the 450 scenario — doing our part
In a recent post, I reviewed some research that shows that our current atmospheric carbon concentrations are now at a level not seen for around 15 million years. That’s bad news.
But there’s some good news, too. A recent report from the International Energy Agency spells out a strategy for stabilizing carbon atmospheric concentrations, perhaps in more detail than has been specified before.
For the IEA, keeping carbon concentrations at our below 450 ppm is the key, since that’s the level they believe will minimize the effects of global warming. Hence they call getting to that goal the “450 scenario.”
Achieving the 450 scenario, according to the IEA, requires pursuing a variety of different carbon abatement measures. These measures include pursuing greater energy efficiencies, renewable energy, biofuels, nuclear power and carbon capture and storage (see figure).
World energy-related CO2 emissions abatement (source: IEA)
Based on the IEA’s handy graph and table, we can see that they believe end-use energy efficiency to be the greatest slice of the carbon-abatement pie. And within that category fall lots of measures that we each can take to boost our personal energy efficiency – better insulation, building sealing, replacing incandescent light bulbs, driving a car with better mileage, etc.
This serves as a nice reminder that it’s easy for each of us to take energy-savings steps today, rather than waiting for various forms of renewable energy to become more affordable. So what are you going to do to boost your own efficiency?
October 21st, 2009 at 8:02 am
great post. Efficiency is key to us stopping global warming. I’m going to add more insulation to my house this Fall…but I might need help.
May 11th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
Incandescent light bulbs will soon be phased out because they waste a lot of energy.-:,