Global Work On Climate
The Threat to Earth
As GreenHouse Gases (GHG) are trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere, they are increasing the temperature of the Earth to an unsafe level.
GHGs consist mainly of CO2, methane and water vapor. Light from the sun heats the Earth, but GHGs block the flow of heat back into space, acting like a blanket that makes earth too warm. This has tipped us into the Climate Crisis we now face.
What we must do?
We must reduce, and eventually eliminate, the emission of these gasses. Since GHGs come mostly from burning fossil fuels to produce energy for our economy, we must find replacements for fossil fuels to produce our energy.
We must also find ways to remove most of the GHGs that have already been put into the atmosphere.
The vast majority of those GHGs are made up of CO2, or Carbon Dioxide. (1)
Who are the players dealing with the Climate Crisis?
International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) is a United Nations body that studies the climate conditions and advises the global community on the climate status and what needs to be done. (link)
National, State, and Regional Governments have not met the climate crisis challenge, except in a few cases. As a result, CO2 levels have not stopped rising. Strong decarbonization policies are needed.
Fossil Fuel Companies benefit financially from the status quo. They don’t have enough financial incentive to migrate to green fuel production, carbon capture and storage from point source emissions, or other alternatives to reduce their carbon footprint for different scopes. [2]
Clean Energy Companies & Climatechs manufacture equipment, design solutions and operate them to produce electricity & fuels with a low-carbon footprint, and also, avoiding, reducing or, sequestering GHGs from the atmosphere, ocean, or before being released into the atmosphere.
University labs and small companies making climate breakthroughs are the innovators and teams that the Army of Volunteers is determined to help. There are hundreds of them, and they give us hope that we will invent the technologies to reverse climate change. Most green technologies in several sectors of the economy are still being developed, but we believe collaborative work can pave the way for them to succeed
Consumers are all the people in the world who benefit from the use of energy or carbon-based byproducts – emphasis on those who will be more likely to suffer the consequences of climate change (Climate Injustice). [3]
What sectors of the economy need to change?
Across industries, we must stop burning fossil fuels and move to “Clean Energy’ – which is produced without emitting GHGs or decarbonizing every sector of the economy. [4]
See the suggestions below for changes that could be made.
Electricity Production-some ways to avoid the emission of greenhouse gases
Renewable energy methods are a much cleaner alternative. Learn how countries are transitioning to sustainable energy use at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Some of the most widely known methods:
- Solar panels: harness solar energy – radiation with photovoltaic cells to produce electricity
- Geothermal: mine thermal energy from hot geological spots located underground
- Wind and Tide Turbines: harness the kinetic energy of waves and wind to generate electricity
- Bioenergy – Biomass, RDF Renewable Natural Gas: decayed organic matter and crop residues or RDF (residue-derived fuel) can be used as fuel to produce electricity
- Energy storage: different battery concepts for storing energy to supply the grid
To be smart as we switch to new energy sources, we must concurrently assess any unintended trade offs life between the social, environmental, and economic impacts of these circular approaches. A UN program called the Life Cycle Initiative does just that.
Nuclear Reactors development times are very long. Also, the enriched uranium needed mainly comes from Russia, so availability is an issue.
Controlled Fusion of hydrogen to helium to produce energy is the holy grail of energy production. Hydrogen (deuterium isotope) is very plentiful. This form of energy production could fulfill the world’s energy needs for millennia – but it does not yet exist on Earth. The Fusion Industry Association endeavors to change that “in the next decade.”
Manufacturing
CO2 emissions can be eliminated from our manufacturing processes if clean energy is used to produce the electricity needed, and if heat is produced in a way that does not emit CO2 into the atmosphere. Also, some manufacturing can embed CO2 in a product, such as cement. The IEA (International Energy Association) tackles this issue via an “all-fuels, all-technology approach.”
Transportation
- Replace gasoline-burning cars and trucks with Electric Vehicles & develop power station infrastructure to charge EVs. Learn more at the Electrification Coalition.
- Power vehicles with fuel cells using green fuels (hydrogen carriers – methane, methanol, etc.) Learn more at the FCHEA (Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association).
- Capturing GHG gases in exhausters of heavy-duty vehicles and vessels.
- Improvement in motor performance and vehicle design framework to reduce weight and fluid friction (water or air resistance) – less fuel consumption.
