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Yo! We got this! CO2 removal

Big science is advocating carbon dioxide removal in an effort to combat climate change. The average everyday Jo can help remove CO2 emissions for a healthier land and people.

(I am being conscientious not to say planet or environment or earth. I think some concepts are either too big or have connotations that folks just don’t relate with.)

See here⇓

The Environment  (excerpt from https://www.soas.ac.uk/cedep-demos/000_P500_ESM_K3736-Demo/unit1/page_08.htm)

The term ‘environment’ is widely used and has a broad range of definitions, meanings and interpretations. What does the term ‘environment’ mean? In popular usage, for some people, the term ‘environment’ means, simply, ‘nature’: in other words, the natural landscape together with all of its non-human features, characteristics and processes. To those people, the environment is often closely related to notions of wilderness and of pristine landscapes that have not been influenced – or, at least, that have been imperceptibly influenced – by human activities. However, for other people, the term ‘environment’ includes human elements to some extent. Many people would regard agricultural and pastoral landscapes as being part of the environment, whilst others are yet more inclusive and regard all elements of the earth’s surface – including urban areas – as constituting the environment. Thus, in popular usage, the notion of the ‘environment’ is associated with diverse images and is bound up with various assumptions and beliefs that are often unspoken – yet may be strongly held. All of these usages, however, have a central underlying assumption: that the ‘environment’ exists in some kind of relation to humans. Hence the environment is, variously, the ‘backdrop’ to the unfolding narrative of human history, the habitats and resources that humans exploit, the ‘hinterland’ that surrounds human settlements, or the ‘wilderness’ that humans have not yet domesticated or dominated.

Ok so terminology aside, here is how you do it:

Excerpt from BBC Climate change: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and others have all stated that extracting CO2 from the air will be needed if we are to bend the rising temperature curve before the end of this century. […] the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine says that some of these “negative emissions technologies” are ready to be deployed, on a large scale, right now.

Five cheap ways to remove CO2 from the atmosphere (https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-45967215)

  1. PRESERVE THE WETLANDS : The National Academies study says that by creating new wetlands and restoring and protecting these fringe areas, there is the potential to more than double the current rate of carbon extracted from the atmosphere. 

    Image result for wetlands
    https://www.chesapeakebay.net/issues/wetlands
  2. PLANT A TREE: Global deforestation has been a significant factor in driving up emissions of carbon, so researchers feel that planting new trees or restoring lost areas is a simple and cheap technology that could be expanding right now. 
  3. MAINTAIN EXISTING FORESTS: As well as planting more trees, the report says that we need to manage our existing forests in a better way to remove more carbon. Techniques can include the speedy re-stocking of forests after disturbances like fires […] extending the age of the forest when you harvest […] extend the amount of timber that goes into long-lived wooden products and limiting the amount that gets burned as biomass in power stations.
  4. FARMING TECHNIQUES: some simple changes in the way farmers manage their land can be a cheap and effective way of removing carbon from the air. Basically planting crops in between seasons. It helps with soil too. 
  5. Biomass energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS): The idea of BECCS is to grow energy crops that soak up carbon, which are then burned to create electricity while the emitted CO2 gas is captured and buried permanently underground.Everyday Jo probably doesn’t have access to this however be vocal to your government representatives.

 

Related Articles

 By Akshat Rathi: Silicon Valley is starting to work on a “Plan B” to fight climate change  (https://qz.com/1435452/y-combinator-wants-startups-that-remove-carbon-dioxide-from-the-air/)

Associated Press article: https://www.apnews.com/44e5cbe99231497593e5b6e0e310d33c

CUTE CREATURES THAT ARE NOT HUMAN:

https://www.foxnews.com/science/pea-sized-baby-octopuses-in-hawaii-floating-trash 

Two tiny octopuses were discovered floating on trash off the coast of Hawaii in August.

Two tiny octopuses were discovered floating on trash off the coast of Hawaii in August. (Ashley Pugh/National Park Service)

Donate or volunteer for wetlands through: