scholarly journals Moral Conflicts of several “Green” terrestrial Negative Emission Technologies regarding the Human Right to Adequate Food – A Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 37-45
Author(s):  
Patrick Hohlwegler
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Carbon Capture And Storage ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Moral Conflicts ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Adequate Food ◽  
Negative Emission ◽  
Negative Emission Technologies

Abstract. Several terrestrial Negative Emission Technologies (tNETs), like Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), Afforestation/Reforestation (AR) and Enhanced Weathering (EW), rely on natural processes and could therefore be designated as “green” forms of geoengineering. However, even those “green” tNETs may lead to undesirable side effects and thereby provoke moral concerns and conflicts. In this paper, I investigated whether BECCS, AR and EW would cause moral conflicts regarding the human right to adequate food if implemented on a scale sufficient to limit global warming “to well below 2 ∘C”. Reviewing recent publications concerning BECCS, AR and EW, I found that EW would not conflict with the human right to adequate food but would likely even promote agricultural food production due to a higher nutrient provision. However, EW does not provide a feasible solution to limit global warming “to well below 2 ∘C”, since a large-scale deployment of EW would require large investments and considerable amounts of energy to grind suitable rock-material. In regard of BECCS and AR, I found that even under the optimistic Representative Concentration Pathway 2.6 (RCP2.6), as assessed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its latest assessment report from 2013, a large-scale deployment of BECCS and/or AR would cause moral conflicts regarding the human right to adequate food for present and future generations. Due to this, I advocate for more and stronger mitigation efforts in line with efficient land management actions concerning, e.g. peats and soils, designated as “natural climate solutions” (NCS) and a deployment of multiple tNETs in near future.

scholarly journals ESD Ideas: Photoelectrochemical carbon removal as negative emission technology

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias M. May ◽  
Kira Rehfeld
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
World Population ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Negative Emissions ◽  
Negative Emission ◽  
Viable Approach ◽  
Negative Emission Technologies

Abstract. The pace of the transition to a low-carbon economy – especially in the fuels sector – is not high enough to achieve the 2 ∘C target limit for global warming by only cutting emissions. Most political roadmaps to tackle global warming implicitly rely on the timely availability of mature negative emission technologies, which actively invest energy to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it permanently. The models used as a basis for decarbonization policies typically assume an implementation of such large-scale negative emission technologies starting around the year 2030, ramped up to cause net negative emissions in the second half of the century and balancing earlier CO2 release. On average, a contribution of −10 Gt CO2 yr−1 is expected by 2050 (Anderson and Peters, 2016). A viable approach for negative emissions should (i) rely on a scalable and sustainable source of energy (solar), (ii) result in a safely storable product, (iii) be highly efficient in terms of water and energy use, to reduce the required land area and competition with water and food demands of a growing world population, and (iv) feature large-scale feasibility and affordability.

scholarly journals Ideas: Photoelectrochemical carbon removal as negative emission technology

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias M. May ◽  
Kira Rehfeld
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
World Population ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Negative Emissions ◽  
Negative Emission ◽  
Viable Approach ◽  
Negative Emission Technologies

Abstract. The pace of the transition to a low-carbon economy – especially in the fuels sector – is not high enough to achieve the 2 °C target limit for global warming by only cutting emissions. Most political roadmaps to tackle global warming implicitly rely on the timely availability of mature negative emission technologies, which actively invest energy to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it permanently. The models used as a basis for decarbonisation policies typically assume an implementation of such large-scale negative emission technologies starting around the year 2030, ramped up to cause net negative emissions in the second half of the century and balancing earlier CO2 release. On average, a contribution of −10 Gt CO2/year is expected by 2050.(Anderson and Peters, 2016) A viable approach for negative emissions should (i) rely on an unlimited source of energy (solar), (ii) result in a safely storable product (e.g. liquid or solid, not gaseous), (iii) be highly efficient in terms of water and energy use, to reduce the required land area and competition with water and food demands of a growing world population and (iv) be large-scale feasibility and affordability.

