[ad_1]
The world faces an environmental crisis that is growing fast. Rising levels CO2global warming, the acidification and destruction of ecosystems globally, are the results. Worse, these changes have caused feedback mechanisms that are making matters worse. Climate Change is a major problem. Existential threatThis requires action.
The Climate Change Report regularly catalogues the extent and dangers of climate change. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This United Nations body was set up to provide regular scientific assessments and notify policymakers of future changes. It also recommends adaptation and mitigation options.
But is that enough? Adaptation, or mitigation, means limiting the damage to the environment and dealing with any challenges that may arise. There is a growing movement to add restoration to Climate Change Action. We should not limit or absorb the damage but reverse it.
Since carbon dioxide emissions are the main cause of climate change, restoration strategies require the active removal CO.2Carbon Dioxide Removal is a process to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. CDR could be the key to preventing ecological catastrophes in the 21st century.
The following organization is looking to make this happen: Foundation for Climate RestorationF4CR is a non-profit, non-partisan organization located in Silicon Valley. They are working to increase awareness, promote innovation and help entrepreneurs find markets. Their goal is to mobilize the human race and its resources for the common goal of saving Earth.
Climate Change: The Threat
Since its inception in 1988, the IPCC issued numerous Assessment Reports and Special Reports. The IPCC has issued multiple Assessment Reports and Special Reports since its inception in 1988. Fifth Assessment Report(AR5) was the latest, issued in 2014 and will soon be followed by AR6September 2022. Each Working Group produces data and findings that are specific to a different aspect.
Working Group I(WGI), examines the physical science that underpins climate change in the past, present, or future. WGIIIt is responsible to assess the impacts, adaptation, as well as vulnerabilities, related to climate change. WGIIIThis report focuses on the evaluation of methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and remove greenhouse gases.
These reports are intended to show how industrialized countries around the globe need to take climate action to limit global temperatures exceeding a certain threshold. According to the AR5, average global temperatures will rise by 2.7 to 3.6 ºF (1.5 ºC to 2 ºC) by 2030, depending on atmospheric CO2 levels.
Atmospheric carbon could be reduced by 50% if industrialized nations around the world can reduce their annual emission by 50 percent2These levels can be maintained between 430 to 480 gigatons. This will mean that the average temperature increase between now and 2030 will be limited to 2.7 ºF (1.5 ºC). A change of this magnitude will still cause significant ecological, economic and humanitarian crises.
At the Earth’s mid-latitudes, the hottest days will be up to 5.4 ºF (3 ºC) hotter, while at higher latitudes, the coldest nights will be roughly 8 °F (4.5 °C) warmer. In the Arctic, temperatures will warm by about 10 °F (5.5 °C), and cold spells will be shorter, which means the polar caps will continue to shrink, and the oceans will absorb more heat come summer!
It is also Estimate that an average increase of 14 percent of Earth’s population will be exposed to severe heat waves at least once every five years. Heatwaves will also lead to severe droughts in many parts the world, which will have a devastating impact on agriculture and increase water stress in urban areas.
This will result in an increase of “excess deaths” due to heat stroke, starvation or exposure, as well as airborne diseases. It will also cause conflict in certain areas, especially in the equatorial region of the planet. As the local population finds it too difficult to live, mass migrations are likely.
As the Syrian Civil WarThe most recent Southern Border CrisisAs anyone who has witnessed mass migration of people across national borders can lead to humanitarian crises, they will be able to attest. This is especially true when countries decide to close their borders or harden their hearts against migrants seeking refuge within their country.
Is Net-zero too little?
The IPCC’s most recent report called for drastic cuts in CO2 emissions. It also provided a timeline for actions. According to the report, global catastrophe can be avoided if emissions are reduced by 50% by 2050. Even if we achieve that, it will not be enough to prevent catastrophe for millions of people around the world.
