Tag Archives: CO2

Sinking Arctic Ocean Trees: A Natural Solution to Removing 1 Billion Tons of CO2

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Trees Floating Towards the Arctic Ocean

Trees Floating Towards the Arctic Ocean

Carl Christoph Stadie/Alfred Wegener Institute

Logging extensive areas of boreal forests and submerging the trees in the Arctic Ocean could potentially eliminate up to 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year.

Researchers suggest cutting down wildfire-prone coniferous trees and transporting them through six major Arctic rivers, including the Yukon and Mackenzie, where they can sink within a year.

“Currently, we have forests that sequester significant carbon, but the next challenge is finding ways to store it without burning,” says Wolf Bungen from Cambridge University.

To combat carbon emissions from hard-to-electrify industries, it’s essential to explore methods for atmospheric carbon reduction. While direct air capture technology is costly, tree planting can backfire if the trees end up dying or burning.

Several companies are working on wood burial techniques. For instance, a U.S. initiative, Running Tide, sunk 25,000 tonnes of wood chips off Iceland’s coast but faced shutdown due to environmental concerns.

Approximately 1 trillion tonnes of carbon are stored within the wood, soil, and peat of boreal forests across North Eurasia and North America, a figure expected to rise as climate change accelerates plant growth. However, with increasing wildfire frequency, this carbon could be released.

Bungen and his team previously discovered that wood can survive for up to 8,000 years in cold, oxygen-limited Alpine lakes without decomposing or emitting CO2. Six Arctic rivers transport substantial amounts of logs, with driftwood in deltas estimated to contain over 20 million tons of carbon. Carl Stadie from Germany’s Alfred Wegener Institute was not part of the study.

If every year, 30,000 square kilometers were cleared along each river, placing the wood on river ice in winter and then replanting, it could absorb up to 1 billion tons of CO2 annually, researchers estimate.

However, some US rivers continue to experience biodiversity loss a century after timber removal, warns Ellen Wall of Colorado State University.

“Dumping a massive amount of logs into a river resembles pushing brush into a river,” she notes.

Moreover, if wood becomes lodged on beaches or in tributaries, causing flooding, it could thaw permafrost and increase methane emissions from microorganisms.

“We could see a scenario where the wood aids ocean carbon sequestration, while onshore flooding and melting snow cause carbon release at high altitudes,” warns Merritt Turetsky from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Inadequate cold or oxygen-free conditions may lead to wood decomposition rather than sinking. Driftwood frozen in sea ice is often transported to the Faroe Islands.

“In a worst-case scenario, vast forest areas could be cleared, impacting the carbon they store,” says Stadie.

Roman Dial, a professor at Alaska Pacific University, warns that this proposal may be exploited by commercial logging and could face criticism from all sides of the political spectrum.

“How extensive is the list of potential unintended consequences that could unfold in the Arctic, given our limited understanding?” he questions.

Some regions of the Arctic ocean floor might not be suitable for conservation, according to Morgan Raven at the University of California, Santa Barbara. However, others could benefit from exploration, given the substantial influx of wood into the Arctic and other oceans. The Earth once experienced a greenhouse climate era 56 million years ago.

“We can investigate sediments and rocks to understand how this experiment was conducted in the past,” Raven concludes.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Africa’s Forests Are Currently Emitting More CO2 Than They Absorb

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Congo’s rainforest ranks as the second largest globally

Güntaguni/Getty Images

Africa’s forests currently release more carbon dioxide than they can absorb, complicating global efforts to achieve net-zero emissions.

The continent’s forests and shrublands were once among the largest carbon sinks, contributing to 20% of all carbon dioxide absorption by plants. The Congo rainforest, the second largest in the world after the Amazon, is often termed the “lungs of Africa,” absorbing roughly 600 million tons of CO2 each year. Unfortunately, this vital ecosystem is diminishing due to logging and mining activities.

Recent research indicates that Africa’s forests lost an annual average of 106 million tonnes of biomass between 2011 and 2017, following a period of growth from 2007 to 2010. This loss translates to approximately 200 million tons of CO2 emissions annually, primarily linked to deforestation in the Congo. Heiko Balzter from the University of Leicester, UK, highlights this concerning trend.

“To lose tropical forests as a means of mitigating climate change means we must significantly reduce emissions from fossil fuel burning and strive for near-zero emissions,” he states.

Balzter and his team utilized satellite data to measure aspects like canopy color, water content, and height at selected locations to calculate biomass levels. These findings were compared to on-the-ground measurements, although such data are scarce in Africa.

However, Simon Lewis from University College London cautions that satellite technology cannot accurately identify tree species within a forest and fails to reliably estimate carbon absorption in forests with high biomass or emissions from those compromised by selective logging. For example, a dense hardwood like mahogany retains more carbon than a lighter wood like balsa of equivalent size.

“Deforestation rates in the Democratic Republic of Congo have surpassed those of the 2000s, a fact we cannot deny,” he asserts. “Nonetheless, it remains uncertain if this will significantly alter the carbon balance across the continent.”

The study also overlooks the wet peatlands that lie beneath much of the Congo rainforest. These peatlands absorb modest quantities of CO2 annually and sequester around 30 billion tonnes of ancient carbon.

In recent years, the Amazon rainforest, once a significant carbon sink, has emitted more CO2 than it absorbs. While deforestation in the Amazon is somewhat regulated, the situation is worsening in Congo.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, impoverished farmers often clear rainforests for slash-and-burn agriculture, while many foreign-owned companies engage in illegal logging of valuable hardwoods such as African teak and coralwood.