Public perception and acceptance of negative emission technologies – framing effects in Switzerland

2021 ◽  
Vol 167 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariane Wenger ◽  
Michael Stauffacher ◽  
Irina Dallo
Keyword(s):  
Moral Hazard ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
The Public ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Negative Emission ◽  
Public Opinion Perception ◽  
Negative Emission Technologies ◽  
Technological Fix

AbstractLimiting global warming to 1.5 °C requires negative emission technologies (NETs), which remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and permanently store it to offset unavoidable emissions. Successful large-scale deployment of NETs depends not only on technical, biophysical, ecological, and economic factors, but also on public perception and acceptance. However, previous studies on this topic have been scarce. In 2019, Switzerland adopted a net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 target, which will require the use of NETs. To examine the current Swiss public perception and acceptance of five different NETs, we conducted an online survey with Swiss citizens (N = 693). By using a between-subjects design, we investigated differences in public opinion, perception, and acceptance across three of the most used frames in the scientific literature — technological fix, moral hazard, and climate emergency. Results showed that the public perception and acceptance of NETs does not differ between the frames. The technological fix frame best reflected participants’ opinion, whereas participants perceived the moral hazard frame the least credible and the climate emergency frame the most unclear. Moreover, our findings confirm the public’s unfamiliarity with NETs. We found no strong opposition, as participants indicated a moderate acceptance and a neutral evaluation of all five NETs, with afforestation standing out as the most accepted and positively evaluated NET. We conclude that, in the future, the public debate on NETs should be intensified, and the public perception should be monitored regularly to inform the development of NETs.

scholarly journals Impacts of Enhanced Weathering on biomass production for negative emission technologies and soil hydrology

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wagner de Oliveira Garcia ◽  
Thorben Amann ◽  
Jens Hartmann ◽  
Kristine Karstens ◽  
Alexander Popp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Production ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Pedotransfer Functions ◽  
Soil Hydrology ◽  
Rock Powder ◽  
Available Water ◽  
Negative Emission ◽  
Plant Available Water ◽  
Negative Emission Technologies ◽  
P Supply

Abstract. Limiting global mean temperature changes to well below 2 °C likely requires a rapid and large-scale deployment of Negative Emission Technologies (NETs). Assessments so far showed a high potential for biomass based terrestrial NETs, but only few included effects of the commonly found nutrient deficient soils on biomass production. Here, we investigate the deployment of Enhanced Weathering (EW) to supply nutrients to phosphorus (P) deficient areas of Afforestation/Reforestation and naturally growing forests (AR) and bio-energy grasses (BG), besides the impacts on soil hydrology. Using stoichiometric ratios and biomass estimates from two established vegetation models, we calculated the nutrient demand of AR and BG. By comparing the inferred AR P demand to different geogenic P supply scenarios, we estimated that 3–98 Gt C of the predicted biomass accumulation cannot be realized due to insufficient soil P supply for an AR scenario considering natural N supply. An amount of 2–362 Gt basalt powder applied by EW would be needed to cover P gaps and completely sequester projected amounts of 190 Gt C during years 2006–2099. The potential carbon sequestration by EW is 0.6–97.8 Gt CO2 for the same scenario. For BG, 8 kg basalt m−2 a−1 might, on average, replenish the exported K and P by harvest. Using pedotransfer functions, we show that the impacts of basalt powder application on soil hydraulic conductivity and plant available water, for closing predicted P gaps, would depend on basalt and soil texture, but in general the impacts are marginal. We show that EW could potentially close the projected P gaps of an AR scenario, and exported nutrients by BG harvest, which would decrease or replace the use of industrial fertilizers. Besides that, EW ameliorates soil capacity to retain nutrients, soil pH, and renew soil nutrient pools. Last, EW applications could improve plant available water capacity depending on deployed amounts of rock powder – adding a new dimension to the coupling of land-based biomass NETs with EW.

