Unit 3
Climate Change
Environmental issues associated with different energy sources
The impact of energy use on environment, in general ranges from the diversion
of land, pollution during construction of power plants, impacts of mining for
fossil fuels, deforestation, ecological influences due to changes in natural flow
of rivers due to dams, danger to marine animals, climate change etc.
In his unit, we are going to discuss the environmental costs/issues associated
with different types of energy sources and its utilization.
Burning of Firewood and biomass
1. Burning of Firewood
❖ Firewood is one of the oldest sources of energy to mankind. In global terms, wood fuels
represent about 7 percent of the world’s total primary energy consumption.
❖ Wood is not a clean burning source and hence leads to more pollutants being released into
the air.
❖ Further, the requirement for wood comes not only from this sector but from industries as
well, such as paper and construction.
❖ The increasing competition results in the unsustainable harvesting of wood, risking the
existing forests and in turn, the ecological systems dependent on these forests, causing loss
of biodiversity, increased soil erosion.
2. Burning of biomass
Biomass burning accounts significantly to global emissions contributing as much as 40% of
gross carbon dioxide and 38% of tropospheric ozone.
Apart from these, 1.4 million tonnes of methane (CH4) emissions are also reported from
burning traditional biomass fuels.
Biofuel is solid, liquid or gaseous fuel obtained from biological material. Increased crop
production for biofuel will require the use of more herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers,
which can be leached or reach surface water bodies, leading to eutrophication and affect
aquatic biodiversity.
Further, negative implications on biodiversity due to habitat conversion and loss,
agricultural intensification, the spread of invasive species and pollution, are other
aftermaths of increased biofuel production.
3. Burning of Fossil fuels
❖ Coal, crude oil and natural gas constitute the fossil fuels, which currently contribute 28.6,
31.3 and 21.2% of the global primary energy, respectively.
❖ The fossil fuels are one of the major contributors towards pollution, greenhouse gases
(GHG) emissions and other environmental problems.
❖ There are several hidden costs for using fossil fuels, some which are easily observable
including pollution or land degradation; while others are indirect such as global warming
or increase in diseases in man.
❖ Every step of the fuel production, supply and use has some environmental cost; ranging
from water and air pollution and land degradation at mining stage, to air pollution, risks
of spills during transport and emission of toxic pollutants, particulate matter and GHGs
during combustion.
4. Land degradation
➢ Extraction of fossil fuels involves mining and drilling; which can be very unsafe, and
damage topography, causing damage to the land area and destruction of wild lands.
➢ Mining changes the ecology of the entire land area, which may also include forests with
their flora and fauna, destroying habitats and affecting biodiversity.
➢ Noise and habitat fragmentation can harm wildlife populations.
➢ Mines can subsequently collapse or the land may subside, which affect surface and
subsurface water flows.
➢ Mine fires, as well as acid mine drainage from coal mines cause environmental problems
on long terms.
Pollution
❖ The huge amount of rock and debris from mining destroys the fertility of soil and can also pollute
and change course of natural water flows.
❖ Coal deposit leachates can pollute ground and surface water and soil with toxic chemicals like
selenium, arsenic, lead, iron, and hydrogen sulfide depending on its chemical makeup.
❖ Natural gas leaks from transmission pipelines are a significant source of methane emissions.
❖ Mining and drilling for fossil fuels bring up materials buried deep in ground, and create huge
amounts of waste materials.
Coal-based power plants
❑ Burning fossil fuels in vehicles, thermal power plants or factories releases carbon dioxide,
nitrogen and sulphur oxides, carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, particulates,
etc., that lower the quality of air.
❑ Nitrogen oxides released into the atmosphere contribute to the formation of smog and
acid rain. Coal-based power plants are a large source of mercury emissions.
❑ As airborne mercury settles, it may be washed into water bodies and can get accumulated
and move along the food chain.
❑ Cleaning and processing of coal also leaves behind waste rich in sulphur and heavy
metals; while fly ash emitted during combustion also pollutes surrounding land, crops
and water.
❑ Coal based power plants are known to have higher CO2 emissions and other pollutants
per kWh electricity generation.
❖ Thermal power plants are also responsible for causing ‘thermal pollution’.
❖ They obtain large quantity of water from surface and groundwater bodies, which is later
discharged at high temperatures, directly impacting local ecosystems and often competing
with other uses, such as agriculture.
