Context:
According to the Emissions Gap report, delaying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction will further increase the future dependence on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from the atmosphere.
Relevance:
GS III: Environment and Ecology
Dimensions of the Article:
- Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)
- Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Methods: A Comprehensive Overview
Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)
- Scope: Encompasses technologies, practices, and deliberate human interventions aimed at extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Significance:
- Climate Mitigation: Essential component of climate change mitigation efforts, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
- Global Impact: Holds promise in addressing the escalating climate crisis by actively mitigating anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions.
Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Methods: A Comprehensive Overview
Biochar:
- Production Process: Generated through the controlled burning (pyrolysis) of organic waste from agricultural and forest sources.
- Distinctive Features: Resembles charcoal but is a stable carbon form, minimizing atmospheric escape.
- Carbon Storage: Provides a safe method for storing carbon, reducing contamination during production.
Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS):
- Process: Involves bioenergy production through combustion, with subsequent capture and storage of resulting CO2 emissions.
- Objective: Prevents combustion emissions from contributing to the greenhouse effect.
- Sequestration: Captures and stores photosynthetically fixed carbon post-combustion.
Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS):
- Extraction: Directly captures CO2 from the atmosphere at any location.
- Storage: Permanently stores captured CO2 in deep geological formations or repurposes it for other applications.
- Technology: Uses electricity to remove CO2 from the air.
Enhanced Rock Weathering:
- Process: Involves pulverizing silicate rocks to accelerate the typically slow weathering action.
- Product: Yields a powdered form with increased reactive surface area, applied to agricultural lands for chemical reactions.
Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement:
- Approach: Includes adding alkaline substances to seawater to expedite the natural sink process.
- Objective: Accelerates the absorption of CO2 by seawater, enhancing the overall carbon removal.
Significance:
- Diverse Strategies: Showcases a range of methods from pyrolysis to ocean alkalinity enhancement for deliberate carbon removal.
- Technological Advancements: Reflects advancements in technology, offering solutions at various scales to address carbon emissions.
Overall Impact:
- Holistic Approach: Represents a comprehensive toolkit for carbon dioxide removal, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts globally.
-Source: The Hindu
