Initial Publication Date: May 23, 2012

Slowing Down an Amplifying Greenhouse Effect

Part B: Evaluating CO₂ Reduction Technology

The following scenario asks you to take on the role of a blogger evaluating some of the new carbon reduction technology.

The Scenario:

You have just graduated from college with a degree in journalism and an interest in climate science and technology. After spending several weeks sending out resumes to various newspapers, scientific journals, websites and blogs, you hear from WIRED—a prestigious magazine and on-line periodical that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, politics and the economy. WIRED is looking for someone with a background in blogging and climate science to start a new on-line blog on innovation and technology that will mitigate climate change.

WIRED has asked you to come in for a first interview and to bring a portfolio of your writing samples to the interview. In addition, WIRED has asked you to write a short piece on a new and promising technology or practice that claims to be able to reduce the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere thus mitigating the impact of present and future climate change. You will present your blog to an interview team comprised of your classmates and your teacher. At the end of the presentation, your interview team will have the opportunity to ask you questions.

WIRED has e-mailed you instructions for your blog presentation:

1. Choose a technology or practice that is designed to mitigate climate change by removing CO₂ from the atmosphere or by reducing the amount of CO₂ into the atmosphere. The technology can be in already in use, in the design pipeline or simply envisioned.

Show me some hints on choosing a CO₂ reduction technology or practice

Most mitigation strategies fall into seven basic categories: energy supply, transport, buildings, industry, agriculture, forestry and waste management. Look for technology or practice that interests you. Perhaps you are interested in forests. Then you might want to look for reforestation practices. Perhaps your family just purchased a hybrid car! Then you might want to choose a topic in transportation such as a biofuel. If you live on a farm or like to garden, then agricultural practices might interest you.
Be specific. Choose a technology or practice developed by a specific entity, such as a company, government agency, or university.
Don't choose a product such as an energy-saving air conditioner. You want to be able to explain how the design process works to reduce carbon and simply choosing a product won't give you that information.
Look to see if any designs or technologies are being developed or already in use near where you live — for example at a local university. If so, you can call and get information.
A regional focus may interest you. There are many organizations that are involved in regional projects.
Look for Hot Topics! Here are some hot topics that may give you ideas. Remember that many, if not all, of these strategies will have pros and cons.

Hot Topics:

carbon recycling and manufacture
green building designs
geothermal and air-source heating and cooling technologies
renewable energy such as hydroelectricity, solar, tidal, wind, bio-fuels/synfuel
capturing CO₂ from power plants and storing it in rock layers (geological carbon sequestration)
no-till agriculture
iron and nutrient fertilization in oceans
reforestation
carbon mineralization and accelerated weathering
artificial trees or direct air capture (DAC)
Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS)

Show me some websites to research climate change mitigation technologies and practices

Looking for topics? Here are some websites that may give you ideas to help get you started.

UNEP Climate Change mitigation
Switch to a Smarter Energy Future
NASA Energy Innovations
Department of Energy
Carbon Capture and Storage on Wikipedia.
USGS Geologic Sequestration
Popular Science
Carbon Emissions Articles
Environmental News Network: Science and Technology
Renewable Energy World
Energy Transition Articles
Carbon Capture & Sequestration Technologies @ MIT
ScienceDaily: Type a tag (for example: biofuels, hybrid cars, wind farms, carbon capture, or green technology) in the search bar.
(e) Science News: Type a tag (for example: biofuels, hybrid cars, wind farms, carbon capture, or green technology etc.) in the search bar.

2. Then, in a blog no longer than 5 paragraphs and including two visuals, report the following:

Describe the mitigation technology or practice. Is it already in use or is it still in the development phase or simply envisioned?
Explain how the technology or practice works to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Include a visualization of the design or technology.
Describe the (pros) potential benefits and (cons) potential drawbacks of the technology or practice. For example, are there risks involved? Does it cost too much? Does it harm the environment in any way?
Explain the potential of the technology or practice to mitigate the impact of present and future climate change.
Be prepared to share your technology or practice with your class for a class critique. Your class will be choosing the mitigation technologies and/or practices that have the most promise to mitigate climate change.

Discuss

The level of atmospheric CO2 is close to 415 ppm and continues to rise. Technologies and practices to reduce levels of CO₂in the atmosphere can be costly so organizations and governments must choose wisely. Take on the role of a government or an organization. Which of the technologies or practices described by your peers should your government or organization invest in? Why?

Choose two of the best CO₂ reduction technologies and/or practices described by your classmates during their presentations.
Compare and contrast them in terms of their potential to reduce current levels of atmospheric CO₂ to 350 ppm or perhaps even lower. Why should your government or organization invest in these two carbon reduction strategies compared to the others that were presented?

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