TACC Training Module 5 Mitigating Climate Change 1

TACC Training Module 5

Mitigating Climate Change

1

Objectives of the Module

Territorial Approach to Climate Change - Phase 1

Discuss importance of mitigation as an essential component of addressing global climate change

Introduce and share examples for selecting effective mitigation options

Introduce international programmes to support mitigation

Overview


Section 1: Introduction to Mitigation Section 2: Policy Approaches and

Strategies to Foster Mitigation Section 3: Sectors with Mitigation

Potential Section 4: International Support for

Climate Change Mitigation

What is Climate Change Mitigation?


Mitigation is any actions that cuts net emissions of greenhouse gases by: reducing sources of

greenhouse gases Increasing sinks of

greenhouse gases Includes but is not

limited to technological, political, structural or financial action

Source: Wordpress

Mitigating Greenhouse Gases: A Shared Global Responsibility

IPCC projects that global emissions need to be reduced by at least 50% by 2050 to limit temperature increase to 2ºC

Developed countries will need to undertake majority of emission reduction

Without emission reduction and mitigation in developing countries not possible to meet this goal


Source: Fotolia

GHG Emissions by Country and Per Capita


Annual CO2emissions (in thousands of metric tons)

CO2 Emissions Per Capita (metric tons)

GHG Emissions by Groupings of Countries


Source: IEA

Mitigation: Opportunities for Developing Countries


Access to financing to promote green growth

Receive advanced technology from developed countries (technology transfer)

Develop capacity to introduce and maintain new technologies

Accelerate the path to a green economy and sustainable development

Source: UNITAR

Relevance of Mitigation for Sub-national Authorities

Planning decisions with mitigation potential often taken at the sub-national level, for example Public transport Local energy supply Energy efficient buildings and construction Waste disposal sites Etc.

Sub-national level can become front-runners in promoting a green economy

Significant potential to reap co-benefits Territorial Approach to Climate Change - Phase 1

Co-Benefits Resulting from Mitigation


Cost savings through improved energy efficiency

Reduction in local air pollution resulting in improved health

Enhanced diversity of energy mix and energy supply security

Improved local employment, e.g. through decentralized energy production

Improved local industrial development

Embedding Low Carbon Growth within a Green Economy


Greening the economy refers to the process of reconfiguring businesses and infrastructure to deliver better returns on natural, human and economic capital investments

Greening the economy results in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, extracting and using less natural resources, creating less waste and reducing social disparities

Necessitates reshaping and refocusing policies, investments and spending towards: Clean technologies Renewable energies Water services Green transportation Waste management Green buildings and Sustainable agriculture and forests

May include sector-specific fiscal stimulus package

Overview






Integrating Mitigation into Sub-national and Local Planning


Important to mainstream mitigation into sub-national and local development planning

Relevant for all aspects of planning: structure, policies, systems and procedures

Local measures and actions should complement and enhance national actions

Cross sectoral co-ordination valuable to prevent incoherency across sectors

Policy Instruments to Promote Mitigation and Clean Technology


Regulations and standards Taxes and charges Tradable permits for carbon emissions Financial incentives Voluntary agreements Information instruments for the population Funding research in the area

Questions to Assess Mitigation Options and New Technology

What are the investment costs of introducing the option, both direct and indirect?

What are the major obstacles to the investment?

Is the option consistent with other policy goals (e.g. health goals)

What capacities need to be in place to introduce the option? (e.g. institutional capacity, man-power, trainings etc.)

Will the option perform well and in a sustainable manner? Is sufficient information available to make an informed choice?


Criteria for Selecting Mitigation Options


Environmental effectiveness

Cost effectiveness Distributional effects

(including equity) Institutional feasibility

Source: Wordpress

Reaping the Potential of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)


CDM is a market mechanism under the Kyoto protocol to encourage mitigation

Allows countries with emission-reduction commitments under the Kyoto Protocol to implement an emission-reduction project in developing countries

Funding is provided by the Annex I country Projects must provide emission reductions that

wouldn’t normally occur Approved CDM project can earn saleable certified

emission reduction (CER) credits

“The CDM enables sustainable development projects in developing countries that reduce emissions or

enhance sinks through afforestation or reforestation.” – UNFCCC

Measuring and Reporting Greenhouse Gas Emissions


Measuring GHGs becomes increasingly important

UNFCCC Annex I Parties submit information on their national emissions inventories annually

Non-Annex I Parties encouraged to submit communications including emissions inventories.

