Global Energy

0166370
Global Energy: Sustainability and Moving
Towards a
Low-Carbon Future
ENVM 652 Fall 2011 Garmeh Brown
Elizabeth Jenny
Hermione Toussaint

TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY……………………………………………………………………………3
1.0 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………4
2.0 WHAT ROLE DOES CARBON PLAY IN GLOBAL WARMING...........................................5
2.1 CARBON CYCLE …………………..............................................................................................6
3.0 EFFORTS OF VARIOUS GOVERNMENTS IN DEVELOPING ROADMAPS FOR
LOW CARBON ENERGY REVOLUTION…………..………………………………………….....7
3.1: KYOTO PROTOCOL………………………………………………………………….11
3.2: ASSISTANCE FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN BALANCING ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT…………………………….12
3.3: MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS 7 & 8……………………………..…12
4.0 EXAMINING THE INCREASING ROLE OF LOW- OR NO-CARBON TECHNOLOGIES……………………………………………………………………………………15
4.1: NATURAL GAS…………………………………………………………………………15
4.2: WIND ENERGY…………………………………………………………………………16
4.3: SOLAR……………………………………………………………………………………17
4.4: HYDROELECTRIC………………………………………………………………….….18
4.5: NUCLEAR…………………………………………………………………………….….20
5.0 THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES……………………….…..21
5.1: ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS…………………………………………………….…21
5.2: CLEAN ENERGY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS……………………………….…21
CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………………………....22
REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………………………24
APPENDIX……………………………………………………………………………………………..29
Executive Summary
It seems like everywhere one turns recently, energy issues are headlining the media: there is continued coverage of the energy and environmental implications of oil spills, coal extraction techniques, fossil fuel use; debates revolving around the need to pass clean energy legislation; and the linkages between energy and climate policy, both domestically and internationally. More and more, the context of energy issues is crossing geographical and

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