scholarly journals Assessing China’s efforts to pursue the 1.5°C warming limit

Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 372 (6540) ◽  
pp. 378-385
Author(s):  
Hongbo Duan ◽  
Sheng Zhou ◽  
Kejun Jiang ◽  
Christoph Bertram ◽  
Mathijs Harmsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Gross Domestic Product ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Carbon Accounting ◽  
Power Sector ◽  
Cross Model ◽  
Emission Pathway ◽  
Negative Emission ◽  
Negative Emission Technologies

Given the increasing interest in keeping global warming below 1.5°C, a key question is what this would mean for China’s emission pathway, energy restructuring, and decarbonization. By conducting a multimodel study, we find that the 1.5°C-consistent goal would require China to reduce its carbon emissions and energy consumption by more than 90 and 39%, respectively, compared with the “no policy” case. Negative emission technologies play an important role in achieving near-zero emissions, with captured carbon accounting on average for 20% of the total reductions in 2050. Our multimodel comparisons reveal large differences in necessary emission reductions across sectors, whereas what is consistent is that the power sector is required to achieve full decarbonization by 2050. The cross-model averages indicate that China’s accumulated policy costs may amount to 2.8 to 5.7% of its gross domestic product by 2050, given the 1.5°C warming limit.

scholarly journals Climate change scenarios as a driver for “Raсe to Zero” campaign

2021 ◽  
Vol 114 ◽  
pp. 01006
Author(s):  
Leonid Sorokin
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Average Temperature ◽  
The World ◽  
Negative Emission ◽  
Earth’S Climate ◽  
Negative Emission Technologies

The Race to Zero is the largest credible alliance aiming to reduce twice emissions by 2030, with the main goal of moving towards a carbon-zero economy by 2050. Zero emission technologies can reduce the greenhouse gas concentrations in Atmosphere that can help to slowdown the Global Warming but for making the Earth’s climate system more stable we need implement Negative emission technologies. Negative emission technologies can significantly reduce the greenhouse gas concentrations in Atmosphere that can getting down the global average temperature to the pre-industrial level and prevent Global Warming and future Sea Level Rise. The currently observed climatic changes cannot be completely explained by the increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Taking into account the impact of methane emissions, including the Polar Regions and the World Ocean, it will be possible to explain rapid changes in the Earth's climate. For getting the Earth’s climate system stable and predictable we need to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere and the global average temperature to the pre-industrial levels. If this aims cannot be achieved then Climate Change and associated with Global Warming future Sea Level Rise in the nearest future would be the most important Risk factors in the Global World and World Economy, that can provide the world massive losses and economic crisis.

scholarly journals Global Warming and Technologies for Carbon Capture and Storage

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 1671-1686
Author(s):  
O.S. Bull ◽  
I. Bull ◽  
G.K. Amadi
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Carbon Capture And Storage ◽  
Ice Caps ◽  
Metal Organic ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
And Storage

Global concern about climate change caused by anthropogenic activities, such as the large scale use of fossil fuels as major energy sources for domestic and industrial application, which on combustion give off carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Deforestation is also reducing one of the natural sinks for CO2. These anthropogenic activities have led to an increase in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere and have thus resulted in the warming of the earth’s surface (Global Warming), droughts, melting of ice caps, and loss of coral reefs. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and other variety of emerging technologies and methods have been developed. These technologies and methods are reviewed in this article. Keywords: Global warming, carbon capture and storage, amine-based absorbents, Metal-Organic Frameworks

scholarly journals Boundary Work and Interpretations in the IPCC Review Process of the Role of Bioenergy With Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) in Limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Hansson ◽  
Jonas Anshelm ◽  
Mathias Fridahl ◽  
Simon Haikola
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Integrated Assessment ◽  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Boundary Work ◽  
Carbon Capture And Storage ◽  
Scientific Work ◽  
Significant Degree ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
And Storage

