CLIMATE CHANGE CASE STUDY NOTES
● Case studies of one AC and one EDC to illustrate their contribution to anthropogenic
greenhouse gas emissions over time
AC: UK
- Carbon emissions date back to 1751, before the industrial revolution
- CO₂ emissions peaked in 1971 and have since fallen by ⅓
Reasons:
- Shift away from coal to cheaper natural gas for primary energy production
- Increase in renewable energy sources
- International obligations and legally binding commitments
- Improved energy conservation and efficiency
- Coal reliance has decreased - coal is responsible for only 1% of UK energy now but
was 5% in 2019
- Increase in renewable energy from 40% in 2019 to 47% in 2023
- Transport (not including aviation) accounts for ¼ of UK's emissions
- UK is responsible for 1% of annual emissions but 5% of world historical emissions =
cumulative climate change
Future plans:
- Wants to achieve Net Zero by 2050
- Solar farm in Kent being built to supply 91,000 households
- The Climate Change Act (2008) commits the government to reduce emissions by at
least 80% by 2050, compared with 1990 - in order to develop a low carbon economy
Strategies:
- Short term carbon reduction targets (5 year periods)
- Increasing energy efficiency eg. through smart meters, improved building
insulation etc
- Investment into low carbon technologies such as renewable energy sources
eg. wind, biomass and solar
- Increase in renewable energy from 40% in 2019 to 47% in 2023
- Hinkley Point C in Somerset = nuclear power station with 2 nuclear
reactors
- Carbon taxes (on electricity generated by fossil fuels and CO₂ emissions from
vehicles)
EDC: CHINA
● Case studies of one AC and one EDC to illustrate their contribution to anthropogenic
greenhouse gas emissions over time
AC: UK
- Carbon emissions date back to 1751, before the industrial revolution
- CO₂ emissions peaked in 1971 and have since fallen by ⅓
Reasons:
- Shift away from coal to cheaper natural gas for primary energy production
- Increase in renewable energy sources
- International obligations and legally binding commitments
- Improved energy conservation and efficiency
- Coal reliance has decreased - coal is responsible for only 1% of UK energy now but
was 5% in 2019
- Increase in renewable energy from 40% in 2019 to 47% in 2023
- Transport (not including aviation) accounts for ¼ of UK's emissions
- UK is responsible for 1% of annual emissions but 5% of world historical emissions =
cumulative climate change
Future plans:
- Wants to achieve Net Zero by 2050
- Solar farm in Kent being built to supply 91,000 households
- The Climate Change Act (2008) commits the government to reduce emissions by at
least 80% by 2050, compared with 1990 - in order to develop a low carbon economy
Strategies:
- Short term carbon reduction targets (5 year periods)
- Increasing energy efficiency eg. through smart meters, improved building
insulation etc
- Investment into low carbon technologies such as renewable energy sources
eg. wind, biomass and solar
- Increase in renewable energy from 40% in 2019 to 47% in 2023
- Hinkley Point C in Somerset = nuclear power station with 2 nuclear
reactors
- Carbon taxes (on electricity generated by fossil fuels and CO₂ emissions from
vehicles)
EDC: CHINA