❖ Oil is transported across the ocean in tankers, and over land by pipeline, rail, or truck;
each step posing risk of oil spills.
❖ The Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 in Alaska, considered to be one of the most devastating
human-caused environmental disasters, killed innumerable seabirds, marine animals and
fish.
Acid Rain
❖ Compounds like Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are being released into the air by industries. These
substances can rise very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen, and
other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants such as sulphuric acid and nitric acid. These acids form a
precipitate and come to the ground in the form of acid rain.
❖ Another feature of acid rain is that, it need not affect the polluted area, but can be transported over long
distances also.
❖ Such precipitation is injurious to aquatic organisms, by increasing the acidity of water bodies. It can
also damage trees and weaken forest ecosystems.
❖ Acid rain can also cause damage to the monuments ( for example, changing its colour from white to
yellow due to corrosion and development of cracks) which are made up of white marble.
❖ Acid rain also affects crops adversely directly and indirectly, since lowering of soil pH leads to leaching
of plant nutrients away from the plant surroundings making it unavailable.
Greenhouse gases (GHG), Types and Sources
The gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and raise the surface temperature of planets such as
earth are known as Greenhouse gases (GHGs).
Natural sources of greenhouse gases include:
➢ Carbon dioxide (CO2): It is released through natural processes such as respiration and
volcanic eruptions. It also enters the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels (coal,
natural gas, and oil), solid waste, trees and other biological materials.
➢ Methane (CH4): It is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas,
and oil. Methane emissions also result from livestock, other agricultural practices, and by
the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills.
➢ Nitrous oxide (N2O) : It is emitted during agricultural, land use, and industrial
activities; combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste; as well as during treatment of
wastewater and natural processes like denitrification.
➢ Water vapor: It is the most abundant greenhouse gas and is naturally present in the
atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration.
➢ Fluorinated gases: Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and
nitrogen trifluoride are synthetic, powerful greenhouse gases that are emitted from a
variety of household, commercial, and industrial applications and processeses.
These gases contribute to the natural greenhouse effect, which helps regulate the Earth's
temperature
The Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse effect: A natural process that warms the Earth's surface when greenhouse gases
in Earth's atmosphere trap the Sun's heat.
How the Greenhouse Effect Occurs
❖ Greenhouse effect is the process by which radiations from the sun
are absorbed by the greenhouse gases and not reflected back into
space. This insulates the surface of the earth and prevents it from
freezing.
❖ During the day the sun heats up the earth’s atmosphere. At night,
when the earth cools down the heat is radiated back into the
atmosphere. During this process, the heat is absorbed by the
greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere. This is what makes the
surface of the earth warmer, that makes the survival of living beings
on earth possible.
Causes of Greenhouse Effect
1. Burning of Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels are an important part of our lives. They are widely used in transportation and to
produce electricity. Burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide. With the increase in
population, the utilization of fossil fuels has increased. This has led to an increase in the release
of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
2. Deforestation
Plants and trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Due to the cutting of trees, there is a
considerable increase in the greenhouse gases which increases the earth’s temperature.
3. Farming
Nitrous oxide used in fertilizers is one of the contributors to the greenhouse effect in the
atmosphere.
4. Industrial Waste and Landfills
The industries and factories produce harmful gases which are released in the atmosphere.
Landfills also release carbon dioxide and methane that adds to the greenhouse gases.
Effects of Greenhouse Effect
1. Global Warming
It is the phenomenon of a gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere
due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane
(CH4), nitrogen dioxide (N2O), water vapor and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The main cause for
this environmental issue is the increased volumes of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide
and methane released by the burning of fossil fuels, emissions from the vehicles, industries
and other human activities.
2. Depletion of Ozone Layer
Ozone Layer protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. It is found in the upper
regions of the stratosphere. The depletion of the ozone layer results in the entry of the harmful UV
rays to the earth’s surface that might lead to skin cancer and can also change
the climate drastically. The major cause of this phenomenon is the accumulation of natural
greenhouse gases including CFCs, CO2, CH4 etc.
3. Smog and Air Pollution
Smog is formed by the combination of smoke and fog. It can be caused both by
natural means and man-made activities.
