Lay person perceptions of marine carbon dioxide removal (CDR) – Working paper

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siri Veland ◽  
◽  
Christine Merk

This working paper presents first insights on lay public perceptions of marine carbon dioxide removal (CDR) approaches. In seven focus groups, three in Germany and four in Norway (including one pilot) the researchers asked members of the lay public to share their views of the ocean and the effects of climate change, four CDR approaches, as well as their reflections on responsible research and innovation (RRI) of marine CDR. The four CDR methods were ocean iron fertilization, ocean alkalinity enhancement, artificial upwelling, and blue carbon management through restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems. In addition, respondents were asked to compare the four approaches. Our findings indicate that the public will be very supportive of blue carbon management irrespective of its actual carbon sequestration potential, due in part to the perceived bad state of marine ecosystems worldwide. Participants were skeptical whether any of the CDR approaches could have relevant effect on carbon sequestration and long-term storage; they reasoned about issues such as the ability to scale up treatments in time and space, unforeseen or unforeseeable effects on ecosystems in time and space, and the role of industry in the implementation process. They argued that despite the potential availability of marine CDR, industry and the general public should stop polluting behaviors and practices. Nevertheless, the participants universally agreed that further research on all four CDR methods should be pursued to better understand effects on climate, ecosystems, local communities, and the economy.

2021 ◽  
Vol 494 ◽  
pp. 119343
Author(s):  
Adrián Pascual ◽  
Christian P. Giardina ◽  
Paul C. Selmants ◽  
Leah J. Laramee ◽  
Gregory P. Asner

2001 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald A. Tuskan ◽  
Marie E. Walsh

Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) are increasing along with global use of fossil fuels and worldwide rates of deforestation. These trends have led international panels and organizations to devise carbon management strategies in an effort to curb increases in CO2. The goal of this paper is to explore the potential role of short-rotation woody crops (SRWC) in the U.S. as one option in a carbon-managed future economy. On a scale of 40 × 106 ha, and at an average productivity rate of 21 Mg oven-dry biomass ha−1 yr−1, SRWC systems could account for an average of 0.30 Pg of C yr−1 when prorated over the 50-year deployment life of a typical SRWC system. Most of the accounted carbon (76%) would come from fossil fuel displacement as opposed to direct carbon sequestration. The proportion of accounted carbon associated with fossil fuel displacement increases with longer time frames due to the relatively rapid saturation of the carbon sequestration pool. Key words: Populus, biomass, carbon sequestration, carbon displacement, Kyoto Protocol, CO2


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
NAVEEN BP

Abstract The quantities of waste generation are drastically increased every day, and most of the waste is disposed off through open dump and landfilling. Methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide are major greenhouse gases (GHG’s) produced from landfill sites. However, the global warming potential of methane is 21 times higher than that of carbon dioxide. Hence, there is immense concern for utilization from landfill sites. In developing countries, the composition of municipal solid waste (MSW) has higher biodegradable waste (50–60%). This leads to emit higher GHG’s from a per ton of MSW compared to the developed world. In this study, the attempt will be made to estimate the amount of carbon stored in MSW burial in landfills. Tests were conducted in two different locations at the Mavallipura landfill. MSW samples were collected for every meter interval (1-2m, 2-3m & so on) up to 6m. The result shows that carbon stored in organic matter increases with depth from approximately 2.2% at 1.0 m depth to 4.8% at 6m depth. Based on MSW's carbon storage factor and data on MSW generation, global carbon sequestration from MSW burial in the Mavallipura landfill is estimated to be at least 10 million metric tons per year. Also, the study aims to quantify methane gas production from the ward levels and the Mavallipura landfill site in India.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-240
Author(s):  
Gisandu K. Malunguja ◽  
Ashalata Devi ◽  
Mhuji Kilonzo ◽  
Chrispinus D.K. Rubanza