To make matters worse, reducing emissions at this point will have very little overall impact. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), the excess CO in excess of hundreds of billions of tonnes2This will drive climate change AlreadyOur atmosphere. Even “net-zero” CO emissions (where CO is not present) are affected.2It will not suffice to prevent catastrophe if emissions are reduced to zero by 2030.
There is a growing movement to develop “net-negative” strategies, technologies, and strategies. Climate Restoration is a complementary strategy to strategies for adaptation and mitigation. Unfortunately, Restoration efforts are not an integral part of efforts to combat Climate Change.
Terry Mollner, a veteran citizen lobbyist, and Peter Fiekowsky were the ones who created the 2017 Veteran Citizen Lobbyists Act. Foundation for Climate Restoration(F4CR), to promote Climate Restoration Strategies through education and outreach efforts, and foster partnerships between innovators, governments, and entrepreneurs.
Their efforts are representative the growing effort to integrate restoration efforts with renewable energies and sustainable development. According to the F4CR’s White Paper, the situation is akin to a flooded bathtub.
We must “turn off” the tap by drastically reducing carbon emissions and urgently working towards a net zero future. However, if we are to reverse global warming, it is necessary to remove the “flood”, of carbon that has been building up in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution. This is the only method to return our climate to safe levels.
“In light of these facts, the emerging field in climate restoration has set a lofty goal: to ensure humanity’s survival by restoring atmospheric CO2To safe, preindustrial levels by 2050. This must be done in conjunction to mitigation and adaptation. We cannot avoid the hard work required to decarbonize our economy, transition to clean energy, adapt to rising sea levels, and reduce carbon emissions. We must work together to implement climate restoration, adaptation, mitigation.
F4CR and all other restoration efforts aim to reduce atmospheric CO2 to pre-industrial levels by 2050. Multiple evidence points to the fact that atmospheric CO existed before the Industrial Revolution (1750-1850).2The levels were below 300 parts per Million (ppm).
The NOAA announced in 2020 that atmospheric CO would be reduced by 5%.2Levels had reached a Record high for 412.5 ppmDespite the economic slowdown caused the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mid-Pliocene Era (ca. 3 million years ago) when global temperatures were 3.6°–5.4°F (2°–3°C) warmer, and sea levels were 50–80 ft (15–25 m) higher than the pre-industrial average.
F4CR CEO Rick Wayman stated that climate restoration is not currently included in the global climate action plan. It should be!
“The current goals that are outlined in these international documents and processes – such as the Paris Agreement, IPCC reports etc. – are currently being outlined in these international process and documents. – are centered on 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius as the limit. But it’s not clear that there is any thought about “can humanity survive in these conditions?” We’re already seeingIt is significantly lower than that level. It’s difficult for many people to even survive or thrive.
“Adaptation and mitigation must occur. No question about it! We are saying that we must walk and chew gum simultaneously. While we are focusing on mitigation and adaptation, it is also important to research, test, invest, innovate, and put in place policy mechanisms for gigaton-scale carbon emission reduction.
“These things take time. We can’t wait for net-zero emissions to be achieved and then begin to think about carbon dioxide reduction or restoration. We must all work together. That’s something that we believe strongly in – giving everyone a focus of an end goal that we’re much more likely to thrive as a civilization.”
Mitigation vs. Restoration
Biomimicry, technology that imitates natural processes and nature, is an essential part of CC/CDR. Natural carbon sequestration is responsible for Earth’s stable climate. This happens because ecological and geological processes have absorbed and then reintroduced CO.2In the atmosphere. This has allowed the global temperature to maintain certain levels over time for many eons.
The Carbon CycleAs it is known, carbon is made up of the following: Carbon “sinks” are composed of rocks and sediments (forming “carbonates”), and living organisms which absorb it from the atmosphere. This carbon is stored in the Earth by geological activity.
This CO is produced during periods of volcanic activity along faultlines and “cones,” (volcanic islands).2is re-released to the atmosphere together with other gases – such as sulfur dioxide (SO).2). The decay of organic material, respiration, and other processes release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.2Produced
This cycle is the result billions of years worth of terrestrial evolution. It ensures that CO2 levels stay stable. There is no waste and no excess. However, humans have been disrupting this cycle by consuming fossil energy (organic matter that was broken down and kept underground) since the Industrial Age (and possibly earlier!)