Least developed countries are encouraged to submit a National Communication at their discretion

Development of GHG inventories at various levels becomes increasingly important

Specifically important for developing countries when participating in CDM, REDD etc

Overview






Sectors with Mitigation Potential


Energy Industry Waste Transport Buildings Agriculture Forestry

Source: The Guardian

Source: UNITAR

Mitigation Options: Energy

Energy Production Enhance efficiency of existing

power plants (e.g. replace old parts or whole plant)

Carbon capture and sequestration at the point of production

Switching of fuels (e.g. from coal to gas)

Foster biofuels and renewables

Enhance cogeneration

Energy transportation and transmission Improved power grids Reduce leakages from

pipelines Better transportation planning etc

Energy use Better housing insulation Solar water heating in homes Feed in tariffs for micro

generation Regulation for minimum

standards in energy efficiency etc


Source: US Geological Survey

Mitigation Options: Industry


Efficiency measures More efficient use of energy Better use of materials and recycling Improved process efficiency, particularly in

steel and concrete industries Alternative methods of making concrete

Using renewable energies Changes to:

Products, locally sourced Better designed products and processes to

reduce waste

Mitigation Options: Waste


Recuperation of methane from landfills to generate electricity

Use of combined heat and power incinerators rather than use of landfills

Establish waste levy on all waste going to municipal landfills

Promote the use of less packaging, products and processes that create waste

Increase urban solid waste recycling Reducing emissions from sewage treatment

and anaerobic digestion of waste water

Mitigation Options: Transport

Efficiency technologies More aerodynamic

cars Hybrid motor engines Reduced friction

technologies Kinetic energy

recovery breaking

Alternative fuels Biofuels Electricity Hydrogen (fuel cells)

Consumer behavior Buying smaller cars Driving more efficiently Increase share of rail

and water transport

Infrastructure/policy changes More

accessible/affordable urban public transport

More bicycle lanes Fuel taxes Traffic/congestion

chargesTerritorial Approach to Climate Change - Phase 1

Mitigation Options: Buildings

More energy efficient construction Change in building material (less

embedded energy) Recycle building material Energy efficient design (natural

cooling, heating, lighting)

Reducing energy consumption in the building More efficient lighting (eco-bulbs) Insulation/heating for walls and

ceiling Cooking (more efficient ovens,

stoves)


Source: wikimedia

Mitigation Options: Buildings

Switching to low carbon fuels for heating

Controlling emissions of non-CO2 GHG gasses Air-conditioning Refrigerators

Occupant behavior Awareness raising of behaviors Policies to encourage low-energy

behaviors Subsidies and feed in tariffs for

micro-generationTerritorial Approach to Climate Change - Phase 1

Source: EnglishRussia.com

Mitigation Options: Urban Planning Planning to develop

compact/low carbon cities that need shorter trips less energy for

pumping water and waste water

reduced infrastructure needs

Consideration of mixed neighbourhoods Territorial Approach to Climate Change - Phase 1

Source: European Commission

Mitigation Options: Agriculture


Restoration of cultivated organic soils (enhancing soil carbon sequestration)

Improve agriculture infrastructure Better access to fuels Equipment Waste areas Improved cropland management (e.g.

crop rotation, use of perennials, reducing slash and burn agriculture)

Mitigation Options: Agriculture cont…


Improved grazing land management Restoration of degraded lands (no toil

policies, use of bio-char) Improved livestock management

(substituting forage with oil-rich feeds, Waste management and methane

recovery from waste) Agro-forestry practices and

afforestation of abandoned areas/fallow land

Mitigation Options: Forestry


Maintaining or increasing forest area Increase plantations Eliminate illegal logging

Maintaining or increasing site carbon density

Promote voluntary certification schemes for sustainable forest management

Increasing off site carbon stocks in wood products and enhancing product and fuel substitution

Monitoring vulnerable forest areas (avoiding forest fires and pest attacks)

Source: Scientific American

Overview






Nairobi Framework to Catalyze CDM Projects in Developing Countries

The Nairobi Framework aims to help developing countries to improve their level of participation in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

The framework seeks to enable countries to identify, develop, submit and process CDM projects that will eventually lead to a considerable increase in CDM penetration

Main focus of the framework Build capacity in developing CDM project activities Build and enhance capacity of CDM Designated

National Authorities Promote investment opportunities for projects Improve information sharing, outreach, education, and

training Foster Inter-agency coordination


Nairobi Framework Bazaar


Established in 2007 to enhance access to information about CDM project opportunities

Web-based facility Provides a market where people meet and

information is exchanged (free, internet based) Creates space for project developers what their

ideas and proposals are Promote services of experts, brokers,

information platforms, other market platforms Expression of interest by buyers and investors Brokering of CDM initiatives www.cdmbazaar.net

UN REDD Programme: Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation


Seeks to create a financial value for the carbon stored in forests

…in 46 partner countries in Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America, in two ways: Direct support to the design and implementation of UN-

REDD National Programmes Complementary support through common approaches,

analyses, methodologies, tools, data and best practices By July 2012, total funding for these two streams of

support to countries was US$117.6 million REDD+ projects can include:

Preventing deforestation and forest degradation Conservation of forests Sustainable management of forests Enhancement of forest carbon stocks

Documents

TACC Training Module 5 Mitigating Climate Change 1