How can these CO2 emissions be reduced to meet the desired emissions reductions targets?
The emissions cuts that the IPCC have indicated to avert the worst effects of climate change are substantial – 50-80% reductions from today’s levels, and in a world which is continually developing and requiring more energy. There is therefore no one existing ‘magic bullet’ technology or new technology such as nuclear fission that can solve the whole problem of CO2 emission reductions. There is a variety of emission reduction strategies that can be pursued now, using existing technologies, that can provide energy but in line with emission levels reductions. These fall under four main banners: energy efficiency and conservation measures, fossil-fuel based switching and CCS measures, renewable energies and nuclear.
