It is widely agreed by experts, advocates, and governments that increased carbon emissions are making the earth warmer. Often the solution that is suggested by scientists and government officials throughout the world is the reduction of carbon emissions by being proactive in reducing our individual and national carbon output. However, while this is good and necessary, studies are showing that even if we all reduce our carbon output, global warming will occur. And the reason for this is because there is already enough carbon emission output from human activities dating back from the industrial revolution to the modern era to continue warming up the earth’s atmosphere, even if we don’t add anymore to it. And because of this, some scientist such as a Julio Friedmann are suggesting the use of of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.
credit: phys.org
Carbon capture is the process of capturing carbon emissions from the atmosphere. Currently CCS is being used by large fossil-fuel power plants and chemical industries to stop carbon dioxide emissions by burying the emissions underground. Carbon capture is important because although nations across the world are working on using 100% renewable clean energy to power their countries, fossil fuel is still the main source of energy for many countries and large fossil fuel plants are emitting tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Advocates who support carbon capture and storage technologies believe that while the world transition to using green energy is the goal we should be working on, carbon capture should be used to prevent the emissions of further carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Carbon capture is not a new technology. In fact, “The first carbon-capture device was built in 1938.” And there numerous examples that prove that the technology is function. However governments are not financing the technology because they do not believe it is a solution our carbon emission problems. Another reason government and private business are hesitant about the technology is because it is incredibly expansive unlike green technologies such power solar and wind technologies. But advocates who support carbon capture and storage technology argue that it is the only technology that will help countries around the world reach their carbon reduction targets to zero.