- Adoption of biofuels like bioethanol or renewable natural gas as a substitute for fossil fuels Learn more at the Advanced Biofuel Association.
Agriculture
- Practice regenerative agriculture.
- Development of soil carbon sequestration techniques.
- Use electric-powered farm vehicles and machinery.
- Reduce methane emissions from manure by modifying their cattle’s diet.
- Usage of crop residues as biomaterials for many applications or as bioenergy fuel.
Buildings
- Replace gas heat with electrical & develop and connect buildings to a smart-grid.
- Use reflective paint to reduce the need for cooling in hot weather the same as green walls.
- Use of biomaterials as building blocks and sustainable insulation materials
- The usage of low-carbon cement and CO2 embedded in the concrete. Learn more at the World Green Building Council..
How To remove Greenhouse gases from the Atmosphere- Some Ideas
Nature-based solutions: reforestation and forest conservation are substantial ways to reduce the CO2 in the atmosphere. It also includes the protection and regeneration of wetlands, peatlands, mangroves, and general carbon sinks. Learn more at the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).
Ocean Carbon Sequestration (blue carbon):
- Ocean Fertilization & Ocean Alkalinization – reducing CO2 dissolved in seawater (carbonic acid) allowing the ocean to sink more CO2 from the atmosphere Learn more at Ocean Visions.
Soil Carbon Sequestration:
- Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) & Improved Soil Biota – dispersed crushed rocks like silicates and selected biota helps the soil and vegetation to fix CO2 as solid carbon Learn more at the Soil Carbon Initiative.
Direct Air Capture (DAC):
- Big fans sucking up air to sort CO2 from it. After capturing CO2, it’s possible to store it underground or use it by producing e-chemicals. Learn more at the Direct Air Capture Coalition.
Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) & Biochar:
- Crop residues can be processed thermally through pyrolysis for producing biochar or via incineration with carbon capture from flue gas and storage. Both solutions aim to avoid that carbon going back into the atmosphere by making them stable for centuries. Learn more at Biochar International.
Use CO2 rather than emitting it into the atmosphere:
- Grow algae
- Produce methanol & other e-fuels
- Produce carbon nanotubes
- Produce biodegradable textiles
- Produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
- Production of e-chemicals in general Learn more about greenhouse gas removal. [5]
Some Conclusions
- Climate Change is accelerating and is an existential threat to the human race, and all living things.
- Despite knowing the risk, governments and fossil fuel companies have failed to do what’s necessary. CO2 emissions are still rising, not falling.
- University research groups and small companies are making many climate breakthroughs, which gives us hope. AofV will promote them.
- Many of the current green technologies are still being developed and tested – for example, carbon capture, usage, and storage (CCUS) ones. Yet, they will be a good asset in the years to come, helping the global effort to address the Paris Agreement and meet Net-Zero by 2050.
- Due to cost-effectiveness, CCUS technologies still require Green Premiums to make their solutions or byproducts (e-chemicals) competitive compared to fossil fuels-based byproducts currently available in the marketplace. Learm about the Green Premium.
In order to avoid the global temperature increase and consequent climate catastrophe which may be irreversible (see tipping points), the world will need more drastic (see geoengineering at Oxford Martin School) solutions to prevent massive human extinction.
Sources
[1] Net-Zero Coalition. United Nations – Climate. Accessed May 24, 2023: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/net-zero-coalition
[2] Simon Read, “What is the difference between Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, and what are companies doing to cut all three?”, Sept 20, 2022. World Economic Forum. Accessed May 24, 2023: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/09/scope-emissions-climate-greenhouse-business
[3] Cristina Colón, “What is Climate Justice? And what can we do to achieve it?” – Recap and reflections from UNICEF’s Climate Justice Roundtable. UNICEF. Accessed May 24, 2023: https://www.unicef.org/globalinsight/what-climate-justice-and-what-can-we-do-achieve-it
[4] “DOE Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap”. Department of Energy (the U.S.) – Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. Accessed May 24, 2023: https://www.energy.gov/eere/doe-industrial-decarbonization-roadmap
[5] “Greenhouse Gas Removal”, Sept 12, 2018. The Royal Society. Accessed May 24, 2023: https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/greenhouse-gas-removal/
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