In general, smog is generally formed by the accumulation of more greenhouse
gases including nitrogen and sulfur oxides. The major contributors to the
formation of smog are automobile and industrial emissions, agricultural fires,
natural forest fires and the reaction of these chemicals among themselves.
4. Acidification of Water Bodies
Increase in the total amount of greenhouse gases in the air has turned most of the
world’s water bodies acidic. The greenhouse gases mix with the rainwater and
fall as acid rain. This leads to the acidification of water bodies.
Global warming and Climate change
Energy use is a major contributor to the GHGs as can be seen from figure below.
According to IPCC Assessment Report, burning of fossil fuels which started at the
beginning of the industrial revolution has increased the heat-trapping greenhouse gas
contents in the atmosphere, and represents the largest anthropogenic contribution to climate
change.
Shares of global anthropogenic GHG
Within the energy sector, CO2 emitted from combustion of fuels dominates total GHG emissions.
It is one of the greenhouse gases that enhances radiative forcing and contributes to global
warming, causing increase in average surface temperature.
Amount of CO2 emitted per unit of energy output for various fuels
Source CO2 emitted (pounds per
million Btu)
Coal
Anthracite 228.6
Bituminous 205.7
Lignite 215.4
Sub-bituminous 214.3
Diesel 161.3
Petrol 157.3
Natural gas 117.0
Propane 139.0
❖ Compared to fossil fuels, renewable energy sources produce lesser CO2 emission.
❖ According to a study, hydroelectric electricity produces the lowest CO2 emissions, wind
produces the second-lowest, nuclear energy produces the third-lowest and solar
photovoltaic produces the fourth-lowest.
Climate change
❖ Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such
shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. But
since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change primarily
due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.
❖ Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped
around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.
❖ The main greenhouse gases that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and
methane. These come from using gasoline for driving a car or coal for heating a building,
for example. Clearing land and cutting down forests can also release carbon dioxide.
Agriculture, oil and gas operations are major sources of methane emissions. Energy,
industry, transport, buildings, agriculture and land use are among the main sectors
causing greenhouse gases.
Humans are responsible for global warming
➢ Climate scientists have showed that humans are responsible for virtually all global heating over
the last 200 years. Human activities like the ones mentioned above are causing greenhouse
gases that are warming the world faster than at any time in at least the last two thousand years.
➢ The average temperature of the Earth’s surface is now about 1.1°C warmer than it was in the
late 1800s (before the industrial revolution) and warmer than at any time in the last 100,000
years. The last decade (2011-2020) was the warmest on record, and each of the last four
decades has been warmer than any previous decade since 1850.
➢ Many people think climate change mainly means warmer temperatures. But temperature rise is
only the beginning of the story. Because the Earth is a system, where everything is connected,
changes in one area can influence changes in all others.
➢ The consequences of climate change now include, among others, intense droughts, water
scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar ice, catastrophic storms and
declining biodiversity.
People are experiencing climate change in diverse ways
Climate change can affect our health, ability to grow food, housing, safety and
work. Some of us are already more vulnerable to climate impacts, such as
people living in small island nations and other developing countries.
Conditions like sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion have advanced to the
point where whole communities have had to relocate, and protracted droughts
are putting people at risk of famine. In the future, the number of people
displaced by weather-related events is expected to rise.
Every increase in global warming matters
▪ In a series of UN reports, thousands of scientists and government reviewers agreed that
limiting global temperature rise to no more than 1.5°C would help us avoid the worst
climate impacts and maintain a livable climate. Yet policies currently in place point to
a 3°C temperature rise by the end of the century.
▪ The emissions that cause climate change come from every part of the world and affect
everyone, but some countries produce much more than others.
▪ The seven biggest emitters alone (China, the United States of America, India, the
European Union, Indonesia, the Russian Federation, and Brazil) accounted for about half
of all global greenhouse gas emissions in 2020.
▪ Everyone must take climate action, but people and countries creating more of the
problem have a greater responsibility to act first.
Hottest year on Record
Global average temperature by year, compared with pre-industrial average (1850-1900)
Causes of Climate change
❖ The long-term climate change has been caused by human activity, mainly from the widespread use of
fossil fuels - coal, oil and gas - in homes, factories and transport.
❖ When fossil fuels burn, they release greenhouse gases - mostly carbon dioxide (CO2). This traps
extra energy in the atmosphere near the Earth's surface, causing the planet to heat up.
