In this last Unit (Environmental Solutions), we are going to consider approaches to addressing the challenges presented by the quandary of how to meet our energy "needs" while protecting our planet and the life it supports.
The Dean of our College (Earth and Mineral Sciences), Bill Easterling describes our College as a "world leader in generating the fundamental knowledge needed to develop novel solutions to challenges" such as "achieving energy security" and "sustaining a viable planetary life support system." (He identifies several others too. For full text see Meet the Dean [1])
NOTE: Dean Easterling is leaving Penn State and the College of Earth Mineral and Sciences has recently selected his replacement, Dr. Lee Kump, a paleoclimatologist specializing in atmosphere and ocean evolution, environmental biogeochemistry, and biogeochemical cycles. He co-authored the 2016 book, Dire Predictions: Understanding Climate Change, explaining the findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. For full story, see Penn State faculty member named College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Dean [2].
We've learned a lot about climate change challenges in this course. As we embark on this final unit, let me remind you of a few points underscoring the urgency and scale of the solutions needed:
NASA, NOAA Data Show 2016 Warmest Year on Record Globally [3]
IPCC Climate Change 2014 Synthesis Report, Summary for Policymakers [4]
Climate change is no longer a concern for "the grandchildren." Climate change is happening now, with serious thresholds predicted within our lifetimes.
What to do? Let's explore some ideas.
Stabilization Wedges is an innovative framework for using a portfolio of available technologies to curb and manage CO2 emissions.
Visit the Carbon Mitigation Initiative [5]
Okay, so what is a "wedge?" A wedge is a strategy. It is a way to reduce emissions by a total of 25 Gigatons over the next 50 years using existing technology that has already been commercialized.
In a very good follow up article, Wedges Reaffirmed [8], (Climate Central, September 2011), Socolow writes,
"The paper [referring to original work] is probably best known for having introduced the "stabilization wedges," a quantitative way to measure the level of effort associated with a mitigation strategy: a wedge of vehicle fuel efficiency, a wedge of wind power, and a wedge of avoided deforestation have the same effect on carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Filling the stabilization triangle required seven wedges. The wedge concept fosters parallel discussion of alternatives and encourages the design of a portfolio of responses. Each wedge is an immense activity. In talks about this work, I like to say that we decomposed a heroic challenge into a limited set of monumental tasks."
He goes on to say,
"Today, nine wedges are required to fill the stabilization triangle, instead of seven."
The January 2013 issue of Science Magazine Vol. 339 no. 6116 pp. 128-129) includes an article, "Climate Study Highlights Wedge Issue [9]," which discusses a new report offering "a provocative update to the wedges saga" citing a paper published in Environmental Research Letters that calls for a more "audacious plan" where at least a whopping 19 wedges—and perhaps as many as 31—will be needed to stabilize and then phase out carbon pollution. These authors contend that "beyond the 2004 plan's emphasis on expanding the use of current technologies, 'fundamental and disruptive transformation of the global energy system' is needed to avoid devastating climate change."
The "Wedges" framework remains a relevant and thought-provoking method for looking at carbon mitigation strategies.
Links
[1] http://www.ems.psu.edu/easterling
[2] http://news.psu.edu/story/469488/2017/05/24/administration/penn-state-faculty-member-named-college-earth-and-mineral
[3] https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-noaa-data-show-2016-warmest-year-on-record-globally
[4] http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/syr/AR5_SYR_FINAL_SPM.pdf
[5] http://cmi.princeton.edu/wedges/
[6] https://www.e-education.psu.edu/egee401/sites/www.e-education.psu.edu.egee401/files/image/lesson10/Wedge_LD.html
[7] http://cmi.princeton.edu/wedges/slides.php
[8] http://www.climatecentral.org/blogs/wedges-reaffirmed/
[9] http://www.sciencemag.org/content/339/6116/128