Climate change mitigation refers to strategies designed to limit or diminish greenhouse gases by decreasing their sources or increasing sinks, such as new technologies or renewable energies, more energy-efficient equipment or changing practices and consumer behavior. This may involve new technologies, renewable energies, making older equipment more energy efficient or shifting practices and consumer behavior in some way.
At all levels of society and business, taking steps to combat climate change must be a top priority. Businesses can help by setting emissions targets and advocating for low-carbon alternatives.
Carbon Reuse
Though much emphasis has been placed on carbon capture and storage technologies, carbon utilization (CCU) may provide another viable option to close the carbon loop and reduce emissions. CCU may produce zero-emissions fuels or industrial products which could serve as another step toward closing it off and closing off emissions loops.
This technology should not be seen as a replacement for long-term carbon storage, which is essential in meeting climate change mitigation goals. One study concluded that outside of enhanced oil recovery (EOR), other CCU technologies can only permanently sequester 3.86 gigatons by 2050; that represents less than 0.49 percent of CO2 reduction needed to remain below 2 degrees Celsius.
However, carbon technologies should be given special consideration. Like solar and EV technologies, carbon technologies provide no obvious advantage over fossil fuels apart from their ability to reduce climate change mitigation efforts; as a result, their growth depends entirely on government incentives and markets designed specifically for them.
Carbon Storage
Carbon storage is a method for mitigating CO2 emissions that contribute to global warming, and can take place either biologically or geologically. When done biologically, natural carbon sinks like forests and grasslands absorb and store carbon through photosynthesis – while geological storage occurs underground through rock layers.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS), is an emerging technology designed to capture and store carbon safely – such as underground or underwater. CCS involves collecting CO2 streams from industrial sources and transporting them to storage sites for long-term storing.
Landowners can implement best practices to enhance carbon storage in trees and soil. This includes placing slash on ski trails, harvesting in winter and using forwarders; all of which help the soil stay healthy and can result in long-lasting products like 2x4s or flooring that will stand the test of time.
Carbon Dioxide Capture
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is an emissions reduction technology used to capture CO2 at power plants or industrial facilities and transport it underground for permanent storage, with the goal of keeping global warming under 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures. CCS should only be considered one component in meeting this goal.
CCS projects currently use geologic formations such as oil and natural gas reservoirs or deep saline aquifers to store carbon. Sometimes the captured CO2 can also be utilized for products that provide net climate benefits, such as enhanced oil recovery (EOR).
Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS), two forms of CCS that remove planet-warming pollution directly from the atmosphere, require substantial amounts of energy and are unlikely to contribute significantly toward reaching net zero emissions in the near term.
Adaptation
As climate change impacts society, people have found ways to adjust. From building flood defenses and planning for heat waves and droughts, to adapting crops so that they thrive under changing conditions, and making sure that everyone has access to safe drinking water supplies – they are finding solutions.
Lifestyle changes and consumption changes can help reduce energy demand by lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Walking or cycling to work instead of driving, eating plant-based diets, and using more efficient heating, lighting and cooling technologies are among the many demand side mitigation options available to us all. Policy measures designed to make these transitions less disruptive include subsidizing low emission technologies; carbon taxes/fees or infrastructure design standards as ways of mitigating disruption caused by such shifts.
Climate change impacts people globally, but those least capable of responding will suffer the most. To meet this global goal, the IPCC has devised an adaptation strategy which emphasizes strengthening adaptive capacity and increasing resilience while devolving decision-making and financing to the lowest appropriate level while addressing structural inequalities that often exist when responding to climate changes; including including gender inequality into adaptation actions and processes.