Research Paper on Climate-Change Policies for Low Carbon Transition

Introduction

To address the issue of climate change it needs urgent policy actions to drive an unprecedented international technological as well as infrastructural transformation. Although, many countries are currently implementing major climate policies such as control interventions, carbon pricing, and innate support in low-carbon sustainable technologies; still worldwide greenhouse gas emission is on the rise and remains hugely high to avoid severe and irreversible impacts of climate change (Urry, 2015). Statistical reports show that the happening of climate change without international action to control it is likely to increase temperatures by approximately 20 Celsius to the current industrial periods. Accordingly, such matter is projected to be a significant impact on the economies of different countries across the world. As a result of the climate change epidemic the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in cooperation of more than 170 countries have approved the Paris Agreement which is on the front calling upon countries to keep international temperatures increase to less than 20 Celsius by pursuing efforts to restrict the temperature to less than 1.50 C above the pre-industrial levels.

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However, there are various obstructions which stand in the way of effective climate change policy. For example, the most significant is that the current policy framework s, as well as economic interest, continue move towards carbon-intensive practices and fossil fuels like natural gas, oil, and coal which have propelled the international economic development for many nations (Hall, Foxon, & Bolton, 2017). Consequently, this has created a misunderstanding between the present policy frameworks and the objectives of climate inhibiting investment in low-carbon consumption choices. In light of this statement, this report discusses policies which align to a low-carbon economy, factors which led to the development of these policies and goals which have been achieved by these policies.

Low and Zero Carbon Technologies

The low and zero carbon technologies (LZC) refers to a terminology given to technologies which emit low levels of carbon dioxide emissions. The integration of these technologies has been found to be much more effective in buildings with a highly energy efficient fabric after the heat demand and loss have been declined to the minimum. Reports show that the use of LZC technologies in this manner could bring a building's carbon dioxide emission to zero or close to zero. In this sense, there are several technologies which are used to provide heat for building emitting low carbon dioxide emissions such as solar hot heat, air source heat pumps, and biomass heating. Solar hot water: these systems make use of collectors placed on the roof to absorb solar radiations and then convert it to heat that is then transferred to a hot water cylinder that warms up the water in the tank during the day.

Key Actors involved in the Low and Zero Carbon Technologies Initiative

The main actors involved in low and zero carbon technologies in the United Kingdom. The UK government launched this initiative with the intent to see to that from 2016 onwards all new buildings were required to be zero carbon. Indeed, this requirement has been a vital part of the United Kingdom administration's strategy to decline the total carbon emissions by approximately 90% come 2050 (Newbery, 2016). Accordingly, this policy is being implemented in accordance with the Code for Sustainable Homes. Indeed, this Code has posed a significant challenge to the housebuilding sector in the UK which has been given the responsibility to deliver homes with improved environmental performance.

Policies Alignment for a Low-Carbon Economy

Addressing Climate Change and Other Structural Challenges

Reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has shown that the emission pathways continue to restrict warming below two degree Celsius. The emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) mainly carbon dioxide from fossil energy are the most embedded human activities. Therefore, carbon-intensive sources continue to fuel global economic development and are likely to keep doing so for some time. Basically, moving back the global emission of greenhouse gases emission to net zero by the end of the 21st century calls for keeping the global average temperature increase below two degrees Celsius. Accordingly, in order to achieve the average temperature increase, there is a need for profound transformations to technologies, infrastructures as well as human behaviors. However, failure to do so there is a high possibility of severe, irreversible and pervasive effects on social activities and the environment which threatens water security, agricultural productions, and the livelihoods of the poor and international economic development

The Impact of Climate Change Policies to the Ecosystem

Improved public health: statistics indicate that the fight against climate change is likely to result in significant health benefits to people particularly those living in cities. According to Makkonen, Huttunen, Primmer, Repo, and Hilden, (2015) approximately three billion individuals across the world depend on open fires for cooking, heating, and lighting. As a result of this dependency, more than four million deaths are reported annually because of indoor air pollution. Importantly, placing health benefits in consideration such as solar lighting as well as clean cooking stoves has the potential to save to nearly 60 times the investment costs. In addition, poor heating and ventilation is another contributor to chronic ill-health. Even though direct savings on energy expenses is enough to generate an attractive return on investment, the monetized health benefits related to enhancing indoor ecological quality is projected to be ten times more the value of energy savings. Also, cycling infrastructure is another area that has health value that cities can save money to boost public health.