During the recent COP30 climate summit in the Amazon, Brazil unveiled the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, a fund designed to provide investment returns to tropical nations at the rate of $4 per hectare of remaining forest. However, contributions to this fund have only reached $6.6 billion, a fraction of the $25 billion target.

Balzter believes this initiative could be more effective than carbon credits, which reward “avoided” emissions that often lack real value.

“It’s crucial to establish this tropical forest permanent facility swiftly if we intend to reverse the trend of increased carbon emissions from Africa’s tree biomass,” he emphasizes.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

In 2024, Atmospheric CO2 Levels Are Set to Reach New Heights.

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Wildfires like the one in Greece in 2024 emitted significant quantities of carbon dioxide.

Xinhua News Agency/Alamy Stock Photo

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has disclosed that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are set to soar to unprecedented heights in 2024, reaching levels not seen since records began.

According to WMO, the global average CO2 concentration is projected to rise by 3.5 ppm from 2023 to 2024, reaching 423.9 ppm. This marks the largest increase observed since modern measurements began in 1957, significantly surpassing the 2.3 ppm rise from 2022 to 2023.

This continues a troubling trend of accelerating increases each year, with the growth rate tripling since the 1960s. The last instance of comparable CO2 levels on Earth dates back 3 to 5 million years.

The WMO cautions that surplus carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will lead to global warming effects for centuries. “The heat captured by CO2 and other greenhouse gases is speeding up climate change and causing increasingly severe weather events,” stated Ko Barrett from the WMO.

Continued emissions from fossil fuels, a rise in emissions from wildfires, and a slow rate of carbon dioxide absorption by the planet’s land and oceans were identified as the primary factors behind last year’s record rise, as per WMO’s reports.

Researchers are forecasting that carbon uptake by oceans, forests, and other ecosystems will slow down in 2024 due to recent El Niño weather patterns, which have increased global temperatures and caused heatwaves, wildfires, and droughts in significant areas like the Amazon, thereby hindering carbon absorption. Scientists earlier this year indicated that the loss of tropical forests in 2024 will double compared to 2023. “In certain tropical regions, warm El Niño years like 2024 are generally drier and sequester less carbon dioxide,” noted Richard Allan from the University of Reading, UK.

Nevertheless, there are growing concerns that the decline in carbon uptake by Earth, particularly from land, is indicative of a long-term trend, suggesting that climate change is diminishing the planet’s capacity to absorb excess carbon.

“There are indications that land subsidence was markedly low in 2023 and 2024, even amidst the El Niño conditions, and we are witnessing a troubling decline over time, especially in the Northern Hemisphere outside of tropical regions,” said Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist at the Breakthrough Institute. “In summary, there are alarming signs that land subsidence is decreasing, but it’s premature to make definitive conclusions without additional data over the coming years.”

In the meantime, it is more critical than ever for humanity to reduce ongoing fossil fuel emissions. Piers Foster, from the University of Leeds, UK, explained, “The primary factor driving the persistent increase in CO2 concentrations is that fossil fuel emissions remain at record levels and have yet to decline.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Google’s Massive New Essex Data Centre Releases 570,000 Tonnes of CO2 Annually

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The new Google Data Centre in Essex is projected to emit over 500 tons of carbon dioxide annually.

Spanning 52 hectares (128 acres), the “Hyperscale Data Centre” in Thurrock is set to join the ranks of large-scale computers and AI infrastructures, pending planning approval.

This proposal was submitted by a subsidiary of Google’s parent company, Alphabet. Concerns about carbon emissions arose before a coordinated initiative by Donald Trump’s White House and Downing Street aimed at enhancing the UK’s AI capabilities. A multibillion-dollar investment deal with major tech firms from Silicon Valley is anticipated to be unveiled during the US president’s state visit, starting on Tuesday.


According to Keir Starmer’s Government, there is a forecast that AI will require 13 times the current processing power by 2035, leading to a rush in data centre construction to fulfill demand. The expectation is that this technological advancement will enhance the UK’s economic productivity. A collaboration is anticipated involving Nvidia, the largest AI chip manufacturer, and OpenAI, the creators of the ChatGPT AI assistant.

However, advocates argue that the influx of new large computer facilities will raise UK greenhouse gas emissions and strain limited electricity and water resources.

If approved, the Thurrock facility will encompass up to four data centers on “Grey Belt” land, some of which has been used for speedway events and stock car racing. This will contribute to a net increase of 568,727 tons of greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide equivalent) annually at operational status. For further details, refer to the planning document reviewed by the Guardian.

According to the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization, this is roughly equivalent to 500 flights from Heathrow to Malaga each week, as calculated by the carbon calculator. Google’s planning application contends that this will not significantly impact the UK carbon budget, a view challenged by campaigners.

A spokesperson from FoxGlove, a group advocating for fair technology, stated, “The facility planned by Google in Essex will generate emissions significantly higher than those produced by an international airport.” This reflects a broader trend of imposing ‘hyperscale’ data centers across the UK, prioritizing profit over environmental health.

“The Starmer government must resist the influence of big tech and advocate for the UK populace,” they continued. “Otherwise, we will all bear the consequences of expensive energy bills, dwindling water supplies, and the effects of a warming planet.”

Currently, data centers account for approximately 2.5% of the UK’s electricity consumption, with demand predicted to quadruple by 2030, as noted by the Commons Library.

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The UK government asserts that data centers will not significantly affect the UK carbon budget due to an ambitious objective to decarbonize the electricity grid. However, there are concerns that without significant investment in new data centers, the UK risks falling behind international competitors like France, jeopardizing its ambitions in national security, economic growth, and AI.

