Energy in a Changing Climate

Abstract

Warming of Earth’s climate represents the “great challenge” of our times that may even undermine the subsistence of humankind on the planet. This paper reviews the causes and effects of climate change due to the anthropogenic activities. Since energy production constitutes the main source of climate-forcing anthropogenic emissions, a particular emphasis is given in the paper to the energy system transition to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement, the international treaty signed in 2015 under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, aimed at reducing the risks and effects of climate change on the global society.

Keywords

• climate change, anthropogenic emissions, energy system transition, IPCC, Paris agreement