Many CC techniques mirror this process by scrubbing CO2From the atmosphere and then It should be kept underground again. Others try to use the captured carbon products for agriculture, reforestation and restoration of natural vegetation and greenspaces (known to be biosequestration).
Other operations also use the carbon captured to generate. bioenergy or to make biofuels. This is where carbon is captured by biomass (algae and cyanobacteria), plants, and so on. Which absorbs CO2Through photosynthesis. The biomass can be used to extract heat and energy through combustion, fermentation, or other biochemical processes. This can be used to create electricity or cleaner-burning fuels like biodiesel, ethanol or methanol.
CC methods are used to capture CO2CDR methods remove existing emissions before they enter the atmosphere. CC is not a net-negative technology because it is focused on capturing new emission. CDR is the best option for Climate Restoration because it is the only method to deal with legacy emissions.
Preventing a Climate Change Disaster means that 95 percent must be removed by 2050 from carbon emissions that have been burned. The F4CR states that this requires the use of CDR in conjunction to net-zero emission measures to eliminate one trillion tons (or one thousand gigatons) by mid-century. As Wayman summarized:
“We believe we must remove fifty gigatons per year over the twenty-year period 2030-2050. We see the decade we are in now as the scale up period, where innovation, testing, and so on will be taking place. It is necessary that this happens by 2030. [we need]to reach what we call the “restoration scaling”, where about fifty gigatons of CO are being emitted annually. This would amount to one trillion tons CO over a twenty-year span.2.”
There are many options for technology and methods that could be used to accomplish this task.
Notable examples
CDR is one example. ClimeWorks’ OrcaFacility Capture Directly from the Air(DAC) plant in Reykjavik Iceland that was operational in September 2021. This facility, as well as future Climeworks ones, uses an industrial select filter process to absorb CO2 gas from the atmosphere.
The CO is then released by heating the filters.2In high purity and concentrations, it is then mixed with water, and pumped underground where it will react quickly with basalt rock to create carbonate rock. The operation is powered using natural geothermal power, which harnesses heat from the planet’s core to generate electricity.
Iceland’s volcanic activity makes this an abundant energy source. Similar operations could also be built anywhere there is volcanic activity, such as East Asia, the Central and South Pacific and Alaska, or Antarctica.
There are also carbon capture operations that can be adapted to urban living. For example, you can find the Manuel Gea González HospitalMexico City was designated the most polluted megacity of the world in 1992. The hospital was expanded in 2013 with a facade designed and built by Elegant EmbellishmentsBerlin
This approximately 26,910 square feet (2,500 m)2) façade consists of modules coated with a special pigment known as prosolve370e. This pigment absorbs ultraviolet light and then breaks down the air pollution into CO when exposed to it.2Water and other liquids. These can then be used to make biofuels.
There’s also the Palazzo ItaliaThis building was unveiled at 2015 Milan Expo. The most striking feature of this building is its organic-looking facade, which resembles tree branches. This concrete cladding, which is made from 80 percent recycled materials, captures urban pollution by adding titanium dioxide.
Similar to prosolve370e this substance uses solar energy for oxidizing reagents and breaking down CO2Effectively cleaning the air. Another innovative concept is “The “artificial treeCC, a type that relies on a variety of methods to remove CO2Urban environments are the best source of all – they are the most important!
One of the most well-known examples of this is the idea created by physicists as well as engineers. Klaus LacknerDirector of the Center for Negative Carbon EmissionsProfessor at Arizona State University. Lackner and his colleagues from ASU have created the following over the past ten year: Mechanical Tree™, which uses a Special resinThat removes CO21000 times more efficient from the air It is more expensive than real trees.
