From our course load and previous scientific course knowledge, we are all aware of some of the dangers that are inherent with carbon dioxide. Our Earth’s ability to absorb and filter carbon dioxide is limited and we cannot afford to depend on our oceans to prevent major change in the world that we know. Reports from the IPCC insist that irreversible temperature changes can be expected during our lifetime with a 1.5 degrees Celsius increase as soon as 2030. Further, the IPCC predicts an increase of 2 degrees Celsius by 2050. This increase would not be extremely noticeable during our daily lives, however experts emphasize that this is not the point. Technology exists that can help to eliminate carbon dioxide before it reaches levels of our atmosphere. This technology is called “negative-emmisions” and they are invaluable for climate goals set by global leaders. These technologies are not enough by themselves, but combined with emission cuts, they would jointly help us towards minimizing climate change. The FUTURE Act, a 2018 federal law, rewards negative-emmisions technologies,
“Nevertheless, there are some bright spots for NETs in the US, Pacala says. For example, a 2018 federal law, the FUTURE Act, provides a $50 tax credit for each metric ton of CO2 that is captured and stored underground. Also, recent changes to the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard program allows greenhouse gas polluters that fail to meet a declining state emission cap to buy emission credits from companies that captured and sequestered CO2. Those emission credits have been trading at $190 per metric ton. Both programs could generate funds for NET development.”
This rewarding of environmentally sound practices is necessary for more global involvement and investment in these technologies. As we discussed in class, large bodies of water, specifically oceans, absorb huge quantities of carbon-dioxide. Wetlands are just as important for their absorption qualities, thus making the need to preserve and protect these areas even more time-conscious. These areas absorb massive amounts of harmful carbon-dioxide, “The plants take in some 840 million t of CO2 each year. The National Academies report estimates this level could more than double in the near future with active restoration and wetland creation, reaching additional cumulative storage of 5.4 billion t of CO2 by 2100.”
Globally we can achieve our goals of minimizing our effect on the planet by preserving natural areas and resources before it is too late.
Works Cited:
https://cen.acs.org/environment/greenhouse-gases/Capturing-carbon-save-us/97/i8
https://joshuacross.com/florida-wetlands-guide/ (image)
