibilities that may arise from enhancing carbon dioxide knowledge when that knowledge is often absorption by the oceans through provisional or incomplete? either fertilizing oceans with compounds of nitrogen, Connections: phosphorus and iron to encourage ESS: Humans and pollution (1.5); access the biological pump, or increasing to fresh water (4.2); photochemical smog upwellings to release nutrients to (6.3) the surface. Diploma Program: Physics (topic 8); Even if mitigation strategies drastically economics reduce future emissions of GHGs, past emissions will continue to have an effect for decades to come.
Mitigation involves reduction and/or stabilization of GHG emissions and their removal from the atmosphere. Mitigation strategies to reduce GHGs in general may include: reduction of energy consumption reduction of emissions of oxides of nitrogen and methane from agriculture use of alternatives to fossil fuels geo-engineering. Mitigation strategies for carbon dioxide removal (CDR techniques) include: protecting and enhancing carbon sinks through land management; for example, through the UN collaborative program on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (UN-REDD) using biomass as a fuel source using carbon capture and storage (CCS) enhancing carbon dioxide absorption by the oceans through either fertilizing oceans with compounds of nitrogen, phosphorus and iron to encourage the biological pump, or increasing upwellings to release nutrients to the surface. Even if mitigation strategies drastically reduce future emissions of GHGs, past emissions will continue to have an effect for decades to come. stored permanently underground (geological sites used as repositories) or chemically fixed to form a carbonate. Mitigation is the use of technology and substitution to reduce resource inputs and emissions per unit of output. Adaptation is the adjustment of natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which either moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. Two mitigation and two adaptation strategies should be considered. International-mindedness: The impacts of climate change are global and require global mitigation. Theory of knowledge: There is a degree of uncertainty in the extent and effect of climate change—how can we be confident of the ethical responsibilities that may arise from knowledge when that knowledge is often provisional or incomplete? Connections: ESS: Humans and pollution (1.5); access to fresh water (4.2); photochemical smog (6.3) Diploma Program: Physics (topic 8); economics
IB_Environmental_Systems_and_Societies_2016.docx