❖ Generating power: Generating electricity and heat by burning fossil fuels causes a large chunk of
global emissions. Most electricity is still generated by burning coal, oil, or gas, which produces
carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide – powerful greenhouse gases that blanket the Earth and trap the
sun’s heat.
❖ Cutting down forests: Cutting down forests to create farms or pastures, or for other reasons,
causes emissions, since trees, when they are cut, release the carbon they have been storing. Each
year approximately 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed. Since forests absorb carbon
dioxide, destroying them also limits nature’s ability to keep emissions out of the atmosphere.
Deforestation, together with agriculture and other land use changes, is responsible for roughly a
quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Manufacturing goods
Manufacturing and industry produce emissions, mostly from burning fossil fuels to produce energy for making
things like cement, iron, steel, electronics, plastics, clothes, and other goods. Mining and other industrial
processes also release gases, as does the construction industry. Machines used in the manufacturing process
often run on coal, oil, or gas; and some materials, like plastics, are made from chemicals sourced from fossil
fuels. The manufacturing industry is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
Using transportation
Most cars, trucks, ships, and planes run on fossil fuels. That makes transportation a major contributor of
greenhouse gases, especially carbon-dioxide emissions. Road vehicles account for the largest part, due to the
combustion of petroleum-based products, like gasoline, in internal combustion engines. But emissions from
ships and planes continue to grow. Transport accounts for nearly one quarter of global energy-related carbon-
dioxide emissions.
Producing food
Producing food causes emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases in various ways,
including through deforestation and clearing of land for agriculture and grazing, digestion by cows and sheep,
the production and use of fertilizers and manure for growing crops, and the use of energy to run farm
equipment or fishing boats, usually with fossil fuels. All this makes food production a major contributor to
climate change.
Powering buildings
Globally, residential and commercial buildings consume over half of all electricity. As they
continue to draw on coal, oil, and natural gas for heating and cooling, they emit significant
quantities of greenhouse gas emissions. Growing energy demand for heating and cooling,
with rising air-conditioner ownership, as well as increased electricity consumption for
lighting, appliances, and connected devices, has contributed to a rise in energy-related
carbon-dioxide emissions from buildings in recent years.
Too much consumption
Your home and use of power, how you move around, what you eat and how much you throw
away all contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. So does the consumption of goods such as
clothing, electronics, and plastics. A large chunk of global greenhouse gas emissions are
linked to private households. Our lifestyles have a profound impact on our planet. The
wealthiest bear the greatest responsibility: the richest 1 per cent of the global population
combined account for more greenhouse gas emissions than the poorest 50 per cent.
Effects of Climate Change
Hotter temperatures
As greenhouse gas concentrations rise, so does the global surface temperature. The last
decade, 2011-2020, is the warmest on record. Since the 1980s, each decade has been warmer
than the previous one. Nearly all land areas are seeing more hot days and heat waves.
Higher temperatures increase heat-related illnesses and make working outdoors more
difficult. Wildfires start more easily and spread more rapidly when conditions are hotter.
Temperatures in the Arctic have warmed at least twice as fast as the global average.
More severe storms
Destructive storms have become more intense and more frequent in many regions. As
temperatures rise, more moisture evaporates, which exacerbates extreme rainfall and
flooding, causing more destructive storms. The frequency and extent of tropical storms is
also affected by the warming ocean. Cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons feed on warm
waters at the ocean surface. Such storms often destroy homes and communities, causing
deaths and huge economic losses.
Increased drought
Climate change is changing water availability, making it scarcer in more regions. Global
warming exacerbates water shortages in already water-stressed regions and is leading to an
increased risk of agricultural droughts affecting crops, and ecological droughts increasing
the vulnerability of ecosystems. Droughts can also stir destructive sand and dust storms that
can move billions of tons of sand across continents. Deserts are expanding, reducing land for
growing food. Many people now face the threat of not having enough water on a regular
basis.
A warming, rising ocean
The ocean soaks up most of the heat from global warming. The rate at which the ocean is
warming strongly increased over the past two decades, across all depths of the ocean. As the
ocean warms, its volume increases since water expands as it gets warmer. Melting ice sheets
also cause sea levels to rise, threatening coastal and island communities. In addition, the
ocean absorbs carbon dioxide, keeping it from the atmosphere. But more carbon dioxide
makes the ocean more acidic, which endangers marine life and coral reefs.
