Carbon Sinks
A carbon sink is anything, natural or otherwise, that accumulates and stores some carbon-containing chemical compound for an indefinite period and thereby removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.
A carbon sink is anything, natural or otherwise, that accumulates and stores some carbon-containing chemical compound for an indefinite period and thereby removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.
Biomass is a renewable energy resource that can be used to produce heat or electricity. Although burning biomass releases carbon dioxide (CO2), which is a greenhouse gas, it is renewable.
Solar energy or solar power is energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy. Solar energy is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source available, and the U.S. has some of the richest solar resources in the world. Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology converts sunlight into electricity, and it can be …
Hydroelectricity, hydroelectric power or hydroelectric energy is the use of moving water to generate electricity. It is one of the oldest and most widely used forms of renewable energy.
Climate change mitigation is the process of reducing the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere in order to prevent further climate change. Methods of climate change mitigation often include the reduction in an entity’s carbon footprint.
A carbon tax is levied on the carbon emissions required to produce goods and services. They are intended to make visible the “hidden” social costs of carbon emissions.
Avoided deforestation is the protection of existing forests. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and when they are cut down, that carbon is released into the atmosphere. Deforestation accounts for about 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions, so avoiding deforestation is a very important way to reduce our impact on the climate.
A Cap-and-Trade System is a market-based approach to controlling pollution by providing economic incentives for businesses to reduce emissions. The government sets an emissions cap, and issues a quantity of emission allowances consistent with that cap. Emitters must hold allowances for every ton of greenhouse gas they emit. Companies can buy and sell allowances in a carbon market, and this establishes an emissions price.
Offset projects can be implemented in a number of ways, but the most common methods include energy efficiency projects, forestry projects, and renewable energy projects. These projects aim to either avoid the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, or to remove them once they have been emitted.
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing our planet today. It refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns that are caused by human activity, like burning fossil fuels and deforestation. Climate change can lead to more extreme weather conditions, like heatwaves, droughts, and floods. It can also cause harm to wildlife and ecosystems.