Forests play a key role in climate change mitigation through sequestering and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, there is inadequate information about carbon accumulation and sequestered by community reserved forests in Tanzania. A study was carried to quantify the amount of carbon sequestered in two forests namely; Nyasamba and Bubinza of Kishapu district, northwestern Tanzania. A ground-based field survey design under a systematic sampling technique was adopted. A total of 45 circular plots (15 m radius) along transects were established. The distances between transect and plots were maintained at 550 and 300 m, respectively. Data on herbaceous C stocking potential was determined using destructive harvest method while tree carbon stocking was estimated by allometric equations. The collected data were organized on excel datasheet followed by descriptive analysis for quantitative information using Computer Microsoft Excel and SPSS software version 20, while soil samples were analyzed based on the standard laboratory procedures. Results revealed higher carbon sequestration of 102.49±39.87 and 117.52±10.27 for soil pools than plants both herbaceous (3.01±1.12 and 6.27±3.79 t CO2e/yr) and trees (5.70±3.15 and 6.60±2.88 t CO2e/yr) for Nyasamba and Bubinza respectively. The study recorded a potential variation of soil carbon sequestration, which varied across depths category (P < 0.05). However, there was no difference across sites (P >0.05) and species (P > 0.05) for herbaceous and trees. The findings of this study portrayed a significantly low value for carbon stocking and sequestration potential for enhanced climate change mitigation. Therefore, proper management of community reserved forest is required to accumulate more C for enhancing stocking potential hence climate change mitigation through CO2 sequestration offsets mechanism.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Bertram ◽  
Christine Merk

Public acceptability is a standard element on the list of potential constraints on research and deployment of ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR). We outline past work on the public perceptions and acceptability of ocean-based CDR among laypersons covering the main developments over the past 15 years. We compare and synthesize insights from two distinct strands of literature – one on climate engineering approaches and the other on coastal ecosystem management or blue carbon approaches. We also draw conclusions from studies on land-based CDR for emerging ocean-based approaches. Main determinants of perceptions identified in the past are controllability, environmental impacts, containment, permanence of carbon storage, risks and benefits for the local population as well as to which degree an approach is perceived as natural or engineered. We highlight how these aspects may influence perceptions and acceptability of ocean-based CDR approaches which have not yet been on the agenda of perceptions research. Even though ocean-based CDR approaches cannot be neatly divided into categories, the public's tendency to favor approaches perceived more as natural over approaches perceived more as engineering could result in a dilemma between approaches with possibly high carbon sequestration potential but low levels of acceptability and approaches with possibly low sequestration potential but high levels of acceptability. To effectively work toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions by mid-century, however, we need to bridge the gap between natural and engineering-type approaches, also in research, to come up with a broad portfolio of CDR options to complement classic mitigation and adaptation measures.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryce Van Dam ◽  
Mary Zeller ◽  
Christian Lopes ◽  
Ashley Smyth ◽  
Michael Böttcher ◽  
...  

Abstract Long-term “blue carbon” burial in seagrass meadows is complicated by other carbon and alkalinity exchanges that shape net carbon sequestration. We measured a suite of such processes, including denitrification, sulfur, and inorganic carbon cycling, and assessed their impact on air-water carbon dioxide exchange in a typical seagrass meadow underlain by carbonate sediments. Contrary to the prevailing concept of seagrass meadows acting as carbon sinks, eddy covariance measurements reveal this ecosystem as a consistent source of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, at an average rate of 610 ± 990 µmol m-2 hr-1 during our study and 700 ± 660 µmol m-2 hr-1 over an annual cycle. A robust mass-balance shows that net alkalinity consumption by ecosystem calcification explains >95% of the observed carbon dioxide emissions, far exceeding alkalinity generated by net reduced sulfur, iron and organic carbon burial. Isotope geochemistry of porewaters suggests substantial dissolution and re-crystallization of more stable carbonates mediated by sulfide oxidation-induced acidification, enhancing long-term carbonate burial and ultimate carbon dioxide production. We show that the “blue carbon” sequestration potential of calcifying seagrass meadows has been over-estimated, and that in-situ organic carbon burial only offsets a small fraction (<5%) of calcification-induced CO2 emissions. Ocean-based climate change mitigation activities in such calcifying regions should be approached with caution and an understanding that net carbon sequestration may not be possible.


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