Another option, as suggested by researchers from the Institution of Mechanical EngineersIn London, UK, you can install “Alga-based photobioreactors” on buildings. These are containers containing algae that absorb carbon dioxide.2Photosynthesis is a way to make oxygen from the air. There are even plans for introducing genetically-engineered plants TreesTo enhance photosynthesis properties
But not all methods are equally economically viable, which limits their use. To be economically viable, a method must be available, scalable and marketable.
The economics of CC or CDR
When it comes down to it, economics is a necessity. Solutions to the climate crisis won’t be found if they don’t. The challenge facing the industrialized nations of the world is to remove 50 GT CO.2Each year, approximately one trillion tons are removed from the atmosphere.
The cost of carbon trapping is currently $600 per tonne. That means that the industrialized nations of the world would need to spend $30 trillion annually. To give you an idea how much that is, the entire Gross Domestic Product of the world was close at $95 trillionIn 2021.
This means that the world will have to contribute around 30% of its annual wealth to this effort. This price tag is too high for governments to bear, even though we are at risk of our long-term survival. Our current GDP is almost tenfold higher than 1985 ($12.5 TrillionClimate restoration cannot wait for the cost-effectiveness of capture and removal technologies.
These costs can be significantly reduced if the right marketing and commercialization are done for CC and CDR technology. Similar to how commercialization of space or new technologies (e.g. reusable rockets, Spaceplanes, 3-D printing, etc.) These have resulted in significantly lower launch costs. The same process can allow CDR and CC to become lucrative commercial businesses.
F4CR and the other climate restoration organizations have a more ambitious goal: reduce the cost to $100 per ton by 2025. The goal of scaling methods can be achieved at a cost of about $5 trillion per annum (less than 5% of annual GDP) with a total cost to $100 trillion between 2030-2050.
Although it’s not an easy task, it’s possible. It becomes even more clear that the commitment is needed when you consider the amount of money that nations spend on technologies that divide us or worsen the climate.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute(SIPRI), Global Military Spending was almost $2 TrillionThis is a mere 2.4 percent of global GDP. The vast majority of this was spent by industrialized countries around the world, who are still bound to the old alliances they have maintained since the Cold War.
- United States ($778billion)
- China ($252 billion).
- India ($72.9 million)
- Russia ($61.7 Billion)
- The United Kingdom ($59.2 Billion)
- Saudi Arabia ($57.5 billion)
- Germany ($52.8 Billion)
- France ($52.7 billion).
- Japan ($49.1 Billion)
- South Korea ($45.7billion)
Another important expenditure is global annual subsidies to fossil fuels. According to a report from the The International Monetary Fund(IMF), “Still not getting the right energy pricesSubventions in 2020 were $5.9 trillion or 6.8% of global GDP. Worse, they claim that these will rise to 7.4 percentage by 2025.
The vast majority of these subsidies go towards reducing the environmental impact of oil and gas, not making it more affordable. They advocate for urgent and needed changes.
“Only 8 percent of 2020 subsidies reflect undercharging supply costs (explicit subsidy), and 92 percent reflect undercharging environmental costs and foregone consumption tax (implicit subsidy). Efficient fuel pricing would in 2025 reduce global carbon dioxide emissions by 36 percent from baseline levels. This is in line to keeping global warming to 1.5 degrees and raising revenues worth 3.8% of global GDP. It would also prevent 0.9 million deaths due to local air pollution. Additional spreadsheets provide detailed results from 191 countries.
The nations of Earth spend $7.9 trillion or 9.2 percent of their annual gross domestic product on technologies that kill each other and fuels that lead to ecological destruction. It’s easy to see why a mere 5 percent would be sufficient to ensure our survival and ability for us to thrive in these circumstances. These stats also demonstrate that the resources exist. They are just not directed in the right direction.
Four criteria
F4CR believes that four priorities are the key to widespread implementations of carbon removal strategies. They are Permanent, Scalable and Financeable, Equitable, and Equitable. Their White Paper explains that. Permanent Refers to the ability of CO to be captured2“Keep it out of circulation for at most a century.” This commitment is one key difference between CC and CDR.
