4.4 Mitigating the impacts of climate change

• Switching to Renewable Energy:

  • Utilising hydroelectric power, solar, wind, and nuclear energy reduces reliance on fossil fuels.

  • The UK targets a significant portion of its energy from renewables.

• Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS):

  • Capturing CO2 from power plants and storing it underground to prevent it from entering the atmosphere.

  • It's a developing technology and not yet cost-effective.

• Planting trees (afforestation):

  • Planting trees to absorb CO2 from the air through photosynthesis.

  • Tree plantations can be more effective than natural forests.

• International Agreements:

  • Collaborative global efforts like the Paris Agreement aim to limit temperature rise.

• Agriculture: Climate change threatens food production due to reduced yields.

• Health: Increases in heat-related illnesses and diseases.

• Habitats: Flooding, habitat loss, and desertification affect ecosystems.

• Weather: More intense and frequent extreme weather events and storms.

• Desertification

Misconception 1: Planting trees and carbon capture can solve the climate crisis.

• Reality: While trees absorb CO2, a combination of strategies including renewable energy and carbon capture is necessary to effectively mitigate climate change.

Misconception 2: Mitigation is only about cutting emissions.

• Reality: It also includes enhancing the sinks of greenhouse gases, like forests, and developing clean energy technologies.