Interactions: Energy / Environment

Interactions: Energy / Environment
Author: Jose’ Goldemberg
Publisher: EOLSS Publications
Total Pages: 426
Release: 2009-07-23
Genre:
ISBN: 1848260903

Interactions: Energy /Environment is a component of Encyclopedia of Environmental and Ecological Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias. The volume on Interactions: Energy/Environment focuses largely concerned with strategies for energy linkages to regional and global environmental problems and the implications of those linkages. Although energy's potential for enhancing human well being is unquestionable, conventional energy production and consumption are closely linked to environmental degradation that threatens human health and quality of life and affects ecological balances and biological diversity. The content of the theme provides the essential aspects and a myriad of issues of great relevance to our world such as: Environmental Effects of - Fossil Fuel Combustion; Nuclear Power Production; Use of Renewable Energy Resources and Effects of Energy Production on Human Health, which are then expanded into multiple subtopics, each as a chapter. This volume is aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College students Educators, Professional practitioners, Research personnel and Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers and NGOs

Interactions of Energy and Climate

Interactions of Energy and Climate
Author: W. Bach
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 512
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9400991118

Since the beginning of industrialization in the last century, a steady increase in energy consumption can be observed. At the same time, energy generation switched from wood and coal to predominantly oil, coal and natural gas. Soon, many countries became aware of the fact that the resources of fossil fuels, especially of oil and natural gas are finite. Diversification of energy sources became a requirement for the future. Governments expressed their concern by setting up natural energy programmes while international organisations undertook assessments of the global energy resources and possible rates of supply and substitution. When it comes to setting up energy policies, the following factors must be taken into consideration: population growth, level and nature of socio-economic activity, the costs of energy, the adequacy and reliability of supply, the availability of technology and supporting infrastructure, the success of energy conservation programmes and concern about the environment, safety aspects of production and use of energy as well as educational efforts toward a rational use of energy. When we express our most urgent concern, the long-term global energy provision, experts offer four interrelated partial strategies: - the strategy of rational use and conservation of energy - the strategy of using renewable energy sources - the coal strategy including coal gasification and liquefaction - the nuclear power strategy. Any strategy, however, for securing future energy supply has, from my point of view, to be thoroughly examined as to its impact on the environment.

Vegetation-Climate Interaction

Vegetation-Climate Interaction
Author: Jonathan Adams
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 281
Release: 2009-11-27
Genre: Science
ISBN: 364200881X

An accessible account of the ways in which the world's plant life affects the climate. It covers everything from tiny local microclimates created by plants to their effect on a global scale. If you’ve ever wondered how vegetation can create clouds, haze and rain, or how plants have an impact on the composition of greenhouse gases, then this book is required reading.

Advancing the Science of Climate Change

Advancing the Science of Climate Change
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 526
Release: 2011-01-10
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309145880

Climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks for-and in many cases is already affecting-a broad range of human and natural systems. The compelling case for these conclusions is provided in Advancing the Science of Climate Change, part of a congressionally requested suite of studies known as America's Climate Choices. While noting that there is always more to learn and that the scientific process is never closed, the book shows that hypotheses about climate change are supported by multiple lines of evidence and have stood firm in the face of serious debate and careful evaluation of alternative explanations. As decision makers respond to these risks, the nation's scientific enterprise can contribute through research that improves understanding of the causes and consequences of climate change and also is useful to decision makers at the local, regional, national, and international levels. The book identifies decisions being made in 12 sectors, ranging from agriculture to transportation, to identify decisions being made in response to climate change. Advancing the Science of Climate Change calls for a single federal entity or program to coordinate a national, multidisciplinary research effort aimed at improving both understanding and responses to climate change. Seven cross-cutting research themes are identified to support this scientific enterprise. In addition, leaders of federal climate research should redouble efforts to deploy a comprehensive climate observing system, improve climate models and other analytical tools, invest in human capital, and improve linkages between research and decisions by forming partnerships with action-oriented programs.

Energy and Climate Change

Energy and Climate Change
Author: Michael Stephenson
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 208
Release: 2018-03-20
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0128120223

Energy and Climate Change: An Introduction to Geological Controls, Interventions and Mitigations examines the Earth system science context of the formation and use of fossil fuel resources, and the implications for climate change. It also examines the historical and economic trends of fossil fuel usage and the ways in which these have begun to affect the natural system (i.e., the start of the Anthropocene). Finally, the book examines the effects we might expect in the future looking at evidence from the "deep time" past, and looks at ways to mitigate climate change by using negative emissions technology (e.g. bioenergy and carbon capture and storage, BECCS), but also by adapting to perhaps a higher than "two degree world," particularly in the most vulnerable, developing countries. Energy and Climate Change is an essential resource for geoscientists, climate scientists, environmental scientists, and students; as well as policy makers, energy professionals, energy statisticians, energy historians and economists. Provides an overarching narrative linking Earth system science with an integrated approach to energy and climate change Includes a unique breadth of coverage from modern to "deep time" climate change; from resource geology to economics; from climate change mitigation to adaptation; and from the industrial revolution to the Anthropocene Readable, accessible, and well-illustrated, giving the reader a clear overview of the topic

Climate Impacts on Energy Systems

Climate Impacts on Energy Systems
Author: Jane O. Ebinger
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 224
Release: 2011
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0821386980

"While the energy sector is a primary target of efforts to arrest and reverse the growth of greenhouse gas emissions and lower the carbon footprint of development, it is also expected to be increasingly affected by unavoidable climate consequences from the damage already induced in the biosphere. Energy services and resources, as well as seasonal demand, will be increasingly affected by changing trends, increasing variability, greater extremes and large inter-annual variations in climate parameters in some regions. All evidence suggests that adaptation is not an optional add-on but an essential reckoning on par with other business risks. Existing energy infrastructure, new infrastructure and future planning need to consider emerging climate conditions and impacts on design, construction, operation, and maintenance. Integrated risk-based planning processes will be critical to address the climate change impacts and harmonize actions within and across sectors. Also, awareness, knowledge, and capacity impede mainstreaming of climate adaptation into the energy sector. However, the formal knowledge base is still nascent?information needs are complex and to a certain extent regionally and sector specific. This report provides an up-to-date compendium of what is known about weather variability and projected climate trends and their impacts on energy service provision and demand. It discusses emerging practices and tools for managing these impacts and integrating climate considerations into planning processes and operational practices in an environment of uncertainty. It focuses on energy sector adaptation, rather than mitigation which is not discussed in this report. This report draws largely on available scientific and peer-reviewed literature in the public domain and takes the perspective of the developing world to the extent possible."

Energy Security and Climate Policy

Energy Security and Climate Policy
Author: International Energy Agency
Publisher: OECD Publishing
Total Pages: 160
Release: 2007
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

World energy demand is surging. Oil, coal and natural gas still meet most global energy needs, creating serious implications for the environment. One result is that CO 2 emissions, the principal cause of global warming, are rising. This study underlines the close link between efforts to ensure energy security and those to mitigate climate change. Decisions on one side affect the other. The book presents a framework to assess interactions between energy security and climate change policies, combining qualitative and quantitative analyses. The quantitative analysis is based on the development of energy security indicators, tracking the evolution of policy concerns linked to energy resource concentration. The indicators are applied to a reference scenario and CO 2 policy cases for five case-study countries: The Czech Republic, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.. -->