Paris Agreement-compatible emissions pathways produced by integrated assessment models (IAMs) often rely on large amounts of carbon dioxide removals, especially afforestation and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). These pathways feature prominently in the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to the extent that the IAMs have been granted an interpretative privilege at the interface between climate science, economics, and policymaking. The privilege extends to and influences climate governance, including governance of BECCS. This paper contributes to recent debates about the role of the IPCC, and its framing of BECCS, at the science-policy interface. By analyzing all BECCS-related expert review comments and author responses on the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, the paper shows that boundary work influences the representation of BECCS by authors referring to: (1) a limited scope or capacity; (2) a restrictive mandate; (3) what constitutes legitimate science, and; (4) relativizing uncertainties. The responses to the review comments indicate a significant degree of compliance on behalf of the authors. Yet, the revisions do not seem to go to the heart of the unease that runs through many of the reviewer comments, i.e., that BECCS seems to be presented as a viable CDR technology at grand scale. While several revisions serve to clarify uncertainties surrounding BECCS, some fundamental aspects of the critique are deflected, through the boundary work identified. What the analysis reveals, beyond a dissatisfaction among many reviewers with the focus on integrated assessment modeling, the associated pathway literature, and analysis of BECCS, is a disagreement about how model results should be interpreted and communicated. While acknowledging the herculean task of the IPCC and the efforts to improve the pathway literature that the SR1.5 triggered within the IAM communities, we argue that the identified boundary work also risks entrenching rather than problematize dominant framings of the feasibility of BECCS. Such entrenchment can counteract the ambition of opening up the scientific work of the IPCC to include more diversity in the process of drafting reports, and arguably also influence the governance of CDR.

scholarly journals Public perceptions of climate engineering: Laypersons’ acceptance at different levels of knowledge and intensities of deliberation

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 348-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Merk ◽  
Geraldine Klaus ◽  
Julia Pohlers ◽  
Andreas Ernst ◽  
Konrad Ott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Carbon Capture And Storage ◽  
Stratospheric Aerosol ◽  
Solar Radiation Management ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
The Past ◽  
Global Mean Temperature ◽  
And Storage

Over the past years, new options for addressing global warming and atmospheric CO2-concentrations ‐ such as bioenergy carbon capture and storage ‐ have been included in computer models that estimate how much more can be emitted before the global mean temperature increase surpasses 1.5°C. While the public in general remains mainly unaware of these, similar proposals in the past have triggered public protests. The prospect of public opposition therefore calls into question the use of these options in the models.Even if societies decarbonized rapidly, it is unlikely that they will achieve the 1.5°C target without also resorting to CO2 removal, by means, for example, of bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS). Such methods were included in the special report Global Warming of 1.5°C published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2018. This report also discusses solar radiation management, such as stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) which might be used to change global temperatures. However, public debate about the acceptability of these methods remains absent. We look at laypersons’ perceptions of BECCS and SAI at three stylized stages of increasing knowledge and deliberation. We found a high level of uncertainty among survey respondents as to whether to accept the use of these methods, which decreases when additional information is supplied by stakeholders. When comparing survey participants to members of a citizens’ jury, we found lower levels of acceptance for SAI and similar levels for BECCS among jury members who had deliberated the methods intensively. Despite fears of distracting from the aim of reducing emissions, decision-makers should publicly discuss these methods to avoid planning based on incorrect assumptions about the political feasibility of CO2 removal. People want to be informed about both approaches and the threat of SAI makes them focus their attention on mitigation.

scholarly journals The mutual dependence of negative emission technologies and energy systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1805-1817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Creutzig ◽  
Christian Breyer ◽  
Jérôme Hilaire ◽  
Jan Minx ◽  
Glen P. Peters ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Mutual Dependence ◽  
Negative Emission ◽  
Negative Emission Technologies

While a rapid decommissioning of fossil fuel technologies deserves priority, most climate stabilization scenarios suggest that negative emission technologies (NETs) are required to keep global warming well below 2 °C.

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