Mitigation: general background from the IPCC
The following is taken from the IPCC Working group III report on Mitigation.

Mitigation entails all human interventions that reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases (adapted from the IPCC definition). When considering options for mitigation activity, certain key factors should be recognised and these have been described by the IPCC as the 'nature of the mitigation challenge':

1. Climate change is a problem with unique characteristics: it is global, long-term and involves complex interactions between climatic, environmental, economic, political, institutional, social and technological processes. Developing a response to it involves decision-making under uncertainty and risk.

2. Alternative development paths can result in very different greenhouse gas emissions. The type, magnitude, timing and costs of mitigation depend on different national circumstances and socio-economic and technological development paths and the desired level of greenhouse gas stabilisation in the atmosphere. Important to note is that development paths leading to low emissions depend on a wide range of policy choices and require major policy changes in areas other than climate change.

3. Climate change mitigation will both be affected by, and have impacts on, broader socio-economic policies and trends, such as those relating to development, sustainability and equity.

4. Differences in the distribution of technological, natural and financial resources among and within nations and regions, and between generations, as well as differences in mitigation costs, are often key considerations in the analysis of climate change mitigation options. Much of the debate about the future differentiation of contributions of countries to mitigation and related equity issues also considers these circumstances.

5. Lower emissions scenarios require different patterns of energy resource development. If lower emissions are to be achieved, it is likely that this will require a change in the energy mix and the introduction of new sources of energy during the 21st century. The choice of energy mix and associated investment will determine whether (and if so, at what level and cost), greenhouse concentrations can be stabilized. Currently most such investment is directed towards discovering and developing more conventional and unconventional fossil resources.

More information can be gained from the full IPCC Working Group III report on mitigation

Mitigation - in South Africa

As a developing country, South Africa is not obliged to reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases. Thus, most work done in this area has been in exploratory studies.

The South African Country Studies Programme: Mitigating Options Project, investigated possible mitigating options that could be implemented and the impact of thee options and scenarios on the macro-economic situation in South Africa. The outcome of this project is intended to assist policy makers in developing future strategies, and to highlight opportunities for the development and improvement of efficiency and skills, especially in the sphere of technology transfer. The future approach to reducing emissions will be based on a holistic evaluation of the options taking into account life-cycle assessments, the impact of implementing the options on the macro-economy, as well as other national priorities.

Mitigation issues across the following sectors are discussed below: Electricity; Liquid Fuels and Gas; Commercial and Residential; Transport; Mining; Industrial.

Electricity
The energy sector is the largest single source of greenhouse gases in South Africa. Integrated energy planning at the national level should ensure the optimum overall mix of energy sources, with clean coal technologies expected to be part of such a mix for the medium-term future. Technologies currently being investigated include:

• Renewable energy sources (such as hydroelectric power, wind power, solar power and biomass)
  
• Non-greenhouse gas emitting energy sources – such as nuclear power.
  

Technologies are also being investigated and developed to make coal power stations less polluting and more efficient.

Peaks in electricity demand can also be reduced by management of the demand for energy and providing electricity more efficiently – by introducing new supply technologies and adjusting pricing policies. There is also potential for importing energy, such as gas and hydroelectricity, from other countries in the region.

A White Paper on the Promotion of Renewable Energy and Clean Energy Development is being drafted in order to present and discuss the Government’s goals and objectives for renewable energy. White Paper on Renewable Energy
This policy commits the government to a number of enabling actions to ensure that renewable energy becomes a significant part of its energy portfolio over the next ten years.

Liquid Fuels, Natural Gas and Synthetic Gas
Mitigating options were considered for both the refining of crude oil and the production of synthetic fuel. One mitigating option would be to import refined petroleum products and not to build additional refinery capacity. It is estimated that during the period 2000 – 2030, a total reduction of 103 331 Gg of carbon dioxide equivalent could be achieved with this mitigating option. In the synthetic fuel production industry, the substitution of 10% coal consumption with natural gas would result in a total reduction of 168 331 Gg of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Commercial and Residential
Mitigation in the commercial and residential sectors mainly involves using energy more efficiently or fuel switching. The most effective option to reduce emissions in the residential sector is to convert to solar heating which would achieve a total reduction of 88 000 Gg of CO2 during the period 2000 – 2030. In the commercial sector, the greatest reduction of emissions could be achieved by the implementation of energy efficient buildings, achieving a total reduction of 88 000 Gg over a thirty year period.

Transport
At present the transport sector accounts of 1/10 of South Africa’s greenhouse gas emissions. It is expected that a greater impact in reducing greenhouse gas emissions will be achieved by implementing a range of mitigating options rather than introducing only one of the options. For example, over a period of 30 years: imposition of a fuel tax would achieve a total reduction of 45 498 Gg; improved fuel efficiencies would reduce emissions by approx 143 000 Gg; fuel switching could reduce emissions by 148 225 Gg; travel demand management could reduce emissions by 33 854 Gg; mode switching could reduce emissions by 42 856Gg.

Mining
In the coal industry, methane emissions are directly linked to the volume of coal mined and the methods used in the mining. Mitigation can be achieved either by reducing the emissions at source or removing the emitted material before it escapes into the environment. Possible options for reducing these emissions include: adopting higher extraction ratios; underground and ash filling; extraction of remnant pillars; improved coal washing; improved combustion technology to burn discards; removal of emitted methane prior to mining; catalytic combustion of methane.

Industrial
Potential mitigating options considered feasible for implementation during the period up to 2030 in the industrial sector include the following initiatives:

• Cement Industry: this industry has already started to reduce emissions by implementing a strategy of using industrial waste products in combination with cement and reducing energy consumption. Energy savings can also be achieved with the addition of a high efficiency classifier that separates out the fine products and thus prevents over-grinding. The cement industry expects to see the clinker content of all cementations binders used in 2030 to be about 60%
  
• Ferroalloys: Optimisation of the process conditions could result in a maximum reduction of emissions by 3.5% by the year 2015. The long terms option is to recover the carbon monoxide off-gas from the furnace to pre-heat the raw materials or to generate electricity. The maximum reduction efficiency with this option would be 7%.
  
• Chemical Industry: It is expected that new production technology will become cleaner technology that will minimize greenhouse gases. Energy consumption in this sector is receiving attention and improvements in energy efficiency may be possible, particularly at the level of steam production.
  
• Pulp and Paper: Upgrading or replacing recovery boilers increases the boiler capacity and the energy values of higher black-liquor solids. More feasible options include efficiency improvements (e.g. long-nip press) and recycling of paper.
  
• Aluminium Industry: Substituting raw materials with secondary materials (recycled material) can reduce energy consumption during the production of aluminium by up to 95%.
  

Agricultural
Options for mitigation in this sector include: optimization of herd composition and feed intake (this could achieve a reduction of 207 756 Gg); manure management (this could reduce emissions by 49 817 Gg); reduced burning of agricultural residues (this could reduce emissions by 9 120 Gg); reduced frequency of fires (this could rescue emissions by 22 200 Gg); promoting savannah thickening (this could reduce emissions by 237 000 Gg); and increasing forestation (this could reduce emissions by 116 100 Gg).