Other noteworthy data center initiatives include a £10 billion project at a former coal-fired power plant in Blythe, Northumberland, which received planning approval in March. This facility is positioned at the core of a major contract involving Nvidia and OpenAI. Over the weekend, there were also reports that Google was in discussions regarding a large data center in Teesside.

Global consultancy Bain & Company reported on Monday that AI and data centers could contribute to 2% of global emissions and 17% of industrial emissions by 2035, with the most significant impact occurring in nations where fossil fuels dominate energy generation.

Google declined to comment on the planning application for the Thurrock site, while Teesside stated that they “do not comment on rumors or speculation.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

CO2 Chronicles: A Compelling New Book Urging Action on Carbon Dioxide Narratives

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Florian Gaertner/Photothek via Getty Images

A Shared Narrative2: It’s Everything
Peter Brunnen (Allen Lane)

Carbon dioxide influences our perceptions. Emissions from power stations, vehicle exhausts, and the burning of natural habitats contribute to our planet’s increasing warmth. These realities are compelling lawmakers and decision-makers to confront climate change earnestly.

CO2, comprised of one carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms, is essential for life on Earth. However, the escalating levels of CO2 are now exacerbating global warming and threatening life itself. This contradiction is a central theme explored by Peter Brannen in A Shared Narrative2: Planetary Experiments, a meticulously researched and persuasive read.

Brunnen, a science journalist known for his previous work on the extinction events of Earth’s history, now tackles a monumental task: elucidating the carbon cycle (CO2) and its implications, a topic often overlooked in educational settings, while revealing the fascinating stories that span our planet’s history.

It’s easy to overlook the periodic table. It’s also simple to disengage readers with mundane discussions about air movement. Yet, Brunnen artfully revitalizes this narrative, emphasizing CO2‘s significance for all living beings. He vividly depicts events from millions of years ago, like the “Snowball Earth,” and the 56 million-year phase when the planet was “held captive by ice,” compelling readers to visualize these extraordinary, yet unimaginable, realities.

We learn in school that wood consists of carbon. However, Brunnen expands on this, discussing elements such as “mushroom psychedelics, pepper spices, and coffee caffeine.” While many authors might stop there, Brunnen elaborates: Carbon exists in “your eyeball, bougainvillea petals… blue whale baleen, fat, and brain… your tub scum, lion’s mane.”

These rhetorical flourishes may risk overwhelming the reader, yet Brunnen delivers a cogent and artful case. The highest praise I can offer this book is that it frequently inspires a childlike awe—a feeling we often take for granted, much like the subjects that permeate our daily lives.

However, this isn’t merely a children’s book. In addition to the planet and its inhabitants, Brunnen draws on historical insights to urge immediate action, advocating for a transition away from fossil fuels.

His analysis draws careful parallels between our current CO2 emissions and those that precipitated the last mass extinction, a theme he reiterates throughout his work, articulating a growing urgency as he approaches his conclusions. “We can’t escape this dilemma,” he asserts. He critiques the notion of carbon capture and storage as merely a stopgap, arguing that it serves only to mitigate our current lifestyle without addressing the root cause. “In summary, we’re in deep trouble,” he writes.

Assuming no actions are taken and trends continue, he warns that companies may only awaken to their environmental impact after it’s too late, likening such reactions to misguided efforts.

This prevailing attitude, he observes, is common in “some climate circles,” and demands correction. “Sticking to the current path will undoubtedly lead to severe climate disaster, and regardless of how successful changes may be, we must explore all options to avoid catastrophe,” he states.

Decision-makers aiming to steer society away from fossil fuels would benefit immensely from engaging with this book.

Chris Stokell Walker is a technology writer based in Newcastle, UK

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Source: www.newscientist.com

We Assert That CO2 Emissions Are Not Detrimental—Climate Science Confirms This.

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EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin at the agency’s headquarters.

Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

The Trump administration seeks to undermine the U.S. government’s capacity to regulate greenhouse gas emissions by asserting that these gases don’t pose a threat to public health. This initiative fits into a broader effort to loosen restrictions on power plants and vehicles by claiming that regulations hinder economic growth. However, this legal stance appears flimsy when juxtaposed with the extensive body of climate science demonstrating that increased greenhouse gas levels present a significant danger.

“This debate is nonsensical and lacks validity,” he remarks. David Doniger, part of the Natural Resources Defense Council, advocates for revisions from the administration.

The legal arguments hinge on a 2009 ruling by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which concluded that greenhouse gas emissions from American power plants and vehicles indeed pose risks to human health. This “endangerment finding” grants regulatory authority to agencies overseeing these emissions. Subsequently, regulations have been implemented, enhancing fuel efficiency in vehicles and contributing to the previous administration’s initiatives aimed at minimizing emissions from power plants.

On July 29, EPA administrator Zeldin announced efforts to abolish these endangerment findings, dubbing it “the largest deregulation effort in U.S. history.” However, before this change occurs, the agency is required to publicly justify its decision and defend it against an impending lawsuit.

In a draft of the new regulations, the EPA asserts that the increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere do not present a sufficient threat to justify emission reductions. This position contradicts key conclusions from climate science organizations such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, several U.S. national climate assessments, and even the EPA itself in 2009, which identified evidence that greenhouse gases pose a “strong and clear” risk.

“I think they’re throwing every possible argument out there to see what resonates,” Doniger comments. “They are recycling both old and new theories, all of which are quite weak.”

