Carbon pollution in the atmosphere already causes dangerous climate changes. The cutting of greenhouse gas emissions is not sufficient to maintain the planet within safe temperature limits.
Carbon dioxide elimination strategies (CDR) aim to slow climate warning by removing CO2 pollution from the atmosphere. An in -depth analysis explains why work cannot come across the machines alone.
Plants, floors and other ecosystems have a role to play in the elimination of carbon dioxide, and this aid is urgent.
Nature, technology and CO2 removal
“We must quickly reduce the production of new greenhouse gas emissions global. At the same time, we must also remove and store an excess of carbon already polluting the atmosphere, “said Charlotte Streck of the Potsdam University.
Streck has noted that in recent years, innovative high -tech CDR companies have introduced promising solutions to capture carbon.
However, these solutions are still in the research and development phase, and they are not yet proven on the necessary scale, she added.
“At the same time, it is well established that forests And other ecosystems are effective in storing carbon – while providing clean air and water, backup of biodiversity and the planet’s goalkeeper. We have to kiss both high -tech methods and natural CDR methods to succeed, “said Streck.
Elimination of nature based on nature
Matthieu Brander of University of Edinburgh The business school explained that the elimination of carbon dioxide based on nature and engineering can be deployed in synergy.
“New CDR methods offer higher sustainability and lower risk of inversion. However, conventional CDR methods based on nature based on carbon storage in vegetation and soil are the most immediately deployable methods, and costs are relatively low, “said Brander.
“It is clear that high -tech and natural CDR methods can be completed – not competing for each other.”
Peter Ellis of Nature conservation Stressed that the modified CDR is extremely expensive and will require enormous amounts of inexpensive renewable energy, as well as years of investment in research and development, before it is ready to evolve.
“On the other hand, the CDR based on nature is cheap and powered by photosynthesis, which has been in research and development in effective self-replica prototypes called plants for 3 billion years,” he added.
Definition of the elimination of carbon dioxide
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines the elimination of carbon dioxide (CDR) like any human activity that eliminates carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores them solidly – whether in rocks, soils, oceans or long -lived products.
These methods differ depending on how the CO₂ is captured, for example by photosynthesis, chemical processes or other reactions.
The elimination methods also depend on the place where carbon is stored and how long it remains stored – whether in living biomass, mineralized form or deep sediments of the ocean.
The best path for the removal of CO2
Not one CDR option Check each box for the cost, speed, scale and long -term storage. The analysis shows that the pairing methods with specific needs – and by mixing several of them – is the safest path.
High technology systems can lock carbon for centuries once they work on a large scale. However, they are young, expensive and eager for energy.
The natural ways, such as the restoration of forests or the reconstruction of the soil, are ready today, cost less and offer secondary advantages such as habitat and clean water. The drawback is that trees can burn, parasites can spread and Climatic offsets can cancel the gains.
Why a mixed approach works better
CDR planners often talk about “risk of inversion” – the possibility that stored carbon can fall into the atmosphere. For example, the injection of Co₂ into the rock is risky at the beginning, before hardening minerals.
Forests, on the other hand, can be lost against fires, parasites or changes in land use before reaching full maturity. This is why success depends on the mixture solutions, so that the weaknesses of one are offset by the forces of another.
“Decision -makers and investors should encourage a balanced and complete approach to investments in the CDR based on nature and technology,” said Streck.
“A balanced portfolio attenuated against the risks of any strategy and is most likely to make significant contributions to the realization Paris Agreement goals.”
Currently, most investments go to new technologies that have not yet changed.
But by also supporting proven nature -based projects, we can immediately remove carbon – while giving engineers time to develop more sustainable high -tech options for the future.
And there is no time to waste. Climatic mathematics are ruthless and each year late makes work more difficult.
By associating shovels and sensors with seeds and soil, we can cut emissions, store carbon and offer future generations a better blow to a stable climate.
The complete study was published in the journal Climate policy.
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