GROUND ATTACK: Minerals and biochar remove CO2
Many natural processes remove carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere, binding it so the greenhouse gas can no longer influence the climate. Now, scientists are trying to imitate nature – and might even help feed the world’s growing population in the process.
Moist mineral sucks up CO
Olivine is a mineral that exists in magma. The mineral reacts with CO in 2 the air, producing harmless substances that make up a natural part of the carbon cycle, including building algae shells. Water is vital for the chemical reaction, so beaches would be the ideal place to spread the pulverised olivine, so that the mineral is kept moist by the water.
Biochar could remove 12% of the atmosphere’s carbon dioxide
Biochar includes calcium, and originates when organic material is heated without oxygen; a series of reactions on the surface allow 1g of biochar to bind 18-34mg of CO , which 2 remains in the ground for thousands of years, also improving the soil and hence crop yields. Globally, 12% of the world’s CO could be absorbed by biochar. 2
Forests feast on CO
Trees are an efficient way of removing CO from the atmosphere, as photosynthesis binds the greenhouse gas. A first step would be to stop ongoing deforestation. Together with drainage of wetlands (which releases CO ), de-forestation is responsible for 13% of the world’s total carbon dioxide emissions. The potential of curbing such loss is therefore huge.