Solutions for climate change

 

Our whole civilization has emerged under a surprisingly stable climate. Now, because of human actions, that stability has come to an end.

Scientists tell us that we need to keep global temperatures as high as 2 degrees Celsius - perhaps 1.5 degrees - to avoid catastrophic consequences.

The good news is that we have many solutions to the climate change we have, if we can call it political will. But we must act quickly.

1.      Embrace renewable

Mineral fuels such as coal, gas and oil are one major source of solar emissions. They have empowered the Industrial Revolution and lifted billions out of poverty. Solar solution can be renewed: solar power, wind power and water in particular. While they seem to be more expensive and less efficient to replace residues, they are now among the cheapest sources of energy in the world.

Solar energy costs have dropped by 90 percent over the past decade. The wind is not too far back. And unlike their remnants, their fuel comes in free, when the sun rises every morning. One sunny, windy day at Easter 2021, Britain encountered 60 percent of its electricity needed by wind and the sun.

Of course, the sun does not always shine; the wind does not always blow. And if they do, we may not need the electricity you produce. That’s where the power storage comes in. Batteries are a secret weapon in renewable energy. Whether the locals are storing the remaining electricity from the solar roof, or large power banks can help match the supply and demand in the wider region, such as the 320MW bully planned for Thames Gateway.

 

2.      Electric transport

Electric bicycles, cars, vans and trains are the future of easy transport. And their batteries will play a major role in renewable energy by acting as a power plant, the energy available to and from the grid when not in use.

Flying friendly weather is a strong crackling nut. Some short-term aircraft will eventually run on electricity, but the best long-term bets would be hydrogen, synthetic gas] from household waste, or novel biofuels made from algae or even food waste. The best bet, of course, is to cut off completely unnecessary planes.

 

3.      Reimbursement housing

 Keeping the weather cool does not mean shivering in our beds. Instead of electric boilers, most homes can be heated by underground or air-conditioned electric heat pumps. When combined with high inclusion rates, this can ultimately save you money and carbon. Energy-efficient retrofits, such as those made in Nottingham by the Energies prong team, can create jobs and comfortable homes - "like putting a nice tea on the roof".

Tropical countries present a variety of challenges. In the major cities of the southern hemisphere, fresh air can be a major part of electricity use. The most efficient AC designs can help, but a more efficient - and less expensive method - draws on long-lasting traditional construction: enhances natural air circulation, and uses "radiant cooling" - to draw heat from the room to cool walls with water circulating through embedded pipes.

 

4.      Reduce waste

 If cattle were a country, as Bill Gates put it, they would be the third largest source of greenhouse gases behind China and the US . We do not have to go to uber-vegan (although you will be hitting the weather halo if you do), but it greatly reduces the impact of livestock on the world - whether it comes directly from its production or the rest of the world, water and energy used to support it - is one of the most effective solutions to climate change weather.

One-third of all food produced is never eaten - either because of damage between harvesting and shoplifting, or because it is discarded by the consumer. For farmers in the south of the world, a combination of agricultural market reforms and the provision of refrigeration storage can significantly reduce wastage and increase their income.

 

5.      Shift system

 None of these solutions to climate change will take the plane without government, finance and business behind it. Most countries and many large companies and investors have set goals for 'net zero', which is the starting point. Now they need to put words into actions.

That means stopping funding for high-carbon sectors and investing in truly sustainable. It means setting a price sufficiently high for the carbon that the industry is encouraged to move from - and that is reflected in the fiscal policies that shift the burden from consumption to resource use. In other words, we pay for what we do not want (planetary heating activities), not what we do (jobs).

And it means recognizing that bringing about lasting climate solutions is a decisive task for decades and beyond. We changed the weather by mistake. Now we must change it on purpose.