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M.Sc. Report Proposal

Making sense of year marked as “No climate change year

2050” by considering zero carbon emissions
Submitted by

Name: Zain ul abedin

Registration No: 2016-MS-CH-50

Status: Full time

Date of Registration:

Supervisor

Department of Chemical Engineering

University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore

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Table of contents
1. Title page ………………………………………………………………….…………1
2. Table of content …………………………………………….…….……….…………2
3. Abstract…………………………………………...……………………….………….3
4. Scope of Study of impacts of zero carbon emissions…....……………….…………..4
 Transportation and technological changes.………………………/……….….4
 Social and economic changes……………………………...……….…………5
 Policy implications at local and international level…………..…….…………6
5. References………………………..………………………………………….…..…….7

Abstract
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Climate Change was real and happening back then in 2019 from shifting weather patterns that
threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the
impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. Without drastic action
back then and adapting to these impacts in the future will be more difficult and costly. After
more than a century and a half of industrialization, deforestation, and large scale agriculture,
quantities of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have risen to record levels not seen in three
million years.
As populations, economies and standards of living grow, so does the cumulative level of
greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions. Oceans have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have
diminished and the sea level has risen. From 1901 to 2010, the global average sea level rose by
19 cm (united nation climate change) as oceans expanded due to warming and ice melted. The
sea ice extent in the Arctic has shrunk in every successive decade since 1979, with 1.07 × 106
km² of ice loss per decade. From 1880 to 2012, the average global temperature increased by
0.85°C. by 2100, global sea level rise would be 10 cm lower with global warming of 1.5°C
(1)compared with 2°C. The likelihood of an Arctic Ocean free of sea ice in summer would be
once per century with global warming of 1.5°C, compared with at least once per decade with
2°C. Coral reefs would decline by 70-90 percent with global warming of 1.5°C, whereas
virtually all (> 99 percent) would be lost with 2ºC.
We needed more concrete plans, more ambition from more countries and more businesses. We
needed all financial institutions, public and private, to choose, once and for all, the green
economy (UNEP). World has marked and celebrated this year as ZERO CARBON EMISSION
& NO CLIMATE CHANGE YEAR. In 2050 people have now resorted towards sustainable and
bio-degradable energy resources. Renewable energy resources, green cities, sustainable
development, mindful consumption and net zero carbon emission are not something one
envisions to see in future its already done and pragmatically implemented.
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Scope of Study of impacts of zero carbon emission to reach no climate change

year 2050

Technological changes

Solar energy producing self-sufficiency at domestic level:

There are basically six energy sources in this world and most productive of all is sun radiations
which we can use for our energy production direct in the form of radiations and indirect as waves
and wind. Now in 2050 with improved solar cell technology and energy efficient electronic
devices we are self-sustained. Now houses are not dependent upon centralized energy systems
but energy production has been decentralized in literal terms. Every house being a power plant is
producing its own electricity and through net metering excess is being added to centralized
system where anyone can pay for that clean energy and use it. That’s how no carbon emissions
are being carried out and incidentally no change on our surrounding environment. Let if we
consider house a close system and calculate its net output in terms of CO2 emissions then houses
in 2050 are producing zero net output:

1. Heating & cooling: It is done using materials which are of natural origins and produces
Green carbon
2. Household electric appliances: Homes are self-sufficient in terms of electric power
generation by employing more efficient and less expensive solar panels.

Transportation changes

Means of transportation:

Biggest source of carbon emissions or climate change in 2019 was transportation gaseous
effluents. Burning of fossil fuel caused accumulation of huge amount of carbon and its products
in our environment but now in 2050 people mostly use bio fuel extracted from bio degradable
energy resources thus maintain natural order of carbon cycle. These bio fuels do not produce
carbon or if they produce it does not alter the natural order of environmental carbon cycle. The
term “biofuels” (Abraham) has many meanings, but basically they are grown fuels (like corn
ethanol) that we can use instead of fossil fuels (like petroleum). While biofuels can be any fuel
produced from plant material, historically they have been produced from food crops such as corn
and soy. But, new technologies are enabling biofuel production from non-edible gases, wood,
and other plant waste material. The beauty of biofuels is that they suck carbon dioxide out of the
air as they grow. When we burn them in our automobiles, we release carbon dioxide, but it is the
same carbon that the plants absorbed while growing. Just on that basis, biofuels appear to be zero
net emitters. People in 2050 are now using biofuels as their main alternative for fossil fuels thus
affecting almost none to the environment.
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Social changes:

With the use of more efficient and domestically substantive equipment’s of capitulating solar
radiations and converting it into green energy or electricity people are living in decentralized
cities with less crowded roads and neighborhoods. Human settlements as a whole saw a huge
change in its dimensions. With equated energy availability people are less forced towards
deforestation and reforestation at sustainable rate is being carried out. This has helped the
environment in two ways first due to change in patterns of human settlements over all albedo of
earth has been restored second forestation helped to remove excessive carbon from the
environment. People are less poor more self-sufficient both in terms of means of production and
consumption.

