The 6th IPCC assessment report still suffers from the same fatal flaw that was in the first assessment report regarding greenhouse gases. It assumes greenhouse gases are additive when in fact it is impossible to absorb more energy than is available in any given energy band! This misunderstanding on how nature works leads to a gross misunderstanding of the importance of CO2 and Methane.
Here are their opinion on
One: Retire coal plants. As part of the Paris accord we are allowing China, India, South-east Asia, Africa and other developing countries to build coal plants until 2030, and we will have to pay for some of the expenses to make them cleaner. China alone is allowed to build over 1000 new coal plants. Right now China already exceeds the U.S. in coal fired electric generation per capita, and only U.S, the European Union, Oceania and Latin America are retiring coal plants. See Chart: See details here
Top line:China. next:The U.S. followed by India and South and East Asia,
Two: invest in clean energy. Wind and solar alone will not solve the problem since they are intermittent. They also require a large amount of mining of rare earth and other metals, the total life cycle cost must be included in any calculation. Only a Manhattan type project to facilitate the development of Thorium based nuclear power, and revamp the electric grid will suffice. See the advantages of Thorium nuclear power here
Three: Retrofit and decarbonize buildidngs. They probably mean to insulate old buildings and make more efficient heating and cooling systems, but decarbonize?
Four: Decarbonize cement, steel and plastics. Cement is made by decarbonizing limestone from CaCO3 to CaO, generating yearly about 7% of the world’s CO2. China alone produces over half of the world’s cement. Decarbonizing steel makes it iron, and there are very few uses for pure iron. I don’t understand how to decarbonize plastics.
Five: Shift to electric vehicles. This shift should occur as soon as nearly all coal fired plants have been decommissioned. Again small, sealed Thorium powered units should be used for trains and ships, and maybe even for cargo planes.
Six: Increase public transport, biking and walking. The most important thing about public transport, biking and walking is to make it safer. Lack of safety hinders its growth.
Seven: Decarbonize aviation and shipping. Ships, from Mississippi river size tugboats to large ships should be converted to nuclear. Aviation should be made nuclear in two steps. First make large cargo planes nuclear, then when safety records are established convert passenger traffic to nuclear. This may take some time since lightweight Thorium nuclear reactors are not developed yet.
Eight: Halt deforestation and restore degraded lands. Now we are talking. This is of utmost importance. Should have been number one.
Nine: Reduce food loss and waste and improve agricultural practices. This is why it is of utmost importance to reliably electrify the third world with reliable energy. Rotating and long blackouts are damaging to farming, ranching, the food supply and the economy.
Ten: Eat more plants and less meat. Don’t micromanage our eating habits. Let the farmers produce what the land will support and the people desire. This is the best way.
Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment. 