Loss of species
Climate change poses risks to the survival of species on land and in the ocean. These risks
increase as temperatures climb. Exacerbated by climate change, the world is losing species
at a rate 1,000 times greater than at any other time in recorded human history. One million
species are at risk of becoming extinct within the next few decades. Forest fires, extreme
weather, and invasive pests and diseases are among many threats related to climate change.
Some species will be able to relocate and survive, but others will not.
Lack of enough food supply
Changes in the climate and increases in extreme weather events are among the reasons
behind a global rise in hunger and poor nutrition. Fisheries, crops, and livestock may be
destroyed or become less productive. With the ocean becoming more acidic, marine
resources that feed billions of people are at risk. Changes in snow and ice cover in many
Arctic regions have disrupted food supplies from herding, hunting, and fishing. Heat stress
can diminish water and grasslands for grazing, causing declining crop yields and affecting
livestock.
More health risks
Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity. Climate impacts are already
harming health, through air pollution, disease, extreme weather events, forced displacement,
pressures on mental health, and increased hunger and poor nutrition in places where people cannot
grow or find sufficient food. Every year, environmental factors take the lives of around 13 million
people. Changing weather patterns are expanding diseases, and extreme weather events increase
deaths and make it difficult for health care systems to keep up.
Poverty and displacement
Climate change increases the factors that put and keep people in poverty. Floods may sweep away
urban slums, destroying homes and livelihoods. Heat can make it difficult to work in outdoor jobs.
Water scarcity may affect crops. Over the past decade (2010–2019), weather-related events
displaced an estimated 23.1 million people on average each year, leaving many more vulnerable to
poverty. Most refugees come from countries that are most vulnerable and least ready to adapt to
the impacts of climate change.
Actions taken/required for mitigating climate change
➢ Three broad categories of action are required by all the countries: cutting
emissions, adapting to climate impacts and financing required adjustments.
➢ Switching energy systems from fossil fuels to renewables like solar or wind will
reduce the emissions driving climate change.
➢ In a landmark agreement signed in Paris in 2015, almost 200 countries
pledged to try to keep global warming to 1.5 oC. To achieve this, "net zero"
CO2 emissions should be reached by 2050. Net zero means reducing
greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible, and removing any remaining
emissions from the atmosphere. Most countries have, or are considering, net
zero targets.
➢ While a growing number of countries is committing to net zero emissions by 2050,
emissions must be cut in half by 2030 to keep warming below 1.5°C. Achieving this means
huge declines in the use of coal, oil and gas: over two-thirds of today’s proven reserves of
fossil fuels need to be kept in the ground by 2050 in order to prevent catastrophic levels of
climate change.
➢ Adapting to climate consequences protects people, homes, businesses, livelihoods,
infrastructure and natural ecosystems. It covers current impacts and those likely in the
future. Adaptation will be required everywhere, but must be prioritized now for the most
vulnerable people with the fewest resources to cope with climate hazards. The rate of
return can be high. Early warning systems for disasters, for instance, save lives and
property, and can deliver benefits up to 10 times the initial cost.
➢ Climate action requires significant financial investments by governments and businesses.
But climate inaction is vastly more expensive. One critical step is for industrialized
countries to fulfil their commitment to provide $100 billion a year to developing countries
so they can adapt and move towards greener economies.
Sustainable Development Pathways to 1.5°C
❖ Limiting warming to 1.5°C would require all countries and non-state actors to strengthen
their contributions without delay. This could be achieved through sharing efforts based
on bolder and more committed cooperation, with support for those with the least
capacity to adapt, mitigate and transform.
❖ The fundamental societal and systemic changes to achieve sustainable development,
eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities while limiting warming to 1.5°C would require
meeting a set of institutional, social, cultural, economic and technological conditions.
❖ Without societal transformation and rapid implementation of ambitious
greenhouse gas reduction measures, pathways to limiting warming to 1.5°C and
achieving sustainable development will be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to
achieve.
❖ Social justice and equity are core aspects of climate-resilient development pathways for
transformational social change. Addressing challenges and widening opportunities
between and within countries and communities would be necessary to achieve
sustainable development and limit warming to 1.5°C, without making the poor and
disadvantaged worse off.