According to a 2018 study, evidence indicating risks associated with greenhouse gases has only intensified over recent decades. This reassessment of the decade-old endangerment rationale indicates advancements in climate science provide clearer tools to evaluate how climate change affects specific extreme weather events. Additionally, specific greenhouse gas emissions can be directly tied to damage from various extreme temperature occurrences.

To challenge this consensus, the EPA heavily leans on preliminary findings. A report released by the Department of Energy and authored by five well-known skeptics of mainstream climate science acknowledges that carbon dioxide contributes to global warming. However, it questions the extent of this damage in the U.S. and discusses the positive effects of CO2 on plant growth, including its use as a fertilizer.

While some aspects of this report may reflect truths corroborated by climate science, other researchers contend that its flawed methodology fails to consider significant evidence that contradicts its overall conclusions. While CO2 may indeed promote plant growth, rising temperatures are anticipated to have a far more detrimental impact on agriculture and ecosystems.

“They selectively sift through data to find examples supporting their narrative while systematically ignoring far more substantial evidence that discredits it,” states Andrew Dessler of Texas A&M University.

“I’m somewhat astonished that the government has released a document like this as an official publication,” adds Zeke Hausfather from Berkeley Earth, a nonprofit research organization in California. “It resembles a blog post—an unorganized assortment of cherry-picked instances that fail to represent the broader, frequently criticized claims made by skeptics or the findings from extensive climate science research.”

Hausfather, who has been referenced multiple times in the DOE report, criticizes it as lacking peer review. He contrasts its production—drafted by a small team over several months—with the National Climate Assessment, a comprehensive effort involving hundreds of contributors over several years that was ultimately rejected by the Trump administration.

“The idea that these emissions incur no social costs is a thoroughly incorrect and exhausting argument,” argues Justin Mankin from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. Reflecting on the extreme conditions associated with the warmest year on record in 2025, he emphasizes the stark reality: “What’s strikingly evident is that the repercussions of global warming are far greater than we understood in 2009.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Climate Scientists Call on Peers to Embrace CO2 Tracking as We Reduce Emissions

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Carbon dioxide monitoring at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii may be discontinued due to US budget cuts

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Scientists from various countries are urged to prepare for the potential takeover of the major carbon dioxide monitoring services currently operated by the US, according to climate experts.

The monitoring efforts could be terminated next year if budget cuts proceed, leading to the loss of vital data. “At this moment, no one is stepping forward to say, ‘We can take that responsibility,'” states Pierre Friedlingstein from the University of Exeter, UK. “It’s imperative that we do.”

Friedlingstein leads the Global Carbon Budget, an international initiative focused on accurately assessing carbon emissions and absorption by land and oceans, which is essential for understanding global temperature trends.

This work heavily relies on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), whose budget cuts are proposed by the Trump administration. A 2026 budget document suggests eliminating funding for climate and weather research and decreasing the workforce by over 2,000 employees. Furthermore, it plans to close labs, including the Mauna Loa Observatory, a key CO₂ monitoring site.

“NOAA GML [Global Monitoring Laboratory] is essential for the Greenhouse Gas Program, which supports multiple functions,” says Ralph Keeling from the California Institute of Oceanography.

NOAA directly measures gas levels, including CO2, at various sites and aids in monitoring at additional locations worldwide. According to Friedlingstein, this includes calibrating measurements with samples sent from different areas.

The agency compiles and evaluates global data, leveraging subtle variations in CO2 levels across locations, combined with knowledge of atmospheric circulation, to trace CO2 flows accurately.

“NOAA provides critical baseline data,” Keeling noted. “If NOAA’s efforts cease, our ability to monitor CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions globally will diminish.”

“All of these responsibilities must be assumed by other organizations,” Friedlingstein observes.

However, exchanging the loss of monitoring sites and NOAA records for new data poses challenges. “This is where maintaining long-term consistency becomes crucial,” Keeling explains. “It can’t simply switch from one data set to another; this would compromise the reliability of trend analysis.”

There is particular concern regarding ongoing monitoring at Mauna Loa, which has been conducted since 1957, providing the longest continuous CO₂ record from a single location. NOAA supports the Scripps-led monitoring efforts.

“Without NOAA’s involvement, continuing nearby measurements becomes challenging, although not impossible,” Keeling states.

He also expresses worry about Scripps-led monitoring in Antarctica, which currently depends on NOAA personnel from the US Bureau. The site’s funding, sourced from the National Science Foundation, is also at risk.

“Antarctica represents the most significant long-term station in the Southern Hemisphere. Establishing a reliable long-term global average is just as critical as the Mauna Loa data, particularly for tracking variations between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres through large-scale carbon flows,” says Keeling.

CO₂ levels can also be monitored using certain satellites, which, according to Friedlingstein, measure CO₂ not just at the surface but throughout the entire atmospheric column up to the satellite.

When asked whether there’s a plan to substitute NOAA’s functions, the European Union’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service New Scientist reached out to the European Commission’s Defense Industry and Space Administration (DEFIS). DEFIS did not reply before the deadline for this article.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

If CO2 Capture Doesn’t Improve, Climate Warming Could Increase by Another 0.5°C

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Reducing emissions and capturing carbon is essential to limit warming

Richard Saker/Alamy

The planet must eliminate hundreds of billions of tons of carbon dioxide to keep global temperature rise under 1.5°C this century. Even the less ambitious 2°C targets seem increasingly unattainable without substantial carbon capture and removal (CDR) technologies and urgent emission reductions.

The contentious role of carbon management technologies in meeting climate objectives has been debated for some time. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a degree of carbon management is “inevitable” for reaching zero emissions required to stabilize global temperatures. However, it stresses that the necessary technologies have yet to be validated at the needed scale and emphasizes the risk of providing justifications for continued emissions.

