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A Low-Carbon Economy (LCE) is a popular term that refers to an Economy which has a minimal output of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions into the biosphere, but specifically refers to the greenhouse gas Carbon Dioxide. Greenhouse gases are gaseous constituents of the atmosphere bothnatural and anthropogenic that absorb and emit radiation at specific wavelengths within the spectrum of thermal infrared The biosphere is the broadest level of ecological study the global sum of all Ecosystems. Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single Recently, most of scientific and public opinion has come to the conclusion there is an unreasonable accumulation of GHGs(especially CO2) in our atmosphere; our species is to blame for this accumulation, and the over-concentrations of these gases will fundamentally change our climate dangerously in the foreseeable future[1]. Globally implemented LCE's therefore, are proposed as a means to avoid catastrophic climate change, and as a precursor to an ideal zero-carbon economy.

Nuclear Power, or, the proposed strategies of Carbon capture and storage(CCS) have been proposed as the primary means to achieve a LCE while continuing to exploit non-renewable resources; there is concern, however, with the matter of spent-nuclear-fuel storage, and the uncertainty of costs and time needed to successfully implement CCS worldwide and with guarantees that the stored emissions will not leak into the biosphere. Nuclear power is any Nuclear technology designed to extract usable Energy from atomic nuclei via controlled Nuclear reactions Carbon capture and storage ( CCS) is an approach to mitigating Global warming based on capturing Carbon dioxide (CO2 from large The biosphere is the broadest level of ecological study the global sum of all Ecosystems. Alternatively, many have proposed renewable energy should be the main basis of a LCE, but, they have their associated problems of high-cost and inefficiency; this is changing, however, since investment and production have been growing significantly in recent times [2]. Renewable energy is Energy generated from Natural resources mdashsuch as Sunlight, Wind, Rain, tides and geothermal Furthermore, regardless of the effect to the biosphere by GHG emissions, the growing issue of peak oil may also be reason enough for a transition to an LCE. The biosphere is the broadest level of ecological study the global sum of all Ecosystems.

The aim of a LCE is to integrate all aspects of itself from its manufacturing, agriculture, transportation and power-generation etc. around technologies that produce energy and materials with little GHG emission; and thus, around populations, buildings, machines and devices which use those energies and materials efficiently, and, dispose of or recycle its wastes so as to have a minimal output of GHGs. Furthermore, it has been proposed that to make the transition to an LCE economically viable we would have to attribute a cost(per unit output) to GHGs through means such as emissions trading and/or a carbon tax. Emissions trading (or emission trading) is an administrative approach used to control Pollution by providing economic Incentives for A carbon tax is an environmental Tax on emissions of Carbon dioxide and other Greenhouse gases It is an example of a pollution tax.

Contents

Primary Sector

Agriculture

See Low carbon diet

Foodstuffs should be produced as close as possible to the final consumers (preferably within walking/cycling distance). A low carbon diet refers to making lifestyle choices to reduce the Greenhouse gas emissions resulting from energy use This will reduce the amount of carbon-based energy necessary to transport the foodstuffs. Consumers can also buy fresh food rather than processed food, since carbon-based energy might be used to process the food. Cooking presents another opportunity to conserve energy. Energy could be saved if farmers produced more foods that people would eat raw.

Also, most of the agricultural facilities in the developed world are mechanized due to rural electrification. Rural electrification has produced significant productivity gains, but it also uses a lot of energy. For this and other reasons (such as transport costs) in the low-carbon, rural areas will rely heavily on locally and renewably produced electricity.

Irrigation can be one of the main components of an agricultural facility's energy consumption. In parts of California it can be up to 90%. [3] In the low carbon economy, irrigation equipment will be maintained and continually updated and farms will use less irrigation water.

Crops

Different crops require different amounts of energy input. For example, glasshouse crops, irrigated crops, and orchards require a lot of energy to maintain, while row crops and field crops don’t need as much maintenance. Those glasshouse and irrigated crops that do exist will incorporate the following improvements: [4]

Glasshouse crops

Irrigated arable crops

Livestock

Livestock operations can also use a lot of energy depending on how they are run. Feed lots use animal feed made from corn, soybeans, and other crops. Energy must be expended to produce these crops, process and transport them. Free-range animals find their own vegetation to feed on. The farmer may expend energy to take care of that vegetation, but not nearly as much as the farmer who grows cereal and oil-seed crops.

Many livestock operations currently use a lot of energy to water their livestock. In the low-carbon economy, such operations will use more water conservation methods such as rainwater collection, water cisterns, etc and they will also pump/distribute that water with on-site renewable energy sources (most likely wind and solar).

