Cumulative carbon and its implications What they could agree in Paris… Myles Allen Environmental Change Institute & Oxford Martin Programme on Resource Stewardship School of Geography and the Environment & Department of Physics University of Oxford
[email protected] Cumulative emissions of CO2 largely determine global mean surface warming by the late 21st century and beyond RCP8.5 Total human-induced RCP6 warming RCP4.5 RCP3PD CO2-induced warming IPCC WGI SPM Fig. 10 SPM Fig. IPCCWGI Observed 2000s ) ï High level of agreement on the global-scale warming response to rising greenhouse gas levels 5-95% range from Lewis and Curry, 1.5 2014 1 Probability / Relative Frequency (°C ) ï 5-95% ranges on Black histogram Transient Climate CMIP5 models 0.5 Dashed lines Response from AR4 studies various studies Fig. TS.TFE6.2 0 1.50 1 2 3 4 Transient Climate Response (°C) 1 Probability / Relative Frequency (°C Black histogram CMIP5 models 0.5 Dashed lines AR4 studies 0 0 1 2 3 4 Transient Climate Response (°C) Cumulative emissions and fossil carbon reserves Past emissions,Estimated conventional fossil and land-useUnconventional reserves change reserves Cumulative emissions and fossil carbon reserves Must be sequestered or recaptured to meet 2oC goal Cost of mitigation scenarios likely to meet the 2oC goal (normalized250 NPV) 200 Percent NPV 150 relative to standard 100 scenario 50 0 Adapted from IPCC WGIII Fig. 6.24 Why is CCS so important? Why is CCS so important? Underlying economic productivity of carbon > €1000/tCO2e Why is CCS so important? The Kaya Identity: Carbon emissions = Population x consumption per capita x energy intensity of consumption x carbon intensity of energy Population and consumption are usually taken as given.