“There’s an ongoing debate among scientists about whether CDR is essential or fundamentally unfeasible,” says Candelaria Bergero from the University of California, Irvine. “Some argue that CDR is unavoidable,” she adds.

To assess what is at stake, Bergero and her research team simulated the potential for global temperature increases to stay below 2°C while analyzing CO2 management across various emission scenarios aligned with the Paris Agreement targets. These scenarios incorporated both technological CDR methods like direct air capture and nature-based solutions such as tree planting, alongside varying carbon capture applications for emissions from power plants and industrial sources.

They determined that failing to capture or remove CO2 could lead to an additional 0.5°C rise in global average temperature by century’s end. Moreover, half of the carbon management predicted in the scenarios could induce about 0.28°C of warming, making it nearly impossible to restrict temperature increases to 1.5°C, even within frameworks that consider violations of that threshold.

While achieving 2°C warming targets might still be feasible without carbon management, researchers found that drastic emission reductions of 16% annually since 2015 are necessary. Such a rapid decrease appears unlikely given the increasing global emissions over the last decade, according to Bergero.

Furthermore, initiatives for scaling up carbon management aren’t progressing swiftly enough. According to Steve Smith at Oxford University, only 40 million tonnes of CO2 are currently captured and stored globally, and only about 1 million tonnes are removed directly each year.

“Like with other emissions reductions, countries frequently discuss ambitious long-term goals, yet lack immediate measures to implement the billions of tons of reductions necessary for these pathways to succeed,” he states.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Earth’s Atmosphere Reaches CO2 Levels Not Seen in Millions of Years

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Recent data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at the University of California, San Diego, indicates that the Earth’s atmosphere contains millions, and potentially tens of millions, of carbon dioxide molecules.

For the first time ever, the global average concentration of carbon dioxide—a greenhouse gas emitted from burning fossil fuels—surpassed 430 parts per million (ppm) in May. These measurements represent a record high, with an increase of over 3 ppm from last year.

The findings suggest that efforts to curtail greenhouse gas emissions and reverse the growing accumulation of CO2 are insufficient.

“Another year, another record,” stated Ralph Keeling, a professor of climate science, marine chemistry, and geochemistry at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, California; he commented. “I am saddened.”

Carbon dioxide, like other greenhouse gases, traps heat from the sun and can persist in the atmosphere for centuries. High levels of these gases contribute to rising global temperatures and other adverse effects of climate change, including increased sea levels, polar ice melt, and more frequent extreme weather events.

Since the pre-industrial era, CO2 levels in the atmosphere have sharply risen, primarily due to human activities that release greenhouse gases.

Just a few decades ago, crossing the 400 ppm threshold seemed unimaginable. This means that for every million molecules of gas in the atmosphere, over 400 would be carbon dioxide. The planet reached this daunting milestone in 2013. Current warnings suggest that CO2 levels could approach 500 ppm within the next 30 years.

Human society is now in uncharted territory.

According to Keeling, the planet likely experienced such high atmospheric CO2 levels over 30 million years ago, during a time with very different climatic conditions.

He noted the remarkable speed at which CO2 levels are rising.

“It’s changing very quickly,” he told NBC News. “If humans had evolved in an environment with high CO2 levels, the absence of suitable habitats would have likely shaped our evolution. We could have adapted to that world, but instead, we’ve constructed society and civilization based on the climate of the past.”

CO2 levels are typically illustrated using the Keeling Curve, named in honor of Keeling’s father, Charles David Keeling, who began daily atmospheric CO2 measurements in 1958 from the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii.

The Keeling Curve prominently displays the steep rise in CO2 since the Industrial Revolution, attributed to human-induced climate change.

Ralph Keeling and his colleagues at the Scripps Oceanographic Institute reported that the average atmospheric CO2 concentration for May was 430.2 ppm, while NOAA’s Global Monitoring Institute, which has been conducting separate daily measurements since 1974, noted an average of 430.5 ppm for the same month.

Monitoring atmospheric carbon dioxide levels is crucial for understanding how human activities impact the Earth’s climate. These measurements also serve as key indicators of the planet’s overall health.

“These measurements provide insight into the health of the entire system with just one data point,” Keeling explained. “We achieve a comprehensive view of the atmosphere through relatively simple measurement techniques.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

China’s CO2 Emissions Are Declining: Is This the Turning Point?

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Floating solar farm in Huainan, China is part of the country’s renewable energy expansion

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As the world’s leading emitter of carbon dioxide, China has recorded a slight decrease in emissions over the past year, despite an increase in electricity demand. This development signals a promising shift towards cleaner energy sources replacing fossil fuels, although there remains the potential for emissions to rise again.

This information comes from an analysis of China’s economic and energy statistics conducted by Lauri Myllivirta of the Finnish research organization, Research Centre on Energy and Clean Air. A report published in Carbon Brief notes that China’s CO2 emissions dropped by 1% in the past 12 months, with a 1.6% decline reported in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year.

This is not the first instance of reduced CO2 emissions in China; a similar drop occurred in 2022 due to the economic slowdown during the COVID-19 lockdown. However, this marks the first time emissions have decreased alongside increased electricity usage. “This significantly raises the likelihood that the current emissions reduction can be sustained,” said Myllivirta.

The primary driver for this trend is China’s significant expansion of solar, wind, and nuclear energy, which are gradually reducing the reliance on fossil fuel combustion for electricity production. Additionally, the shift away from carbon-heavy industries like cement and steel is contributing to this downward trend, along with a rise in electric vehicle use, which decreases oil demand.