There are currently marketable options to capture carbon. These include converting it into biofuels or jet fuels. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has announced that his company will be incorporating CC technologyTo manufacture rocket fuel for his planned fleet Starships.
Recycled CO2 is also used by many soft drink manufacturers to make their beverages. These methods are useful and have noble purposes, however they can result in the re-release of some CO2.2Back into the air. Even though biofuels or CC products burn cleaner and produce less CO2 to be processed, they aren’t enough to deal with the 1 trillion-pound elephant in the room.
ScalableThe solution can be scaled-up within a decade to remove at least 10 Gt of carbon dioxide.2 Each year. In other words, the technology or process must be easily adapted for large-scale operations. Dr. Erica Dodds, Chief Operations Officer at F4CR, explained this in a Foundation video. Educational videosThis criterion can be illustrated by comparing carbon nanotube manufacturing to carbonate rocks.
While carbon nanotubes can be used in many areas of science and engineering, they are not widely available. Synthetic carbonate rocks, on the other hand, are a promising option for the future construction industry. These rocks can easily be created by combining atmospheric CO and other elements.2Use calcium and magnesium to make limestone and dolomite rocks
This can be used to make bricks, which consume an estimated 50 million tons (50 GT) per year. Said Dr. Dodds:
“We know that synthetic lime, which two companies are currently working on, is approximately 44 percent CO.”2By weight. This is not up to our very high standards of [50]It’s not exactly gigatons per annum, but it’s close. We’re searching for such things because the market is huge and the carbon can be stored there is enormous. We don’t mind smaller solutions, but we want to keep our focus on the ones that have the greatest impact.
Ocean vegetation restoration is another example. It is a proven and scalable solution that can capture excess carbon. In addition to increasing natural carbon sinks in coastal areas, increasing the amount seaweed, kelp and other maritime plants can have economic benefits, such as restored fisheries, fertilizer and nutrition.
“There is no silver bullet. There are many things that have great potential. It’s worth paying attention to and developing them. [they are viable and safe],” said Wayman. “In terms the climate restoration timeline: these are our decades right now, in order to be studying those aspects, to perfect them, and to start implementing solutions so that by 2030, they can be operating at scale.”
Financeable This refers to methods that produce something that can satisfy an existing large market, i.e. where funding is already available. Dr. Dodds explained that this requires looking beyond government funding and encouraging growth in this sector.
“There are many people doing amazing things in carbon pricing, tax incentives for carbon capture. We see the immense value in public financing for climate recovery, but our timeline is too short to do so. We’re looking for commercially viable projects that have funding and can be mobilized quickly.
Equitable It emphasizes that the solution must consider both the benefits and the risks for all communities, particularly those who are vulnerable or oppressed. Although climate change is a global problem, it will continue to be disproportionately impact those with the lowest means to address the interconnected climate crises that they exacerbate. To ensure equitable solutions, and not one community being left behind it is crucial to determine who benefits and who is harmed by each project. As Wayman explains:
“The transparency of this information must be disclosed, specifically to frontline communities. The involvement of frontline, marginalized, and vulnerable communities as leaders and stakeholders in projects will be paramount to ensuring their needs and concerns are prioritized in the development and deployment of any solution.”
It will be a lifetime-long pursuit to prioritize equitable and just climate restoration principles. Fair decision-making, fair allocations of benefits, amends to previous harm, and transformative justice should all be part of the process. It is essential to educate communities and give advocates the tools and resources to advocate for those areas where information and processes are lacking.
Spread the word
F4CR seeks to create a “Global Climate Restoration Ecosystem” by looking at both the short- and long-term. Again, the strategy of F4CR is based on multiple criteria. Education, Advocacy, Solutions.
In terms of EducationF4CR also maintains several outreach programs, which include briefings and training, white papers, lesson plan development, and resources (which can be found on the White Paper). The Foundation also has a youth outreach effort. Youth Leaders in Climate Restoration (YL4CR). This 13-week program is essentially “train the trainer” for youths between 13 and 24 years old.