Due to rural electrification, most agricultural facilities in the developed world use a lot of electricity. In a low-carbon economy, farms will be run and equipped to allow for greater energy efficiency. The dairy industry, for example, will incorporate the following changes: [5]

Irrigated Dairy

Hunting and Fishing

Fishing is quite energy intensive. Improvements such as heat recovery on refrigeration and trawl net technology will be common in the low-carbon economy. [6]

Forestry

In the low-carbon economy, forestry operations will be focused on low-impact practices and regrowth. Forest managers will make sure that they do not disturb soil based carbon reserves too much. Specialized tree farms will be the main source of material for many products. Quick maturing tree varieties will be grown on short rotations in order to maximize output. [7]

Mining

Main article: Gas flare

Flaring and venting of natural gas in oil wells is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. gas flare or flare stack is an elevated vertical stack or Chimney found on Oil wells or oil rigs, and in refineries Natural gas is a Gaseous Fossil fuel consisting primarily of Methane but including significant quantities of Ethane, Propane, Greenhouse gases are gaseous constituents of the atmosphere bothnatural and anthropogenic that absorb and emit radiation at specific wavelengths within the spectrum of thermal infrared Its contribution to greenhouse gases has declined by three-quarters in absolute terms since a peak in the 1970s of approximately 110 million metric tons/year and now accounts for about 1/2 of one percent of all anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. Anthropogenic effects processes objects or materials are those that are derived from Human activities as opposed to those occurring in Natural environments without Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single [8] The World Bank estimates that 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas are flared or vented annually, an amount equivalent to the combined annual gas consumption of Germany and France, twice the annual gas consumption of Africa, three quarters of Russian gas exports, or enough to supply the entire world with gas for 20 days. The World Bank is an internationally supported Bank that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for development programs (e Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending This flaring is highly concentrated: 10 countries account for 75% of emissions, and twenty for 90%. [9] The largest flaring operations occur in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The Niger Delta, the delta of the Niger River in Nigeria, is a densely populated region sometimes called the Oil Rivers because it was once a Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal The leading contributors to gas flaring are (in declining order): Nigeria, Russia, Iran, Algeria, Mexico, Venezuela, Indonesia, and the United States. Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Algeria ( ar [[Arabic]] الجزائر, Al Jaza'ir ælʤæˈzæːʔir Amazigh: ⴷⵥⴰⵢⴻⵔ Dzayer) officially the People's The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the [10]

Secondary Sector

Basic metals Processing

Nonmetallic product Processing

Wood Processing

Paper and Pulp Making

Food Processing

Tertiary Sector

Retail

Retail operations in the low-carbon economy will have several new features. One will be high efficiency lighting such as compact fluorescent, halogen, and eventually LED light sources. Many retail stores will also feature roof-top solar panel arrays. These make sense because solar panels produce the most energy during the daytime and during the summer. These are the same times that electricity is the most expensive and also the same times that stores use the most electricity. [11]

Transportation Services

See [12][13][14]

Initial steps

Internationally, the most prominent early step in the direction of a low-carbon economy was the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, which came into force on February 16, 2005, under which most industrialized countries committed to reduce their carbon emissions. The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the international Framework Convention on Climate Change with the objective of reducing Greenhouse gases in an effort [15][16] Importantly, all member nations of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development except the United States have ratified the protocol. The energy policy of the United States is determined by federal state and local public entities in the United States, which address issues of energy production distribution

Asia and Ocenia

Australia

Although the Australian Government has been reluctant to implement any emission reduction targets or regulations, the market has seen the voluntary development of carbon neutral businesses. Many Australian carbon offset companies offer carbon neutrality of businesses based on life cycle impact assessments of varying detail. One offset provider,the Carbon Reduction Institute, has produced a Low Carbon Directory, to promote a low carbon economy in Australia. As recent as December 2007, the Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd has signed the Kyoto protocol, the first document he signed as prime minister of Australia. Kevin Michael Rudd (born 21 September 1957 is the 26th and current Prime Minister of Australia and federal leader of the Centre-left Australian Labor The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the international Framework Convention on Climate Change with the objective of reducing Greenhouse gases in an effort For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics.

China

In China, the city of Dongtan is to be built to be produce zero net greenhouse gas emissions. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Dongtan ( is a new Eco-city planned for the island of Chongming, near Shanghai, China. [17]

Europe

Iceland

Main article: Renewable energy in Iceland

By exploiting geothermal energy and hydropower, renewable energy in Iceland provides over 70% of the nation's primary energy needs since 1999, and 99. Renewable energy in Iceland has supplied over 70% of Iceland 's Primary energy needs since 1999 — proportionally more than any other country Geothermal power (from the Greek roots geo, meaning earth and therme, meaning heat is energy generated by heat stored in the earth or the collection Hydropower, hydraulic power or water power is power that is derived from the Force or Energy of moving water which may Renewable energy in Iceland has supplied over 70% of Iceland 's Primary energy needs since 1999 — proportionally more than any other country Primary energy is energy that has not been subjected to any conversion or transformation process 9% of Iceland's electricity. [18] As a result Iceland's carbon emissions per capita are 62% lower than those of the United States[19] despite using more primary energy per capita. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the [20] Iceland expects to use 100% renewable energy by 2050 by generating hydrogen fuel from renewable energy sources. The hydrogen economy is a proposed method of deriving the Energy needed for Motive power (cars boats airplanes buildings or portable electronics by reacting

