a thousand years of solitude

 

Research out of Boulder, CO is indicating that climate change due to increases in carbon dioxide is irreversible and will last 1000 years, according to the Environmental News Service.

The study was done by scientists with the NOAA, led by Dr. Susan Solomon.  The group studied models of allowing the carbon dioxide to reach peak concentrations and then completely halted the emissions after the peak. They found that the scientific evidence is strong enough to quantify some irreversible climate impacts, including rainfall changes in certain key regions, and global sea level rise.

If carbon dioxide is allowed to rise to 450-600 parts per million from its current value of 385 parts per million, and then CO2 emissions completely cease, the results would include persistent decreases in dry-season rainfall that are comparable to the 1930s North American Dust Bowl in zones including southern Europe, northern Africa, southwestern North America, southern Africa, and western Australia.

The data emphasizes that any carbon emissions in this century, essentially ‘lock-in” a sea level rise that will stay for the next 1000 years.  This research shows that carbon dioxide levels and the ocean work hand in hand to impact when happens on the planet.  Heating of the planet due to increase in carbon dioxide, creates an environment for sea level rising, which then makes it difficult for the carbon dioxide to escape the atmosphere.

following in germany’s footsteps

Last week, we reported how Germany was quite revolutionary in telling its citizens to stop eating meat, unless on special occasions.  Following their lead, Britain will have meat-free menus promoted in hospitals as part of a strategy to cut global warming emissions across the National Health Service, according to the Guardian.

The biggest difference with this, however, is that it is not a single suggestion but rather, part of a nationwide plan to reduce carbon emissions in the UK Health System.

 

Last year the NHS published what it believes is the biggest public sector analysis of carbon dioxide, the biggest greenhouse gas, which showed the organisation’s emissions in 2004 were 18.6m tonnes and rising. This accounts for more than 3% of all emissions in England, and if the NHS was a country it would have been ranked as the 81st biggest polluter in the world that year, between Estonia and Bahrain.

One-fifth of the emissions were from transport, one-fifth from buildings, and the remainder from procurement, including drugs, medical equipment and food.

They have committed to a government pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.  Other proposals include reduction of water bottle use, greater sterilization and re-use of equipment, and encouragement of public transportation for visitors.

rock star

 

For a while now, a rock that most people know from jewlery, has been slowly getting attention as a possible savior in our climate change battle.  However, new data has brought it to the forefront, as reported in Environmental Science and Technology.

Geologists have known for a while that peridotite reacts with carbon dioxide (CO2) to form solid carbonates, like limestone.  It is the most common, and abundant, rock in the Earth’s mantle. However, harnessing that power to combat climate change has been elusive.  Until now.

Geologist Muriel Andreani of Université Montpellier 2 and his team have shown that if you can inject CO2 into the peridotite, the transformation can occur, and rather quickly.  In fact, carbonate formation occurred after only eight hours.  The working principle is that if factories can trap CO2, it can be injected into boreholes, and creating the carbonate rock.

They have found that there are certain conditions that allow this to happen more than others.  Under poor conditions, the carbonate formed closes up the transfer pores.  But, under the right conditions, a slow and steady stream can be injected into the rock.  In fact, as much as 4 billion tons of CO₂ could be permanently stored in peridotite formations that cover half of the country of Oman, located on the Arabian Peninsula, and that occur in other scattered locations worldwide, according to recent estimates by Columbia University.

Before we all get too excited, however, much more research needs to be done to see how this reaction would work on a much larger scale.  This will be very interesting to follow.

moving backwards. not good.

The annual report of the United States greenhouse gas emissions was released today, and unfortunately, we seem to be moving in the wrong direction.

The United States emissions were 7,282 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent in 2007 – an increase of 1.4 percent from the 2006 level, federal government figures show.

Per the Kyoto protocol, we track and monitor six gases.

Total estimated U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2007 consisted of 6,022 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, which represents 82.6 percent of the total greenhouse gases emitted from U.S. sources.

In 2007, the U.S. emitted 700 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent of methane (9.6 percent of total emissions); 384 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent of nitrous oxide (5.3 percent of total emissions); and 177 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent of hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride (2.4 percent of total emissions).

It should also be noted that what is deemed the most dangerous greenhouse gas, nitrogen triflouride, is not required to be measured, yet is increasing. This is a gas released during the process of making plasma televisions and other devices using plasma etching. It was once thought inert, but new data has indicated otherwise. You can go HERE to find out more information.

What is also confirmed in this report is that the United States is still the leader in emissions, with China in a close second at 6,200 million metric tons.

The good news is that, especially now with a new president, we are committed to reducing our levels of emissions by 2030 per the new Kyoto Protocol, expected to be ratified sometime next year.

You can find the report on greenhouse gases HERE.

domo arigato kyoto

According to reports released yesterday, the world, with no help from the United States, is on track to meet targets set by the Kyoto Protocol.

Interestingly, though, it is not because countries have made an effort in reducing their emissions, but as a result of the economic downturn. The data also shows that countries that have had an economic benefit due to industrialization have increased their emissions. All in all, it has been a net positive for the world, but each country still needs to make the effort to follow what has been outlined in the protocol.

The US is the only developed nation that has not ratified the Kyoto protocol. Its emissions rose by 14% between 1990 and 2006. Japan’s emissions, meanwhile, rose to a record high in the year to March. The world’s fifth-largest carbon dioxide producer now faces the embarrassing prospect of missing its Kyoto target over the next four years.

In the upcoming summit meeting in Poland, representatives from each country are expected to renegotiate terms to the Kyoto protocol and ratify it in early 2009. We shall see what happens.

nothing in life is free…? tell that to these places!

The University of New England and Ripon College in Wisconsin are giving free bikes to freshmen who promise to leave their cars at home. Other colleges are setting up free bike sharing or rental programs, and some universities are partnering with bike shops to offer discounts on purchases.

The NY TIMES ran an article on Sunday about some campuses that are doing it right. I like seeing a move in the right direction.

Go HERE!

some good news

New data has come out this week that suggests that all those small changes we make… are making a difference in the decline of climate change.

So maybe don’t worry about getting a hybrid, but do worry about reducing the amount you drive. Choose a vegetarian meal. Switch to green energy through your Department of Power and Water.

All of those little things, do add up!

Click HERE for the article