If current trends continue, China’s carbon emissions may keep declining. This sustained drop suggests the country may have reached its peak emissions several years ahead of its 2030 target. According to Myllivirta, this represents significant progress in both tangible and psychological terms in the fight against climate change.

“If Chinese leaders recognize the importance of resolving emissions issues, it could position China as a stronger and more constructive participant in international climate discussions, inspiring other nations to follow suit,” he stated.

Nonetheless, various factors could lead to a resurgence in emissions levels. For example, extreme summer temperatures might drive up electricity consumption for air conditioning. Droughts, like those in 2022 and 2023, could impair hydroelectric output, necessitating increased reliance on coal and gas plants, as noted by David Fishman of the Lantau Group, a consulting firm in Hong Kong.

There is also uncertainty regarding the long-term impact of tariffs imposed during the Trump administration, which may introduce volatility to China’s emissions projections, as Myllivirta highlighted.

In the long run, China will need to harness hundreds of gigawatts annually to satisfy energy demand. Achieving these objectives will depend on the targets set by the Chinese government in its upcoming five-year plan, due in 2026, and on commitments made under the Paris Agreement leading up to this year’s COP30 Summit.

“The trajectory of global climate stability does not hinge solely on China’s actions this summer, but understanding what occurs with China’s emissions in the upcoming years and decades will be crucial,” Myllivirta concluded.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Chemistry expertise speeds up rocks’ ability to absorb CO2

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Olivine rock naturally reacts with carbon dioxide, but it’s a slow business

Renhour48 via Wikimedia/CC0 1.0 Universal

The new process will allow crushed rocks to capture carbon dioxide more quickly from the air by turbocharged with already widely adopted carbon removal techniques.

Natural silicate minerals such as basalt react with water and CO2 to form solid carbonic acid materials, a process known as reinforced lock weathering (ERW). Research suggests Spreading crushed silicate rocks on farmland increases the amount of carbon the soil can absorb, while improving farmer crop yields.

but Matthew Canan Stanford University in California believes that the carbon advantage of ERW is exaggerated as natural silicates do not reach the climate quickly enough to extract large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. “The data is very clear. They don’t weather at a useful speed,” he says.

Conversion of silicates into more reactive minerals increases weathering rates and makes ERW a viable climate solution, he says. Canaan and his colleagues Yuxuan Chen Stanford University also developed a method for producing magnesium oxide and calcium silicate using a process inspired by cement production.

“When you take calcium sources and magnesium silicate and heat it, you can make calcium silicate and magnesium oxide,” says Canaan. “The core reaction is what is called ion exchange, and it exchanges magnesium for calcium.”

“The reason it’s strong is because calcium silicate is reactive and so is magnesium oxide,” he says. “I put one reactive thing in and two come out.” The ingredients get the weather thousands of times faster than standard silicates, says Canaan.

The ki used in this process must be heated to 1400°C for the reaction, and energy may be provided by natural gas. This means that this method generates significant carbon emissions, but Canaan can capture these at sources or use several reactive minerals to capture the emissions at the site. It suggests that booking can offset it.

When the emissions associated with material production are taken into consideration, one ton of reactive material removes about one ton of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Researchers can now create 15 kilograms of reactive rocks per day, but they hope to turn the idea into a commercial venture by selling the materials to farmers for use on farmland.

Rachel James The University of Southampton, UK, challenges Canaan’s claim that traditional ERWs do not work, pointing to many documented examples of intensified weathering tests. However, she welcomes attempts to accelerate the weathering rate of silicate.

“The climate crisis now requires action, so what you can do to speed up weathering rates is extremely beneficial,” she says. “Weathering is essentially a slow process and frankly, we want to see meaningful carbon dioxide removal on a timescale of 10 years or more than 50 years.”

However, she warns that the team is likely to face problems with expanding production and deployment. She says that using minerals in agricultural systems does not guarantee that all captured carbon is permanently trapped.

Phil Renforth At Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, UK, the proposal is said to be a smart idea, but it takes more research to understand how it should be unfolded. “They essentially produce cement minerals, which may not be an ideal candidate mineral in addition to agricultural soils,” he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Record high CO2 emissions driven by drought, fires, and use of fossil fuels

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Wildfires in the tropics caused a slight increase in CO2 emissions, but most of that was due to burning fossil fuels

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Carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels in 2024 are expected to exceed last year's record levels, dashing hopes that global warming emissions will peak this year.

“Reducing emissions is more urgent than ever, and the only way to do that is by significantly reducing fossil fuel emissions,” he said. Pierre Friedlingstein At the University of Exeter, UK.

This is according to the latest global carbon budget. reporta preliminary calculation of CO2 emissions to date, including projections until the end of the year, prepared by Friedlingstein and his colleagues. The announcement was made at the ongoing COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, where countries aim to set new fiscal targets to combat climate change.

Last year, some researchers predicted a peak in emissions in 2024, but the report found that anthropogenic CO2 emissions would reach a record high of 41.6 gigatonnes in 2024, up 2% from the 2023 record. It has been revealed that the number is expected to increase. Almost 90% of that total is made up of emissions from fossil fuel combustion. The remainder is primarily due to land changes caused by deforestation and wildfires.

Fossil fuel emissions will grow at 0.8 percent, half as much as in 2023, but still higher than the average growth rate over the past decade. “[The slower rate] This is a good sign, but we are still miles away from reaching our goal,” says Friedlingstein.