Creation of green jobs: Investment on upgrading the existing housing and increasing the energy efficiency of the novel building in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) cities is likely to create approximately two million net jobs a very year. Similarly, employees in energy-efficient buildings have been found to be more productive because of the enhanced working setting as well as reduced rates of illness.

History: What led to the creation of these policies?

Effect of Greenhouse Gases on the Earth's Energy Balance and Climate

The sun is the main source of energy for the Earth's temperature. Some portion of incoming sun radiation is directly reflected back into the universe, particularly when it strikes bright surfaces like clouds and ice while the remaining is absorbed into the atmosphere and the Earth's surface. Indeed, most of the absorbed solar radiations are re-radiated in the form of heat. Consequently, the air, in turn, absorbs and discharges the heat where some escapes into the universe. Basically, an interruption to this equilibrium on the entering and leaving energy affects the climate. Research indicates that if it happened that all energy that is emitted from the surface was able to pass through the air nonstop into space, the Earth's surface normal temperature could be cooler than it is nowadays (Schuur, Druffel, & Trumbore, 2016). The presence of greenhouse gases in the air such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane absorbs some of the sun's energy which makes the earth's surface warmer. Nevertheless, the addition of extra greenhouse gases to the air makes it more operational at stopping heat from fleeing into the universe. Unfortunately, when the outgoing energy is in a smaller amount compared to incoming energy, the Earth warms to the extent that a different equilibrium is created. Therefore, greenhouse gases discharged by humanoid practices interfere with the Earth's energy balance hence affecting its climate.

Human undertakings have increased greenhouse gases into the air.

The concentration of methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide in the atmospheric has greatly amplified since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Reports indicate that from the time of pre-industrialization the has been an increase in carbon dioxide concentration by nearly 40%, approximately 150% increase in methane and nearly 20% increase in nitrous oxide (Schuur, Druffel, & Trumbore, 2016). More than half of the increase in carbon dioxide percentage has happened from the 1970s. The increase in the greenhouse gases is a major contribution to the warming of the Earth particularly the increase in carbon dioxide which is the key player. Indeed, human activities are transforming the natural greenhouse. For instance, in the 20th century, the burning of fossil fuels such as oil and coal has skyrocketed carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere by big margins. While the impact of changing the natural atmosphere greenhouse remains a challenge, there are some effects which seem likely like on average the Earth becomes warmer.

Climatic records indicate a warming trend. Even though climatic records show some acceleration as well as pauses in the rising trend, over the past three decades, it indicates that the Earth has been getting warmer as compared to past instrumental records which span as far as 1850 (Bristow & Ford, 2016). Moreover, going back further in time before the existence of accurate thermometers were in existence, temperatures could be reconstructed with the help of climate-sensitive indicators ("proxies") in materials like marine, ice cores and tree rings sediments. On comparing the proxy measurements with the thermometer records, it indicates that from the 1980s the Earth has been warmest in the last four decades. Indeed, many more impacts related to the warming trend are becoming evident over the recent past. For instance, the Arctic seasonal sea ice sheet has been intensely shrinking. Also, the amount of heat of the ocean has gone up with the average global sea level has increased by nearly 20 centimeters in the past decade. The reason for the rise in ocean level is said to be because of the enlargement of warmer ocean waters to the additional melting waters coming from the ice sheets and glaciers on land.

Analysis: Have these policies achieved their goals?

How to Determine the Efficiency of Low Carbon Policies

The transition to low-carbon societies can be realized through various ways like implementing technological policies which entail non-price control and putting a price on the discharge of greenhouse gases.

Technological Policies

The pricing of emissions is a significant approach that can be used to attain short-term decline in gases discharge possibilities, and the provision of incentives for technological advancement in case reduction targets are regarded as credible. In this sense, it means that policies are supposed to ensure that investment security by offering indicative reduction trajectories as a show of commitment. Unfortunately, due to the extra market imperfection, the pricing of greenhouse gases may not be suitable enough hence the need for additional regulation. On the same note, non-price controls operate at risk of introducing major inefficiencies because of information irregularities. Thus, there is a need to have a well-designed mix of greenhouse gases pricing and other regulatory instruments to fully address the extensive market of imperfections by ensuring cost-effective policy results. The introduction of new technologies is not restricted to the innovation company since the development of technology normally creates benefits to others. As a result, there is...