1. Mindful consumption : people are more keen towards source of products they are
consuming whether its decomposition is causing green carbon or fossil carbon and are
avoiding products which produces fossil carbon.
2. Raised living standards: with more resources at hand to consume as a result of self-
sufficiency in terms of electricity production people can now spend this amount over
raising their own living standards through better education and better amenities.
3. Less poverty and crime in society: people are less poor and there is less crime in society
as a whole.

Changes in economy:
Economies have become more sensitive towards their spending and adopted the scope of
consequentialism in this regard i.e. what does their spending casts affects over environment. World
economies have turned their area of attention towards sustainable and renewable energy resources
producing zero carbon emissions and maintaining healthy carbon cycle as a result.
The three main areas for the current work on Green Economy (UNEP) are:
1. Advocacy of macro-economic approach to sustainable economic growth through regional, sub-
regional and national fora.
2. Demonstration of Green Economy approaches with a central focus on access to green finance,
technology and investments
3. Support to countries in terms of development and mainstreaming of macro-economic policies to
support the transition to a Green Economy

A decarbonizing economy would of course have to involve changes in patterns of consumption,

whether induced by government policy and price increases, or chosen by consumers through
changing mores. Such basic individual and broad cultural changes that affect consumption have
been promoted by a variety of social movements, religious actors, and celebrities. These all
efforts when combined and worked coherently produce no climate change. In addition to
Governments and not-for-profit organizations, UN Environment has increased its engagement
with the private sector – which is a very important actor in promoting resource efficiency and
green economy.
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Policy implications at governmental and international levels:

1. Set local emissions goals: Passing the resolution provided the opportunity and, arguably,
the imperative to integrate emissions impacts into all township decision-making. By setting
such a goal at the local level, governments can figure out what solutions fit their
community’s needs and work within their state’s legislative landscape. 100 percent (post)
wind power, designing a LEED Gold public works building, working on zoning changes to
incentivize green building, low-impact storm water infrastructure, and working with local
school kids, teachers and families to plant trees.
2. Encourage electric vehicles: Getting more electric vehicles on the road requires expanded
federal tax credits and making them available for buyers when they’re at the car dealership,
rather than in their tax returns the following year. This would help more low- and middle-
income car buyers make the jump to electric.
3. Be smart about nuclear power: Keep safely operating nuclear plants running until they
can be replaced by other low-carbon technologies. To help preserve existing nuclear power
— and boost investments in renewables and energy efficiency — the federal governments
and states should establish a carbon price or a low-carbon electricity standard. These
policies would help level the playing field for low-carbon technologies by incorporating the
cost of climate-change-related damage into the price of fossil fuels.
4. Incentivize carbon farming: Carbon farming improves soil health and productivity,
thereby maximizing crop yields. It also increases soil resilience and reduces the need for
pesticides. planting cover crops that increase water retention and soil nutrients and keep
weeds down; using no-till approaches that limit aeration of surface soils and reduce erosion;
and planting diverse perennial forages with deeper root systems for grazing animals. Longer
root systems increase organic matter (carbon-based molecules) in the soil. These practices
could have a huge impact on our emissions: Project Drawdown estimates that widespread
adoption of these types of practices could reduce carbon-dioxide emissions by 23.2 gigatons
(post).
5. Adopt a carbon tax: Carefully crafted, a carbon price can strengthen our economy, reduce
emissions and encourage innovation. Revenue raised would then be used to robustly fund
other nation’s infrastructure, help coastal communities adapt to the immediate effects of
climate change and give low-income dejected poor and displaced workers assistance in the
transition.
6. Open electric markets to competition: Introducing more competition into the electric
system would help speed the transition to cleaner energy. And even where states might not
be ready to embrace full restructuring, smaller steps can still help. states may consider
creating an exemption to the typical monopoly restrictions for customers who want to buy
100 percent renewable electricity on the open market. Reducing emissions from the power
sector is a critical part of the response to climate change, and electric competition needs to
be a part of that conversation.
7. Pass a Green New Deal: a broad and ambitious package of policies and investments that
would put millions to work transforming our economy away from fossil fuels restoring the
global landscape and ensuring that everyone has clean air and water, all in ways that
prioritize justice and equity and grow the economy.
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References
1. “Climate Change.” United Nations, United Nations,
https://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/climate-change/.
2. “Climate Change - United Nations Sustainable Development.” United Nations, United
Nations, https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climate-change/.
3. “Green Economy & Climate Change.” GlobalCAD,
https://globalcad.org/en/expertise/green-economy-climate-
change/?fbclid=IwAR2GAzd6i8C_PmaJ4CMXHp8olg0bXYdOouhOPOVLDILmbFfsx8
szCYDCAAE.
4. Abraham, John. “Biofuels Can Help Solve Climate Change, Especially with a Carbon
Tax | John Abraham.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 14 Mar. 2018,
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-
cent/2018/mar/14/biofuels-can-help-solve-climate-change-especially-with-a-carbon-
tax?fbclid=IwAR04-
0igY3pv5WtF_jaiZoEhgQLxmPSQzVabwSwkFFQ43ZueIpKmAuPK_Ag.
5. “Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet.” NASA, NASA,
https://climate.nasa.gov/?fbclid=IwAR072IfyMBEGEwAeATcWz6VGyUt2Fbcln5pp6I3
QBw6a905PLZiLXFNzXF4.
6. Weisman, Alan. The World Without Us. Virgin Digital, 2012.