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Understanding the element that makes and breaks our world

How forests, oceans, and new tech could absorb excess CO2

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Carbon is everywhere. It is found in all living things, and life on Earth would not be possible without this unique element. 

Carbon is one of the only elements with four electrons in its outermost shell, except for silicon. This allows it to form strong and stable bonds, which are the building blocks of life. These include hydrocarbons, amino acids and other proteins. As a result, carbon-based compounds move constantly through living organisms, the oceans, the atmosphere, and the Earth's crust. 

Due to its versatile nature, carbon can also drive changes in the atmosphere and tilt the scales of global temperatures, which now the world struggles with as global warming is no longer just a faraway threat.

Scientists say that life has existed on Earth for about 4.5 billion years; our ancestors have been pretty good at handling carbon, at least 99 per cent of the time. Whatever carbon comes out from different organisms and the atmosphere goes right back to the Earth's core. However, slowly carbon has been destabilizing due to excessive burning of fossil fuels and deforestation of large areas around the globe.

CO2 is also released naturally through the decomposition of plants and animals. Carbon dioxide is a very effective greenhouse gas—with the capability to absorb infrared radiation emitted from Earth’s surface. As CO2 concentration rises in the atmosphere, more infrared radiation is retained, and the average temperature of Earth’s lower atmosphere rises.

According to a 10-year research project undertaken by Deep Carbon Observatory (DCO) since 2009, Earth contains 1.85 billion billion tonnes of carbon. Scientists say that if it were all combined into a single sphere, it would be larger than many asteroids.

Most of the carbon is located deep into the Earth's mantle, and only about one per cent of the total is available in the atmosphere. The carbon in the air, land, and ocean amounts to just 43.5 trillion tonnes, which is gradually changing, tipping the geological scales of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the environment in the other direction causing destruction. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a regulatory agency in the US, reports that Earth's temperature has risen by an average of 0.11° Fahrenheit (0.06° Celsius) per decade since 1850, or about 2° F in total. The rate of warming since 1982 is more than three times as fast: 0.36° F (0.20° C) per decade.

India, a fast-growing economy, has seen a considerable jump in its carbon dioxide numbers. India recently submitted its Third National Communication (TNC) and Initial Adaptation Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2023. A report by the Down to Earth website noted that India’s net national emissions in 2019 stood at 2.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), a 4.56 per cent increase from 2016 levels and a 115 per cent increase since 1994, the TNC report reflected.

What is carbon ‘sequestration’?

In this fight against climate change, the concept of carbon sequestration has emerged as a powerful ally. It could be our savior in mitigating the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions and leaving a greener planet for our coming generations. At its core, carbon sequestration is the process of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and securely storing it away to prevent its release into the atmosphere. This can be achieved through various natural processes or advanced technological solutions.

Breaking down the terminology ‘sequestration’ also means the act of separating and storing a harmful substance such as carbon dioxide in a way that keeps it safe. Britannica, the encyclopedia, notes that CO2 is produced due to excessive anthropogenic (created by humans) activities such as the burning of fossil fuels from its long-term geologic storage –coal, petroleum, and natural gas- and has pushed it into the atmosphere.

Creating ‘carbon sinks’ can help mitigate these challenges. These sinks can be natural or artificial, and they play a vital role in balancing carbon emissions. These sinks will act as reservoirs that can absorb and store CO2, thereby reducing greenhouse gasses.

Natural carbon sinks include forests, oceans, wetlands, grasslands, and soil. These ecosystems capture CO2 through biological processes such as photosynthesis, in which plants and other organisms absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into organic matter. The carbon is then stored in biomass—such as trees, vegetables, fruits, flowers, and more. It can also be stored in the soil, where it can remain for varying periods, ranging from years to centuries.

How to push CO2 back where it belongs?

With evolving technology, researchers are continuously on the lookout for newer ways to sequester carbon. Currently, there are very two clear distinctions, natural or biological and the other one being artificial sequestering. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), improved agricultural practices and forest-related mitigation activities can make a significant contribution to the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at a relatively low cost. In simple words, growing more tree species that can hold more carbon in the ground can be a starting point—unfortunately, infrastructural development comes in the way. Researchers say we just don’t need a couple of hundred trees but dense forests and grasslands for this to truly be the solution and reduce our carbon footprint.

In the method of Geological Carbon Sequestration or Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) carbon is separated from other gasses contained in industrial emissions. It is then compressed and transported to a location that is isolated from the atmosphere for long-term storage. It is injected underground into geological formations such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs or saline aquifers, where they can be stored securely for long periods and later used.

A novel technology in the works is Coastal Carbon Capture which aims to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through the deployment of carbon-removing sand, which increases the alkalinity of seawater, which in turn will enhance the capacity of seawater to absorb CO2. Through this, the carbonic acid to bicarbonate and the consequent and subsequent uptake of CO2 from the atmosphere would be increased in seawater.

Crucial to sequester carbon

  • One of the top priorities is mitigating climate change. CO2 is a major greenhouse gas responsible for global warming and using different methods can reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere.
  • If we take the natural way such as allowing more forest covers, wetlands, and grasslands to grow, it's a win-win situation. Natural ecosystems will be restored, biodiversity will be conserved, soil erosion will be prevented, water will be purified, and temperatures will automatically drop.
  • Instead of depleting our non-renewable resources, the world can adopt sustainable energy and develop technologies that promote the use of energy systems available in abundance.
  • To get started, carbon sequestration can be used as a means to ‘offset carbon emissions’-- one compensates for various activities such as cutting forests, transportation, and industrial growth by investing in carbon sequestration projects and reducing carbon footprint.

While solutions are changing every day, climate action is not a one-time effort and needs strong commitment from policymakers that can be applied in a top-to-bottom fashion for a healthier planet.

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References

1. Haroon, A. M., Wille, M., Wilson, S. T., & et al. (2021). Oxygenated carbon export from the Arabian Sea oxygen minimum zone and implications for the global carbon cycle. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-021-00222-7 

2. Eiler, J. M., Cavanaugh, C. M., & et al. (2019). The Deep Carbon Observatory: A Ten-Year Quest to Study Carbon in Earth. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332691103_The_Deep_Carbon_Observatory_A_Ten-Year_Quest_to_Study_Carbon_in_Earth 

3. NOAA Climate.gov. Climate change: Global temperature. https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-temperature 

4. Down To Earth. 5% rise in India's GHG emissions since 2016 driven by energy, industrial sectors. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/pollution/5-rise-in-india-s-ghg-emissions-since-2016-driven-by-energy-industrial-sectors-94076 

5. Encyclopædia Britannica. Carbon sequestration. https://www.britannica.com/technology/carbon-sequestration 

6. National Geographic Education. Carbon sources and sinks. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/carbon-sources-and-sinks/

7. University of California, Davis. What is carbon sequestration? https://clear.ucdavis.edu/explainers/what-carbon-sequestration

8. UNDP Climate Promise. Forests can help us limit climate change: Here's how. https://climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/forests-can-help-us-limit-climate-change-here-ho

9. US Geological Survey. What's the difference between geologic and biologic carbon sequestration? https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/whats-difference-between-geologic-and-biologic-carbon-sequestration

10. Vesta Earth. CCC carbon removal. https://www.vesta.earth/ccc-carbon-removal

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