Reducing Emissions of Greenhouse Gases

We talk reductions but increases in emissions continue to increase beyond our worst expectations.

Many ways to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases are being discussed and implemented. Some may have little effect on the problems others can have a big impact but all raise general awareness. The existing methods of power generation must be reexamined for their carbon footprint (particularly hydroelectric power). Wasteful use of resources contribute to emissions. It is estimated that half all food produced is wasted.

The danger is that by doing our little bit we may think we are solving the problem. Study the facts in How Bad is the Situation? and you may agree with me that cut backs, however severe, even if backed by legislation, will not give our grandchildren an acceptable way of life.

The billions in Asia and Africa naturally want the same standard of living we currently enjoy. We must plan to satisfy their legitimate needs or war and famine will be the norm over a vast part of the globe. Insects may be the food of the future but will be adopted reluctantly.

Operation Noah suggests a 90% cut in Europe and North America so that less developed countries could "catch up" their standard of living with only a 50% cut. A 90% cut would probably mean a ban on carbon emissions for anything except air travel. Even this would mean it would take a long time for the carbon in the atmosphere to start to decrease and even longer for the resulting temperatures to start to decline. George Monbiot goes further and argues persuasively for tougher targets. The reaction of oil producing countries to such cuts is critical.

The sun provides ample energy, even if the world population continues to grow. It is just rather expensive to harness at present, but in sight of becoming competitive. However the word competitive is hardly relevant if the planet is at stake. Let's make it our main source of energy by law.

The change over to sun power must be well planned and benefit everyone, including the oil giants!

Developments in the fossil fuel industries may make all our efforts worthless. In particular shale oils in Canada and now (2011) in Lancashire, UK, may overcome peak oil limitations and overwhelm the planet with carbon emissions. The Desperate Search for Fossil Fuels has been recorded on a separate page. Fracking probably needs a section on its own but the Future of Fracking  is a start

Malcolm

Group members

• Malcolm

Sources

1. US leads shift from Coal  19/10/15
2. China Replaces Coal Burning  28/05/16 
3. Cleaner Coal Hopes 01/12/15 
4. Europe's Dark Forests Increase Warming  02/02/16 
5. USA Bid to Mine More Coal  on Federal land 15/01/16 
6. Clash Over European Emissions Taxes  01/02/14
7. US backs Aviation Emission Controls by 2020 30/09/13
8. EU Tackles Air Pollution  30/12/13 
9. Future of Fracking   published by The National Centre for Biotechnology Information 2012
10. Methane Extraction often worse than coal  24/11/13
11. Brazil Success in Saving Forests  but Malaysia?  20/08/14
12. European Aviation Tax for Bumpy Ride  19/10/13 
13. 350 campaign success against oil  10/10/13 
14. Aviation May Be Hard  10/10/13 
15. Shale Gas Essential Route from Coal  15/04/13 
16. Half Measures Won't Work  - study 15/02/12 
17. More Rules Needed for Shale Gas  09/02/12 
18. World Trade Increases CO2 emissions  02/05/11
19. Benefits of Bamboo  13/03/12 
20. Emissions Bound 6 percent in 2010 05/11/11 
21. Super Insulation by Aerogels  14/08/12 
22. Keystone Tar Sands Re-reviewed until 2013  by Obama 10/11/11 
23. Ground Source and Air Source  Heating 20/03/10
24. Rivers Emit CO2 - Study  07/11/11 
25. Mongolian Coldstorage Experiment  18/11/11 
26. Bugs Solve World Food Crisis ? 90% protein 31/01/11 
27. Animal Methane Production  reduced by spices 22/07/10
28. Sail Assisted Ship Cuts Emissions  06/03/11 
29. Scope for 4 Times Better LEDs  28/09/10 
30. Future for Regenerative Energy  01/01/08 
31. Worldwide Contibutors to Warming - NASA  16/04/10
32. New LED Technology  based on jet cooling 25/10/10 
33. New Energy Saving Inventions
34. Meat Eating Emissions   18% of total? 02/04/10 
35. US Climate Bill Causes Rethink 25/01/10
36. Cost of Safety 2 euros per day say FOE 02/12/09
37. Forest Fire Initiative by Australian Aboriginees 30/11/09
38. Carbon Reduction Label Launch in Australia 01/07/09
39. Paying the Climate Debt 30/04/09
40. China Advances Coal Fired Closures 05/05/09
41. Low Carbon Cows from Canada 20/05/09
42. German Eco-City 31/08/09
43. Forest Fires Represent 40% of total emissions 28/02/09
44. Cattle Destroy Amazon Rainforest 16/04/09
45. Biomass Pros and Cons 16/04/09
46. Black Carbon Role 30/03/09
47. Shell Oilsands Promises not being Kept 09/04/09
48. 2005 Amazon Drought Damage caused vast CO2 emissions 06/03/09
49. USA Counts the cost 17/09/08
50. Fuel Cell Catalyst Improved 17/05/09
51. Quit Coal Campaign 28/02/09
52. Oil versus water disaster 29/12/08
53. Paying to stop Deforestation 06/08/08
54. U K Phases out light bulbs 30/09/07
55. Indonesia's Carbon Catastrophe 01/12/08
56. Light Emitting Diodes - Watch the Progress Here (updating)
57. Industry Two Faced 24/02/08
58. Vegetarians Combat Climate Change 29/08/07
59. Plans to reduce deforestation at Bali Conference 07/12/07
60. China Recognises the Problem
61. Wal-Mart Efforts 19/11/07
62. The Black Carbon Solution by reducing biomas combustion 25/03/08
63. Combined Heat and Power examples in operation 01/12/07
64. China to switch to Eco-Bulbs in ten years 05/10/07
65. 15% of Emissions from Burning Forest and Peatland
66. 10 ways to save energy
67. The Coal War 04/09/07
68. Green Aircraft 13/06/07
69. Efficient Power Generation 17/07/07
70. UK Largest Power Station Low Targets
71. CO2 levels
72. Larger Homes a Disaster
73. Commercial Kyoto
74. China Halts Chemical Plant
75. Deforestation plays major role
76. Hydro May be Worse
77. Waste heat can generate electricity see ENECO Solar