What is it about?
All economic activities on a 5 km2 island have been converted into virtual CO₂ emissions. The aim was to reduce emissions to enable a sustainable transformation of the island's economy over 10 years. Investigated variables: 1. Net carbon storage of semi-natural ecosystems. 2. Diet of humans present on the island. 3. Use of fossil energy. 4. Demand for electricity. 5. Waste produced. 6. Transportation. Results: emissions could be reduced by 75% within 10 years, returning to levels seen in the 1960s. These reduced emissions would primarily result from three factors: the construction, operation, and recycling of solar panels (25% of emissions); food consumption by residents and tourists (60.5%); and tree planting, which would sequester 14.5% of emissions before reaching maturity.
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Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Our research offers a practical, direct example—a simulation based on real and objective data. In a geographically limited tourist area, a population prepared for change and employing new technologies could hope to reduce CO₂-equivalent emissions by up to 25%. The irreducible energy losses and the need to feed a dense human population would currently prevent going below this threshold.
Perspectives
The inhabitants of the island are using the transmitted data and implementing the project shown. The model mathematically adapted to the planet and its 8 billion inhabitants falls within the order of magnitude of the most optimistic models of the IPCC.
Augusto Zanella
Universita degli Studi di Padova
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Tackling climate change: The Albarella island example, PLOS Climate, June 2024, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pclm.0000418.
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