Participants can be certified as a “Climate Restoration Advocate” after they have completed the program. F4CR and its partners also offer internship and scholarship opportunities. As a youth activist Greta ThunbergAs demonstrated by the example of the aforementioned, highly educated youth can have a significant impact on the world stage.
Their youth program is partnered Get Girl PowerThe F4CR is an international non-profit that focuses on empowering girls and promoting their rights. The F4CR has also partnered with the UN’s Envoy on Youth,This section focuses on developmental issues for people aged 10-24 (90 per cent of which live in developing countries).
F4CR also maintains chapters in cities around the world, including in the United States of America, Australia, Italy and Nigeria. They also conduct the Youth Leaders for Climate Restoration World TourYL4CR members can participate in a monthly webinar to discuss Climate Restoration with others around the world.
F4CR’s Advocacy Among the efforts are the Global Carbon Removal Partnership(GCRP), a global multistakeholder partnership they cofounded with The Thunderbird School of Global Management– Arizona State University (ASU). This partnership brings together scientists and innovators, policymakers, religious leaders, students, and government officials to foster solutions for Climate Change.
The F4CR is also partnered by the Earth Day NetworkThe Future Coalition, and the Rotary Climate Action Team Network. They are involved in important international events such as the World Economic Forum(WEF and the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP).
The GCRP launched in November 2021 during the 26ThAnnual UN Conference for Climate Change(COP26) in Glasgow UK. Since 2019, the F4CR holds the Global Climate Restoration ForumThe organization hopes to hold the conference in New York in September 2022.
F4CR and partners hope to work with the UN and other member states (at the federal and/or local level) to get Climate Restoration onto the IPCC’s agenda. Currently, the IPCC’s focus is on Mitigation and Adaptation. Said Wayman:
“The IPCC’s focus is largely on peer-reviewed research and science already available. There is not enough information at this time on Climate Restoration to give the IPCC a mandate to study it. It would be beneficial on many levels to have that research.
“Just the added credibility that peer reviewed science provides to any topic would be greatly helpful and very welcomed in this case.” That’s why we are closely monitoring the situation and working with different partners to get this off the ground.
In terms of SolutionsThey promote investment, research, and development in Climate Restoration solutions through market analysis. This is done through their advocacy arm as well as a publicly-accessible portfolio called the Solutions Series. It contains CDR solutions that are listed and rated against F4CR’s four established criteria.
These efforts are not taking place in isolation. Today, committed activists, the United Nations and national governments are all working together to solve the climate crisis.
Take HeroXThe world’s largest platform to crowdsource solutions is. With their long-standing partner Singapore’s National Water Agency(PUB), the launch of the Carbon Zero Grand ChallengeIn October 2021. The prize pool is worth approximately 6.5 million Singapore Dollars (approx. This competition offers $4,8 million USD in prize money and seeks innovative solutions to help the PUB reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
Elon Musk and the Musk FoundationRecently, the partnered with XPrize FoundationTo launch the Carbon Removal Prize. This four-year global competition has the largest incentive prize ever, with $100 million in prizes for solutions to pull carbon dioxide directly out of the atmosphere or oceans..
Scientists have warned for decades about the possible consequences of Climate Change unchecked. The signs have been hard to ignore since the turn of this century. Recent years have seen record heatwaves and droughts, severe storms and flooding, as well as record temperatures. Worse, there are more. Tolls on death and damage they inflict are merely a taste of what’s to come.
Our current efforts at carbon removal are more that a call to action. They are a sobering acknowledgment of the harsh reality we face. It is therefore crucial to have non-partisan and international non-profit efforts that are characterised by outreach, partnerships and cooperation. This problem affects everyone, and no one person can solve it alone.
Only through cooperation, innovation, and a shared commitment to the future can humanity and the natural world thrive in this century.
[ad_2]
