Global warming is now universally accepted as being the greatest environmental threat to mankind in the current century. The impacts are staggering. Antarctic ice is thinning at increasingly rapid rates, with correspondingly massive influxes of fresh water into the world’s oceans. All these changes are due mostly to human activities, particularly in raising the levels of CO2, a major greenhouse gas (GHG). Atmospheric concentrations of CO2 have risen 35% since the Industrial Revolution. This increase is primarily due to anthropogenic activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. Reducing the rate of GHG emissions will be an enormous challenge for everyone throughout the world which must be fought on many fronts. This work broadly analyses the main issues and subjects concerning several devices and laws for climate change mitigation.
Chapter 1: Climate change and Green House Gases Emissions
Chapter 2: Kyoto Protocol and GHG emissions reduction
Chapter 3: Emissions trading
Chapter 4: GHG emissions estimation and inventory
Chapter 5: GHG emission reduction technologies
Table of Contents
Foreword
Chapter 1: Climate change and Green House Gases Emissions
Introduction
World scenario on GHG emissions
Key drivers of emissions from energy use
Energy supply sector
SMEs and GHG emissions
Chapter 2: Kyoto Protocol and GHG emissions reduction
Introduction
The Protocol
Flexible mechanisms
Chapter 3: Emissions trading
Introduction
Basic types of emissions trading programs
Other features of emissions trading programs
Implementation issues
Chapter 4: GHG emissions estimation and inventory
Introduction
GHG inventory concepts and objectives
Estimation of GHG emissions from industrial processes and product use
GHG estimation methods
Emission estimation for facilities
Emission factors
Estimation of GHG from the energy sector
Categorization of sources
Chapter 5: GHG emission reduction technologies
Introduction
GHG reduction technologies
How energy efficiency can lead to CO2 reduction
Barriers
Energy efficiency
GHG reduction technologies for industries
Residential, institutional, and commercial buildings (infrastructure sector)
Water heating
GHG reduction technologies for the transport sector
Objectives and Topics
This work provides a comprehensive analysis of the core issues and mechanisms related to climate change mitigation, specifically focusing on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission estimation, regulatory frameworks such as the Kyoto Protocol, and technological solutions for emission reduction across various industrial and infrastructure sectors.
- Analysis of global GHG emission trends and the impact of human activities.
- Examination of the Kyoto Protocol, its flexible mechanisms, and binding commitments.
- Overview of emissions trading programs and their implementation strategies.
- Methodologies for GHG inventory development, emission estimation, and facility-level monitoring.
- Evaluation of energy efficiency and technological strategies to mitigate climate change in industrial and building sectors.
Excerpt from the Book
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is an important tool to overcome climate change problems. The Kyoto Protocol objectives, and more recently concerns about energy security, have enhanced the importance of energy efficiency policies. The emissions of carbon dioxide are directly linked with the energy efficiency of the system. As per the World Energy Council, energy efficiency (EE) encompasses all changes that result in a reduction in the energy used for a given energy service such as lighting, heating, etc., or in the level of activity. This reduction in energy consumption is not necessarily associated with technical changes, since it can also result from better organization and management as well as improved economic efficiency in the sector.
According to economists, energy efficiency is defined as encompassing all changes that result in decreased amounts of energy used to produce one unit of economic activity (e.g., the energy used per unit of GDP or value added). Energy efficiency is associated with economic efficiency and includes technological, behavioral, and economic changes (World Energy Council, 2008).
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1: Climate change and Green House Gases Emissions: This chapter outlines the critical challenge of climate change, the role of human activity in increasing GHG concentrations, and identifies energy use as the primary driver of these emissions.
Chapter 2: Kyoto Protocol and GHG emissions reduction: This chapter details the international legal framework established by the Kyoto Protocol, explaining its binding commitments for developed countries and the objectives for stabilization.
Chapter 3: Emissions trading: This chapter explores the mechanism of emissions trading, defining cap-and-trade and credit-based programs as tools to reduce compliance costs for industries.
Chapter 4: GHG emissions estimation and inventory: This chapter focuses on the necessity and methodologies for developing accurate GHG emission inventories to inform mitigation policies.
Chapter 5: GHG emission reduction technologies: This chapter discusses various technological interventions, emphasizing energy efficiency as the most significant factor in reducing emissions across industry, buildings, and transport.
Keywords
Climate Change, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Kyoto Protocol, Emissions Trading, Energy Efficiency, Mitigation, GHG Inventory, Industrial Processes, Fossil Fuels, Carbon Dioxide, Sustainable Development, Renewable Energy, Flexibility Mechanisms, Global Warming, Infrastructure Sector.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this work?
The work focuses on analyzing the environmental challenge of climate change, the legal mechanisms like the Kyoto Protocol designed to address it, and the practical methods for estimating and reducing GHG emissions.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The main themes include global GHG emission trends, international environmental law, emissions trading schemes, technical GHG inventory methods, and technological strategies for energy efficiency.
What is the overarching goal of this publication?
The primary goal is to provide a manual that analyzes the main issues and legal devices concerning climate change mitigation, supporting organizations and nations in developing effective reduction strategies.
What methodologies are addressed for emission estimation?
The text covers standard methodologies accepted by the IPCC, including mass-balance approaches, direct monitoring, and the use of emission factors for various industrial and energy sectors.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers a progression from the nature of climate change to specific implementation strategies, including the Kyoto Protocol framework, the economics of emissions trading, and specific technological solutions like renewable energy and energy-efficient building standards.
Which keywords best characterize this publication?
Keywords include Climate Change, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Kyoto Protocol, Emissions Trading, Energy Efficiency, and Mitigation.
How does the Kyoto Protocol facilitate compliance?
The Protocol establishes binding targets for Annex I countries and introduces flexible mechanisms—International Emissions Trading, the Clean Development Mechanism, and Joint Implementation—to make meeting these targets more economically efficient.
Why are SMEs considered a critical focus for GHG reduction in developing nations?
SMEs act as engines of industrial growth in developing countries but often operate with conventional technology and limited resources, resulting in a disproportionately high environmental impact per unit of production compared to large firms.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Nicolas Fernandez Quesada (Autor:in), 2013, Kyoto Protocol, Emissions Trading and Reduction Technologies for Climate Change Mitigation, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/230731
