Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Development through the Ages
It has been proven through data that carbon dioxide has affected planet Earth. Now, this is the next step.
Sitting in a basement laboratory at Columbia University, scientist Xiaozhou (Seán) Zhou churns iron waste, collecting data about the properties of iron, a project that aims to create sustainable iron that can capture carbon dioxide and store it.
Zhou is a postdoctoral research scientist with focus on metals and their waste products. His supervisor, Ah-Hyung (Alissa) Park leads a team in the Earth and Environmental Engineering laboratory with the aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS).
Involved in several life cycle assessment projects for different industries, particularly the Carbon Disclosure Project, Zhou expressed that carbon dioxide (CO2) may be classified within the “greenhouse gases” that absorb warmth from the surroundings and reflect a portion of the rays back to Earth’s surface. As the blanket of ozone thickens, the carbon dioxide rays become trapped in the planet having a global effect.
This greenhouse gas has warmed plants and animals for the past billions of years, however, human activity is increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, amplifying the natural temperature of planet Earth. This human impact began as early as the Industrial Revolution increasing when humans began to burn coal, natural gas, and oil to power equipment and transportation. Evidence is supported by the NOAA’s Mauna Loa Observatory on Hawai’i Abundance collection of data in parts per million (ppm), a used measurement for concentration of carbon dioxide emissions. In the 18th century, the concentration was 280 ppm and currently it has surpassed 402 ppm for the first time on record. To place these proportions into perspective, Carbon Visuals created a link to visually recognize how much CO2 gas humans are releasing.
A vast majority of climate scientists expressed their concern with the dramatic rise in carbon dioxide, causing an increase in planet temperatures. Other consequences include sea level rise due to melting glaciers, drought, shifting precipitation patterns, severe heat waves, and acidification of oceans.
Whilst discussing these carbon dioxide threats with Xiaozhou Zhou, he mentioned that lowering carbon dioxide isn’t just a matter of reducing the carbon footprint and seeking renewable resources, but also decarbonization. He stated,
After attending a lecture earlier this year given by the Global Energy Center, what is next? [The] key message [is] having these trading mechanisms or other policies subsidize could help this field to some extent. But the key solution is a breakthrough in economically viable technology.
Currently, the movement to reduce carbon dioxide includes various tactics such as reducing the consumption of carbon-based fuels such as gasoline, carbon-free or reduced carbon sources of energy including solar, wind, geothermal, hydrokinetics, nuclear and low-head hydro-power. Another approach includes the government’s involvement funds in Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CSS).
Zhou stated that the largest challenge in CCS is supplying the costs for this research project. Current ongoing research within Carbon Capture and Storage comprises of capturing CO2 in magnesium and calcium carbonates (minerals), injecting it underground, in addition to new analytical methods in industrial materials like cement (the second largest producer of carbon dioxide emissions) and steel-slag (waste).
Concluding the interview, Xiaozhou Zhou was hopeful in stating that:
better chemistry [comes at the expense of] a better price… So far, in the public eye, it seems [there have] not [been advancements] but things will come up soon… I believe that there are so many talented people that somebody will become a superman or superwoman to save [planet Earth from carbon dioxide emissions]!
Carbon dioxide emissions are a true inflection point to continue researching how to decrease CO2 in the environment. It is exemplified by the movement in science, economy, and even education as children world-wide are currently being exposed to carbon dioxide and informed of ways to reduce it through a voluntary approach. As Majora Carter mentioned in a TED talk, “economic degradation … begets environmental degradation that begets social degradation”, so the awareness is the first step towards understanding how to fix the current threat: carbon dioxide emissions.