Despite a long-term downward trend, projected emissions from land-use change also increased this year, mainly due to drought-induced wildfires in the tropics. Part of this increase is also due to the collapse of terrestrial sinks of carbon in 2023, which typically removes about a quarter of annual CO2 emissions from the atmosphere. This absorption decreased by more than 40 percent last year and in early 2024 as global temperatures soared due to El Niño.

“2023 is an amazing demonstration of what can happen in a warmer world when El Niño droughts and fires combine to create record global temperatures,” he says. pep canadel He is a researcher at Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Agency and co-author of this report. “Taken all together, the world's forests contributed almost a third less carbon dioxide from the atmosphere last year than they did in the previous decade.”

This will also increase emissions in 2024, but researchers expect this “land carbon sink” to largely recover as the warming effects of El Niño fade. “This is not a long-term collapse,” Friedlingstein says.

The report reveals that China's CO2 emissions, which emit almost a third of the world's total emissions, are projected to increase by only 0.2% in 2024 compared to 2023. . Canadel said this forecast of China's emissions has a large margin of error, so they may actually be stable or even declining. India's emissions have also slowed down from last year, increasing by just under 5%. In the US and EU, emissions continued to decline, albeit at a much slower pace than last year.

Increased demand for electricity to power air conditioners due to higher temperatures is also a key reason why fossil fuel emissions will continue to rise despite a massive build-up of renewable energy in 2024. He says: Neil Grant At the German think tank Climate Analytics. Whether it's from electric vehicles, data centers or manufacturing, “most people seem to be a little surprised by the level of electricity demand this year,” he says.

If emissions continue at this level, the world will exceed its carbon budget to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels within six years, and exceed its budget to limit warming to 2°C within 27 years, the report says. Pointed out. .

“We have to accelerate, accelerate, accelerate, accelerate the transition to renewable energy,” Candell said. “Climate change is like a slippery slope and we can keep falling. We need to slam on the brakes as hard as we can to avoid falling.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Container Ship Trials New System to Capture Its Own CO2 Emissions

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Approximately 3% of all carbon emissions come from shipping

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A container ship with a total length of 240 meters. sounion trader recently completed testing its onboard carbon capture system while cruising around the Persian Gulf. The ship has space to hold tons of carbon dioxide, joining a small but growing number of ships seeking to reduce their impact on climate change by capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions onboard. is difficult to find.

“We're miniaturizing systems that were designed for huge power plants,” he says. Louja Wen Seabound, a UK-based startup that is helping test run Sounion Trader.

Shipping accounts for approximately 3% of global CO2 emissions. To reduce it, shippers are using cleaner fuels, painting their hulls with foam to improve fuel efficiency, and even going back to sail. However, short-term options for achieving the industry's commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 are limited.

Another possibility is to capture ship emissions. keep on board, but faces major obstacles. One is to provide energy to recharge the chemical adsorbents used to absorb CO2. tristan smith Researchers at University College London say some existing systems increase fuel use by a third just to capture half of the CO2 emissions.

The system, and the carbon it captures, also takes up space on the ship that would normally be used for valuable cargo. “Space is an issue,” he says. jasper ross At the Dutch research institute TNO. “Especially when you're talking about long voyages.” About three tonnes of CO2 is produced for every tonne of fuel burned. George Malupas At the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute. Once captured and stored, the added mass can affect the ship's stability and reduce fuel efficiency.

Wen said Seabound's small-scale tests captured about 1 tonne of CO2 per day. Although this is only a fraction of the ship's overall emissions, a full-scale system could capture as much as 95 percent of the ship's CO2, she says.

To save energy, Seabound moves some of its processes onshore. On ships, the exhaust air passes through a calcium oxide adsorbent and reacts with CO2 to form solid calcium carbonate pebbles. The company will then wait to refill the adsorbent until the pebbles are offloaded at the port for permanent storage. The tradeoff is space. Seabound's approach means the ship must carry tanks of sorbent with every ton of her CO2 captured. Still, Wen said the company aims to retrofit 1,000 ships for carbon capture by 2030.

Dutch company Value Maritime has taken a similar approach, using liquid amine adsorbents to capture carbon dioxide and refill it offshore. Yvette van der Sonmen Value Maritime says 26 ships are currently using its system in parallel with existing sulfur pollution scrubbers to capture up to 40 percent of CO2 in their exhaust, but the process is still being managed by third parties. Not certified by She said the company sells some of the captured CO2 to greenhouses to use as fertilizer for plants, but much of it remains in tanks at the port.

Such systems may now look attractive for reducing emissions, Smith says. However, the rapid scale-up of cleaner transportation fuels could quickly make them obsolete unless very high recovery rates can be achieved at sufficiently low costs. “The shipping industry currently has a very short window to decarbonize, because it has been very slow to start decarbonizing,” he says.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Seabed trawling is a significant contributor to global CO2 emissions

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In bottom trawling, a weighted net is dragged across the ocean floor.

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Bottom trawling releases about 340 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year, according to the first study to estimate these emissions. This represents almost 1% of the world's CO2 emissions, but is a major contribution that has been overlooked until now.

Trawling involves dragging a weighted net across the ocean floor to capture bottom-dwelling fish, crustaceans, and shellfish. Although this method of fishing is widely used around the world, it is controversial because the fishing gear damages undersea environments such as cold-water reefs. Some corals are thousands of years old.

“Trawling is a highly destructive fishing method as the nets and weights dragged along the bottom destroy marine habitat, which can take years to rebuild and recover.” he says. Micah Peck from the University of Sussex, UK, was not involved in the study.

