Reaching Net Zero: What It Takes to Solve the Global Climate Crisis

Description

Reaching Net Zero: What It Takes to Solve the Global Climate Crisis addresses the imminent need to fully understand the causes, effects, and evidence of global warming; due to the large amount of climate disinformation and complexity of much of the available valid science, this book addresses the science of global warming in a concise, readable manner while providing an in-depth reference for readers who want more details or to study the sources of information. This book also investigates potential practical next steps of interest to concerned scientists, engineers, and citizens, with an aim to further discuss and achieve the eventual Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) ‘Net Zero’ goals. Solving the problem of reaching net zero requires educating others to support the changes that must occur and to provide the possible solutions required. This is a necessary read for academics in climate and environmental science, and specialists such as those in earth science or environmental studies, covering the science, technology, economics, politics, international, and other issues involved in doing something about global warming. It is also important for those interested in global warming and anyone involved in decision-making processes and legislation that deal with reduction in carbon footprints. Cover Reaching Net Zero: What It Takes to Solve the Global Climate Crisis Copyright Contents List of Figures List of Tables Photographs Preface: Why read this book? Acknowledgments Acronyms 1 Introduction Should we be concerned about global warming? What about solar radiation? The greenhouse effect What are the greenhouse gases? What are the signs of global warming? What are the dangers of global warming? Can anything be done about global warming? 2 Addressing global warming Latency is a huge problem Global warming is not obvious to the vast majority of people The global economy is powered by fossil fuels There is a need for unprecedented and perhaps unachievable international cooperation All of us will have to be willing to accept changes U.S. participation is essential What can be done? Part I 3 The earth as a system Incident solar radiation Milankovitch cycles More about the greenhouse effect Carbon cycle Temperature increase 4 Fundamental drivers of global warming Global population rising Inequities: the early role of the United States and the United Kingdom The pivotal position of the United States Need to consider both absolute and per capita emissions Gross domestic product growth and energy use are related More energy will be required by developing countries 5 How do we know global warming is real? Global warming is not a new idea CO2 emissions are rising Earth’s temperature is rising Correlation of increasing global temperature with increasing atmospheric CO2 Ocean temperatures are rising Sea levels are rising Ocean acidification is occurring A message from the Arctic? Glaciers, ice caps, and sea ice are melting The permafrost is melting Extreme weather events are increasing Deserts and tropics are expanding Rising temperatures are causing plant, animal, and human migration Early warning signs of global warming: a California case history 6 How do we know man-made CO2 is the issue? Where do man-made greenhouse gases come from? What happens to CO2 emissions? The significance of carbon-14 Historic emissions since the Industrial Revolution Increases in atmospheric CO2 correlates with fossil fuel use What is your carbon footprint? 7 What are the effects of global warming? Latency—how long before effects show up? Climate change versus weather Earth’s temperature will continue to rise Air pollution will increase Sea levels rise causing flooding Oceans become more acidic Glaciers, ice caps, and sea ice melt Subsidence occurs and permafrost melts Deserts and tropics expand Species migration and extinction Frequency and severity of storms Impact on agriculture, droughts, loss of cropland, and wildfires Health problems will be more severe Could global warming cause a financial crisis or some other financial problem? National security implications Migrations caused by climate change Tipping points: unanticipated changes can occur 8 International efforts to address global warming Early efforts1 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change The Paris Agreement2 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change special reports History of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change global warming objectives7 Part II 9 What would it take to reach net zero? Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change alternative scenarios What would it take? Are the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scenarios realistic? Carbon removal What is a more likely scenario? Are we too late already? Doing nothing is not an option What will happen if we do nothing? The high cost of doing nothing 10 Energy alternatives Fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas Nuclear power Renewable energy 11 Unique problems of major contributors to global warming What can we learn from Germany? The United States fails to take a leadership position China—Will it be the leader? India—large population, little energy Japan—strong technological capabilities Russia—may not be a player Observations 12 Why is global warming such a difficult problem to solve? The need for unprecedented, perhaps unachievable, global cooperation Fossil fuels are heavily subsidized Educating the public The media have not dealt fairly with global warming Public uncertainty A positive message is needed Public support for government action Why it is hard to replace fossil fuels? Solving technical challenges The need for strong economies Understanding climate change skepticism Recognizing political leaders can make mistakes Acknowledging that failure is a possibility 13 Some successes and failures The Permian Basin, a renewable energy powerhouse 1970s oil price hikes Automobile emissions Hole in the ozone layer Cigarette smoking and cancer Europe’s push for diesel vehicles Nuclear power in the United States Is there a future for nuclear power? Ethanol High-speed rail Lessons learned Part III 14 Action Plan: efficiency, power, transportation, and land use Do we need another moon shot? The challenges of a global approach An Action Plan, assuming we cannot get to net zero by 2050 Can the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s goal of keeping global warming under 2°C be met? Why can't we do better? Silver bullets Mitigation Carbon fee 15 Can it be done? The trend is our friend Can renewable energy power the world? Can wind power the world? What would it cost? Can we afford it? 16 The way forward The future can be bright Top priorities Government actions Actions for concerned citizens Actions for industry What next? Afterword Further reading Useful reports Useful websites Part IV: Appendices Appendix 1 Abbreviations, units, and conversion factors Abbreviations Units and conversion factors Energy and GHG equivalencies Greenhouse gas equivalencies Appendix 2 The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere: sources and sinks Appendix 3 Will the IPCC goal of 450ppm be met? Appendix 4 Key parameters used to formulate Action Plan Appendix 5 Flood and sea rise mitigation Appendix 6 Financial measures Cap and Trade Fee and dividend Appendix 7 Activist and lobbying groups, litigation examples Activist groups Litigation Appendix 8 Excerpts from corporate annual reports Bank of America Olin Corporation Eli Lilly Corporation Verizon The Southern Company DuPont Corporation Caterpillar Home Depot Chevron Corporation Alliant Energy DTE Energy Inc UPS Corporation Wisconsin Electric (WEC Energy Group) Eaton Corporation Duke Power Corning Inc Index Back Cover