Review: The Energy Implications of Averting Climate Change Catastrophe
Conventional methods of climate change (CC) mitigation have not ‘bent the curve’ of steadily rising annual anthropic CO<sub>2</sub> emissions or atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. This study reviews the present position and likely future of such methods, using the recently p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/17/6178 |
| _version_ | 1827728161830338560 |
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| author | Patrick Moriarty Damon Honnery |
| author_facet | Patrick Moriarty Damon Honnery |
| author_sort | Patrick Moriarty |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Conventional methods of climate change (CC) mitigation have not ‘bent the curve’ of steadily rising annual anthropic CO<sub>2</sub> emissions or atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. This study reviews the present position and likely future of such methods, using the recently published literature with a global context. It particularly looks at how fast they could be implemented, given the limited time available for avoiding catastrophic CC (CCC). This study then critically examines solar geoengineering, an approach often viewed as complementary to conventional mitigation. Next, this review introduces equity considerations and shows how these even further shorten the available time for effective action for CC mitigation. The main findings are as follows. Conventional mitigation approaches would be implemented too slowly to be of much help in avoiding CCC, partly because some suggested technologies are infeasible, while others are either of limited technical potential or, like wind and solar energy, cannot be introduced fast enough. Due to these problems, solar geoengineering is increasingly advocated for as a quick-acting and effective solution. However, it could have serious side effects, and, given that there would be winners and losers at the international level as well as at the more regional level, political opposition may make it very difficult to implement. The conclusion is that global energy consumption itself must be rapidly reduced to avoid catastrophic climate change, which requires strong policy support. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:24:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2a1fa85366dd426198d3285a30b886ac |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:24:26Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-2a1fa85366dd426198d3285a30b886ac2023-11-19T08:04:38ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-08-011617617810.3390/en16176178Review: The Energy Implications of Averting Climate Change CatastrophePatrick Moriarty0Damon Honnery1Department of Design, Monash University, Caulfield Campus, P.O. Box 197, Caulfield East, VIC 3145, AustraliaDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton Campus, P.O. Box 31, Clayton, VIC 3800, AustraliaConventional methods of climate change (CC) mitigation have not ‘bent the curve’ of steadily rising annual anthropic CO<sub>2</sub> emissions or atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. This study reviews the present position and likely future of such methods, using the recently published literature with a global context. It particularly looks at how fast they could be implemented, given the limited time available for avoiding catastrophic CC (CCC). This study then critically examines solar geoengineering, an approach often viewed as complementary to conventional mitigation. Next, this review introduces equity considerations and shows how these even further shorten the available time for effective action for CC mitigation. The main findings are as follows. Conventional mitigation approaches would be implemented too slowly to be of much help in avoiding CCC, partly because some suggested technologies are infeasible, while others are either of limited technical potential or, like wind and solar energy, cannot be introduced fast enough. Due to these problems, solar geoengineering is increasingly advocated for as a quick-acting and effective solution. However, it could have serious side effects, and, given that there would be winners and losers at the international level as well as at the more regional level, political opposition may make it very difficult to implement. The conclusion is that global energy consumption itself must be rapidly reduced to avoid catastrophic climate change, which requires strong policy support.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/17/6178climate changeclimate equityenergy equityenergy reductionsfossil fuelsglobal sustainability |
| spellingShingle | Patrick Moriarty Damon Honnery Review: The Energy Implications of Averting Climate Change Catastrophe Energies climate change climate equity energy equity energy reductions fossil fuels global sustainability |
| title | Review: The Energy Implications of Averting Climate Change Catastrophe |
| title_full | Review: The Energy Implications of Averting Climate Change Catastrophe |
| title_fullStr | Review: The Energy Implications of Averting Climate Change Catastrophe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Review: The Energy Implications of Averting Climate Change Catastrophe |
| title_short | Review: The Energy Implications of Averting Climate Change Catastrophe |
| title_sort | review the energy implications of averting climate change catastrophe |
| topic | climate change climate equity energy equity energy reductions fossil fuels global sustainability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/17/6178 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT patrickmoriarty reviewtheenergyimplicationsofavertingclimatechangecatastrophe AT damonhonnery reviewtheenergyimplicationsofavertingclimatechangecatastrophe |