It also stirs up sediment, releasing the oxygen needed by microorganisms to break down organic matter into carbon dioxide. Otherwise, these deposits could continue to accumulate for thousands of years, with the organic matter within them preserved by low-oxygen conditions. This means that carbon is effectively trapped.

In 2021, trisha atwood Researchers at Utah State University in Logan combined a study that looked at the amount of carbon dioxide released during trawling with data on the global scale of trawling. global fishing watch.The team concluded that released in large quantities into the seawater.

But the big unanswered question was how much of the CO2 released from the sediments would be emitted into the atmosphere.

“A lot of countries and different institutions started contacting us about that research,” Atwood says. “But they basically said, as long as it just stays in the ocean, we don't really care.”

So the team teamed up with researchers who had developed computer models of ocean circulation. According to these models, about 55 percent of the CO2 released into the water by trawling will be released into the atmosphere after nine years.

“I was surprised that more than half of them came out,” Atwood said. “And it shows up very quickly.”

According to the global carbon budget, the total amount of CO is2 emissions from human activities Increased to 40.9 billion tons Therefore, if the team's estimates are correct, trawling accounts for about 0.8 percent of global emissions. Air and maritime transport: 2.8%.

Conservationists say the discovery strengthens the case for reducing trawling. “Many marine habitats are trawled at least once a year, resuspending sediment and releasing carbon into the atmosphere,” Peck said. “Banning destructive fishing practices is key to the future of healthy marine ecosystems and the marine ecosystems that depend on them.”

“Measures to reduce the carbon impact of trawling gear are urgently needed, but they must be done as part of a just transition,” said Gareth Cunningham. marine conservation association, is calling for a ban on trawling in so-called marine reserves around the UK. “There is no one-size-fits-all model and solutions will vary by location.”

However, not all researchers are satisfied with this number. “I'm very skeptical of their estimates,” he says. Jan Gerd Hiddink At Bangor University, UK.

Hiddink believes that much of the carbon that reaches the ocean floor is in forms that are difficult to decompose, such as bones, and that carbon is not released even when sediments are disturbed.Atwood's team is probably overestimate emissions Up to 1000x, he claims.

Atwood said this estimate is based on actual measurements. “We conducted a study to measure the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from the ocean floor in areas where trawling takes place,” she says.

She says that the amount of carbon dioxide emitted could be more or less than these studies suggest, although there is a lot of uncertainty because so few such studies have been done. says.

Mr Atwood says the government needs to start calculating the carbon footprint of trawling. “This allows us to decide whether emissions should be regulated,” she says.

What is clear is that Global Fishing Watch's trawling data is based on boats sending automatic signals to satellites, and many trawlers do not have such systems, so the extent of trawling remains under-studied. That means it's bigger than expected.

“We know that we underestimate the global scale and perhaps the intensity of trawling,” Atwood says.

The trawling industry also has an opportunity to sell carbon credits in exchange for reduced emissions, she says. “If you were to put a price on it in today's independent market, it's a $100 million market.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New findings on ancient climate analysis suggest that CO2 is contributing to more warming than previously believed

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A diagram of Earth 65 million years ago, when CO2 levels were much higher than today.

Chris Butler/Science Photo Library

Perhaps the most difficult question in climate science. That is, how much global warming does carbon dioxide cause? A new analysis of 66 million years of Earth’s climate history suggests that the Earth is far more sensitive to greenhouse gases than current climate models predict, which could lead to even warmer temperatures in the long term. This means that there is a possibility of further development.

A key factor determining the impact of our emissions on the planet is how much the planet warms in response to the extra CO2 we pump into the atmosphere. This sensitivity is affected by various feedback loops related to clouds, melting ice sheets, and other influences.

One way to measure this sensitivity is to look at how the climate has changed in the past. Gases trapped in ice cores can only take us back about 800,000 years, so to go even further back in time to look at temperatures and CO2 levels in the atmosphere, researchers used proxies. Masu. For example, the density of pores in plant leaves and the isotope levels in the fossil shells of marine organisms change in response to CO2 levels.

However, discrepancies between different proxies have led to an uncertain view of Earth’s ancient climate. Now, an extensive review by a team of over 80 researchers provides a clearer picture. More accurate representation of ancient CO2 levels. “We now have a much clearer picture of what carbon dioxide levels have been in the past,” he says. Berber Henisch He coordinated the project at Columbia University in New York.

This allows us to understand current CO2 levels in the atmosphere alongside the deep past. This indicates that the last time CO2 levels were as consistently high as they are now was about 14 million years ago, and much earlier than that. previous estimate.

By comparing this new CO2 data with temperature records, “we can learn how sensitive the climate has been to changes in carbon dioxide,” Hoenisch says. Current climate models estimate that doubling his CO2 levels in the atmosphere would result in a warming of 1.5°C to 4.5°C. However, the results suggest that the temperature increase is even larger, between 5°C and 8°C.

However, there is a big caveat. This new insight into the history of Earth’s deep climate covers trends over hundreds of thousands of years, rather than the short timescales of decades or centuries that are relevant to humanity today, and therefore It doesn’t tell you what the temperature is likely to be. “It’s a slow cascading effect that slowly kicks in,” Hoenisch says.

The vast time scales covered in this study also mean that details of climate sensitivity cannot be detected. michael man Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania say climate sensitivities may have been different at other times in Earth’s history compared to today, which is likely why the study yielded higher estimates than those based on more recent periods. I think this explains why I got there.

“The bottom line is that the climate sensitivity estimates from this study probably don’t apply to current anthropogenic warming,” Mann says. “Nonetheless, this study confirms a very close relationship between CO2 and global temperatures, highlighting the continuing threat of fossil fuel combustion.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com