Carbon Sequestration Alternatives

What Are Some Carbon Sequestration Alternatives?

As scientists and environmentalists around the globe seek solutions to the significant problem of global warming caused by excessive carbon emissions, a variety of solutions are being considered to counteract the threat. Considerable attention is being given to measures which may force a reduction in carbon production through efficiencies in product manufacture and through the use of alternative, non-fossil fuel energies.

While it may not represent a sizable solution to the problem, many scientists argue that carbon sequestration could nevertheless provide relief, albeit in the shorter term. By concentrating on the removal of carbon after it has been produced, carbon sequestration can be geological or biological.

On the periphery of arguments supporting carbon sequestration, some scientists argue that it should be possible to utilize our vast oceans by injecting liquid carbon dioxide into remote ocean canyons. At certain depths the density will exceed that of water and thus the carbon would effectively form giant lakes. An inadequate amount of science supports this theory and as some significant environmental questions are unaddressed this option seems less likely.

Geological disposal and carbon sequestration seems possible, as a European research project has been disposing of carbon dioxide from power plants within depleted natural gas sinks for 10 years or more. It remains to be seen whether this could be scaled to a capacity that would make any difference in the long run, however.

Forests and Trees Seen as the Biggest Potential for Carbon Sequestration Initiatives

The world's forests are likely to retain the most attention when it comes to carbon sequestration as it has long been realized that trees actually absorb carbon from within the atmosphere and retain it for a considerable period of time. Environmentalists thus look on with horror when developing countries undertake widespread deforestation in the name of advancement.

Supporters of worldwide initiatives to address the problem of carbon and global warming suggest that forested lands within developing countries could be used within an emissions trading scheme, giving the developing countries additional incentive to halt deforestation and, in fact, sew vast new forests. As developing countries argue that they should not be required to commit to extensive changes as the developed (and more highly populated) countries are “more responsible” than them, this could be a powerful argument.

How to Maximize the Potential of Carbon Sequestration?

It is important that the process of deforestation is slowed as much as possible as, after all, it contributes greatly to the problem due to both process-related carbon emissions and the removal of carbon sinks at source. However, it is unlikely that such carbon sequestration will provide a comprehensive or viable enough alternative to bring all parties into agreement, to best effect.

Industrial processes of carbon sequestration are as yet in their infancy. Technological advances may one day enable us to produce carbon sinks at the very source of some of our most damaging emission points.

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