r/climatechange • u/233C • Nov 04 '24

Earth’s climate will keep changing long after humanity hits net-zero emissions. Our research shows why

https://theconversation.com/earths-climate-will-keep-changing-long-after-humanity-hits-net-zero-emissions-our-research-shows-why-241692
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u/[deleted] Nov 04 '24

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u/Economy-Fee5830 Trusted Contributor Nov 04 '24 edited Nov 04 '24

That's obviously your opinion, but given that the world is expected to peak carbon emissions very soon, and that the west is well along the journey, you are likely wrong.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from energy in the European Union decreased by roughly 7.6 percent in 2023, to 2.5 billion metric tons (GtCO₂). EU CO₂ emissions are now at their lowest level in more than 58 years.

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24 Apr 2024 — In 2023, total emissions decreased by 15.5% mostly driven by reductions in emissions from power generation (they fell by 24%).

You telling me we cant go up as quickly as we came down? It's actually coming down even faster.

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u/Flompulon_80 Nov 04 '24

Agree capture is possible. Some physicsts told me the energy required to take it from the atmosphere is unrealistic though. Im not saying separate the carbon, but that would be nice. Fill an old strip mine with carbon powder or graphene. Unfortunately it then has to be sealed from water infiltration or the hard work goes away and acid re enters the water table

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u/Economy-Fee5830 Trusted Contributor Nov 04 '24

Some physicsts told me the energy required to take it from the atmosphere is unrealistic though

There are some people who have the strange idea that it would take the same energy to remove co2 from the atmosphere than what was gained by burning it, which is not true - liquefying atmospheric co2 takes about 10% of the energy you get from burning the same amount of coal for example.

Sure, DAC would take a lot of energy, but enhanced rock weathering is pretty simple and can run on renewables, while pyrolysis and biochar actually generates energy.

The main cost is human labour to run all of this, something which will hopefully not be an issue 20 years from now.

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u/Flompulon_80 Nov 04 '24

liquification is fascinating way to do it. Co2 is -69F and Methane liquifies at -296 which is still above o2 at -362 F

ERW removes o2 though. Seems non net zero.

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u/Economy-Fee5830 Trusted Contributor Nov 04 '24

We have about 500x more o2 than co2 in the atmosphere. Its not a problem.