Why Removing CO2 from the Atmosphere is Urgent
In 1960, there were 316 parts per million of CO2 in the atmosphere. Today there are 420 parts per million.
Removing CO₂ from the atmosphere has become imperative as this increase is causing the current global warming effect now being experienced worldwide. Furthermore, this high CO₂ concentration is projected to grow to 550 parts per million by 2050 unless current mitigation efforts take effect.
In this video, Dr. John Breen, NEG8 Carbon’s CTO, speaks about what’s close to his heart – climate change and the role Direct Air Capture plays in mitigating the effects of CO₂.
In summary, Dr. Breen talks about:
Excess CO₂ in the Atmosphere
The concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere is now nearing 430 parts per million. This excess CO₂ is the primary cause of global warming, leading to severe and irreversible changes to the planet.
The Urgency of Addressing Climate Change
The year 2023 was the hottest on record, with 2024 likely to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This surpasses the target set by global leaders in 2015, highlighting the urgent need to reduce CO₂ missions and mitigate climate change.
The Need for CO₂ Removal Technologies
Reducing emissions alone is insufficient; we must also remove existing CO₂ from the atmosphere. Technologies like direct air capture are essential, particularly for industries like aviation and shipping, where CO₂ emissions are difficult to eliminate.
Technological and Human Innovation to Combat Climate Change
There is confidence in humanity’s ability to innovate and find solutions to climate change, as demonstrated by past achievements like developing vaccines and space exploration. With the right resources and determination, it is still possible to combat climate change effectively.
Collective Responsibility and Action
Everyone has a role to play in addressing climate change, from supporting legislative action to investing in new technologies. The mission is to prevent permanent damage to our planet and society, ensuring a habitable future for coming generations.
There are two challenges to help avoid the extreme impact of climate change
Challenge 1: Reduce Carbon Emissions
We must reduce the annual rate of carbon emissions from the current level of 38 Gtonnes CO2 to less than 14 Gtonnes per annum by 2050 with continued reduction thereafter. This is planned to be achieved through a worldwide effort to reduce fossil fuel consumption and other greening initiatives.
Challenge 2: Reduce the CO2 Concentration in the Air
We must reduce the concentration of CO2 already present in the atmosphere so that the concentration never reaches 550 parts per million. According to the International Panel on Climate Change:
“Even if the world achieved a stabilisation in CO2 emissions this would not translate into the same for atmospheric concentrations. This is because CO2 accumulates in the atmosphere based on “residence time”. Residence time is the time required for emitted CO2 to be removed from the atmosphere through natural processes. If we stopped emitting CO2 today, it would take several hundred years before the majority of human emissions are removed from the atmosphere.”
Direct Air Capture technology built at a sufficient scale will allow us, over time, to bring the existing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere back to safe levels.
This second challenge is the one that NEG8 Carbon addresses with Direct Air Capture (DAC) development (for more, see The Advantages of Direct Air Capture in the Fight Against Climate Change).
Finally, the stick/incentives for industry to embrace carbon capture technologies are now being adopted by governments. For example, the Irish government will impose a carbon tax of €100 per tonne of carbon by 2030 and this will drive industry mitigation efforts, particularly in those hard to avoid emissions industries. We expect that this carbon tax will grow as global warming accelerates and public opinion demands action.
Industry is seeking solutions to allow it to play its part in the climate change battle but these solutions will require joint academic, industry and government action.