Climate Change and Energy: Impacts and Solutions

Hydroelectric Power Generation

Hydroelectric power generation is an alternative to fossil fuels that produces fewer greenhouse gases. It does not produce high quantities of greenhouse gases.

Global Climate Change Definition

Global climate change is defined as modifications in Earth's climate.

Cap-and-Trade Program

In a cap-and-trade program, industries must buy permits for their emissions.

Carbon-Based Fuels in the Lithosphere

Carbon-based fuels in the lithosphere have been slowly sequestered over many millions of years.

Positive Feedback Mechanism in Climate Change

Warmer temperatures result in the melting of permafrost, which may result in a positive feedback mechanism that would intensify climate change.

US Senate's Stance on Emission Reductions

The US Senate has so far opposed emissions reductions on the grounds that it might hurt the economy.

Market Mechanisms for Addressing Climate Change

Cap-and-trade and carbon offsets are market mechanisms for addressing climate change.

EROI (Energy Returned on Investment)

When assessing energy resources, it is helpful to use a measure called EROI, which is energy returned divided by energy invested.

Fossil Fuels

All of the following are fossil fuels EXCEPT:

• Oil
• Uranium

Cleanest Burning Fossil Fuel

Natural gas is the most cleanly burning fossil fuel available, producing the least carbon dioxide per unit of energy released.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in the United States

Technologies are not sufficiently reliable, and it is currently too energetically expensive for coal power plants to capture and store their carbon emissions.

Clean Coal Technology

All of the following are aspects of the technology of "clean coal" EXCEPT:

• Removing sulfur oxides from the emissions
• Removing carbon content from coal before combustion

Nuclear Energy Generation

Nuclear energy in power plants is created via the fission of uranium atoms by bombarding them with neutrons.

Advantages of Nuclear Power

All of the following are advantages of nuclear power EXCEPT:

• The power-generating process is emission-free
• Nuclear wastes can be safely disposed of

Energy Conservation

The practice of reducing wasteful or unnecessary energy use is called energy conservation.