Review: The Energy Implications of Averting Climate Change Catastrophe

Patrick Moriarty and Damon Honnery
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Patrick Moriarty: Department of Design, Monash University, Caulfield Campus, P.O. Box 197, Caulfield East, VIC 3145, Australia
Damon Honnery: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton Campus, P.O. Box 31, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 17, 1-16

Abstract: Conventional methods of climate change (CC) mitigation have not ‘bent the curve’ of steadily rising annual anthropic CO 2 emissions or atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. This study reviews the present position and likely future of such methods, using the recently published literature with a global context. It particularly looks at how fast they could be implemented, given the limited time available for avoiding catastrophic CC (CCC). This study then critically examines solar geoengineering, an approach often viewed as complementary to conventional mitigation. Next, this review introduces equity considerations and shows how these even further shorten the available time for effective action for CC mitigation. The main findings are as follows. Conventional mitigation approaches would be implemented too slowly to be of much help in avoiding CCC, partly because some suggested technologies are infeasible, while others are either of limited technical potential or, like wind and solar energy, cannot be introduced fast enough. Due to these problems, solar geoengineering is increasingly advocated for as a quick-acting and effective solution. However, it could have serious side effects, and, given that there would be winners and losers at the international level as well as at the more regional level, political opposition may make it very difficult to implement. The conclusion is that global energy consumption itself must be rapidly reduced to avoid catastrophic climate change, which requires strong policy support.

Keywords: climate change; climate equity; energy equity; energy reductions; fossil fuels; global sustainability; policy changes; renewable energy; technological optimism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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