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, a draft Climate Change Bill outlining a framework for the transition to a low-carbon economy was published on March 13, 2007. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Climate Change Bill, published on 13 March 2007 is a Draft law aimed at moving the United Kingdom to a Low-carbon economy and society Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. This legislation would require a 60% cut in the UK's carbon emissions by 2050 (compared to 1990 levels), with an intermediate target of between 26% and 32% by 2020. Greenhouse gases are gaseous constituents of the atmosphere bothnatural and anthropogenic that absorb and emit radiation at specific wavelengths within the spectrum of thermal infrared [21] If approved, the UK would likely become the first country to set such a long-range and significant carbon reduction target into law. [22]

United States

Low Carbon Economy Act of 2007. [23]

Cities

Companies are planning large scale developments without using fossil fuels. Development plans such as those by World Wide Assets LLC for entire cities using only geothermal energy for electricity, geothermal desalination, and employing full recycling systems for water and waste are under development (2006) in Mexico and Australia. Geothermal power (from the Greek roots geo, meaning earth and therme, meaning heat is energy generated by heat stored in the earth or the collection Geothermal desalination is a proven process under development for the production of Fresh water using heat energy.

Zero-carbon economy

Main article: Post carbon

A zero-carbon (also called non-carbon or post-carbon) economy is a step beyond a low-carbon economy. This may include the complete elimation of the use of fossil fuels and be based on renewable alternative energy sources. Fossil fuels or mineral fuels are fossil source Fuels that is Hydrocarbons found within the top layer of the Earth’s crust. Renewable energy is Energy generated from Natural resources mdashsuch as Sunlight, Wind, Rain, tides and geothermal

As of 2007, Iceland and Sweden, with their petroleum phase-outs, are making big progresses in this direction, with a lot of organizations in the rest of countries, promoting also zero-carbon. Renewable energy in Iceland has supplied over 70% of Iceland 's Primary energy needs since 1999 — proportionally more than any other country In 2005 the Government of Sweden announced their intention to make Sweden the first country to break its dependence on Petroleum, Natural gas In 2005 the Government of Sweden announced their intention to make Sweden the first country to break its dependence on Petroleum, Natural gas

Education

The University of East Anglia has a Strategic Carbon Management MBA. The University of East Anglia is a campus-based University located in Norwich, England, and founded in 1963 The Master of Business Administration ( MBA) is a Master's degree in Business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ IPCC
  2. ^ Renewable energy investments rises significantly in 2007, http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/09/2113560.htm
  3. ^ Flex Your Power http://www.fypower.org/agri/
  4. ^ New Zealand Energy Intensive Business Initiative, http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/climate/policies-initiatives/energy-pilot-scheme.html
  5. ^ New Zealand Energy Intensive Business Initiative, http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/climate/policies-initiatives/energy-pilot-scheme.html
  6. ^ New Zealand Energy Intensive Business Initiative, http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/climate/policies-initiatives/energy-pilot-scheme.html
  7. ^ Ancient trees
  8. ^ Global, Regional, and National CO2 Emissions. In Trends: A Compendium of Data on Global Change, Marland, G. , T. A. Boden, and R. J. Andres, 2005, Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U. S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
  9. ^ The World Bank, Global Gas Flaring Reduction"
  10. ^ The Climate Law Organization, Friends of the Earth International.
  11. ^ Grocery Store Sets California Solar Standard
  12. ^ Energy Information Administration Industry Analysis Briefs, http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mecs/iab/index5e.html
  13. ^ The Carbon Trust – a UK government funded company, http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/default.ct, http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/energy/startsaving/technology.htm
  14. ^ BERR - Redirect
  15. ^ Japan Low Carbon Society Scenarios toward 2050
  16. ^ Margot Wallström. The United States Energy Information Administration (EIA created by Congress in 1977, is the independent statistical agency within the U "Towards a low carbon economy" Brussels (11 March 2004). Retrieved on [[~~~]]
  17. ^ Arup unveils plans for world’s first sustainable city in Dongtan, China. Arup (2005-08-24). Arup is a professional services firm providing Engineering, Design, Planning, Project management and Consulting services for Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River Retrieved on 2007-04-26. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1467 - The miraculous image in Our Lady of Good Counsel appear in Genazzano, Italy.
  18. ^ Gross energy consumption by source 1987–2005, Statistics Iceland, accessed 2007-05-14
  19. ^ United Nations Millennium Development Goals Indicators, United Nations, accessed 2006-08-02. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security
  20. ^ Energy in Iceland Icelandic Ministries of Industry and Commerce, accessed 2007-05-14
  21. ^ New Bill and strategy lay foundations for tackling climate change. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2007-03-13). The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs ( Defra) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for environmental protection Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II. Retrieved on 2007-03-13. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II.
  22. ^ Britain proposes climate change bill. Baltimore Sun (2007-03-14). Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1489 - The Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro, sells her kingdom to Venice. Retrieved on 2007-03-14. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1489 - The Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro, sells her kingdom to Venice.
  23. ^ http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/servicerpt/lcea/pdf/sroiaf(2007)06.pdf , http://epa.gov/climatechange/economics/pdfs/S1766_EPA_Analysis-Appendix.pdf
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