Solutions
If we hope to combat climate change, concerted efforts will need
to be made both locally and internationally by governments, public
agencies, businesses, industries, communities and
individuals.
We have the technology and ingenuity to minimise the threat of
human-induced climate change now. Reducing our impact on the global
climate does not have to hurt economically. In fact, according to
the Stern Review, failure to curb emissions will eventually disrupt
domestic and global economies.
The challenge is to strike a balance between responding early
enough to prevent major impacts, and avoiding inappropriate steps
that are ineffective and expensive.
There are a number of options available to help us minimise
(mitigate) emissions of greenhouse gases, and stabilise atmospheric
concentrations. These include:
- energy efficiency improvements
- adopting less carbon-intensive fuels and renewable energy
- enhancing biological sinks
- carbon capture and storage.
Carbon and capture storage has the potential to reduce overall
mitigation costs and increase flexibility in achieving greenhouse
gas emission reductions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change has produced a report on the subject:
By improving energy efficiency, investing in renewable energy
and adopting sustainable transport and building practices, we can
reduce our contribution to climate change while creating a
stronger, healthier, and more secure nation.
'We need to ensure that decisions for the
future made at all levels of society – by individuals, local
councils, public bodies, national governments, the international
organisations – take full recognition of the 'climate change
footprint' of those decisions. Will this decision help minimise the
rate of climate change? Will this decision help maximise our
resilience to climate change? We need to be alert to this new way
of thinking not just for today and tomorrow – but for generations
to come.'
- Professor Mike Hulme
Director of the Tyndall Centre 