An overview of Carbon Dioxide, the problems it causes to our planet, and what we can do to minimize the problems.

1. Capturing CO2
Reversing Climate Change: The Global Resolutique
Kelly Kokaisel | Design for Community | Fall 2010

2. What is the problem with CO2?

3. Climate Change
 The Earth's climate has changed
many times during the planet's
history, with everything from ice
ages to heat waves.
 Natural factors such as volcanic
eruptions, changes in the Earth's
orbit and precession, and the
amount of energy released from the
Sun have affect Earth's climate.
 Beginning late in the 18th century,
human activities associated with the
Industrial Revolution have
changed the composition of the
atmosphere and are very likely are
influencing the Earth's climate. [6]

4. Climate Forcings
 Some factors that can shape
climate are variations in solar
radiation, changes in the Earth's
orbit, plate techtonics, and
changes in greenhouse gas
concentrations. CO2 is one
of these greenhouse gases.
 Feedback loops can amplify or
diminish these effects. Some
parts of the climate, such as
oceans and ice caps, respond
slowly in reaction to these
effects because of their large
mass. Therefore, the climate
system can take centuries or
longer to fully respond to new
external forcings. [5]

5. CO2 | Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a gas that
naturally comprises 0.039% of the
atmosphere. As of October 2010, carbon
dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere is at a
concentration of 388 ppm by volume. [5]
Climate impacts have led scientists to
conclude that we are already above the
safe zone, and that unless we are able
to quickly return to below 350 ppm this
century, we
risk reaching the
tipping point of irreversible
impacts such as the melting of the
Greenland ice sheet and major methane
releases from increased permafrost melt.
[7]

6. CCS | Carbon Capture Storage
 Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is one part of
a general strategy for reducing CO2 emissions to
combat climate change.
 "If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar
to that on which civilization developed and to
which life on Earth is adapted, CO2 will need to
be reduced from its current 385 ppm to at most
350 ppm."
 It is a hard task, but not impossible. We need to
stop taking carbon out of the ground and putting
it into the air. We need to start using using more
of our most abundant energy sources, solar and
wind energy and other such sources of
renewable energy. If we do, then the earth will
slowly and naturally cycle some of the extra
carbon out of the atmosphere, and eventually
CO2 concentrations will return to a safe level.
 “By decreasing use of other fossil fuels, and
improving agricultural and forestry practices
around the world, scientists believe we could get
back below 350 by mid-century. But the longer
we remain in the danger zone—above 350—the
more likely that we will see disastrous and
irreversible climate impacts”. [7]

7. What are some of the ways to
reduce atmospheric CO2?

8. Turning Carbon
Dioxide into Useful
Products
Massachusetts-based
Novomer has received
$18.4 million from the US
Department of Energy to
develop a process for
converting carbon dioxide
into polycarbonate
polymers that could be
used to make plastic
bottles. Since its
formation 4 years ago,
Novomer has been
developing a way to form
plastics that contain
between 40 and 50 per
cent carbon dioxide by
weight. [1]

9. Capturing carbon
with copper
Researchers at
Leiden University, have
developed a selective
copper complex
predisposed to capture
CO2 and ignore other
atmospheric gasses. The
trapped CO2 can be
The dinuclear copper(I) complex is oxidised in air by carbon dioxide rather than oxygen. removed through
electrochemistry,
requiring a relatively low
electrical potential to
replace lost electrons. [2]
Carbon dioxide is bound between two molecules of
the copper complex and converted to oxalate.

10. Underground
Storage
The IEA's Carbon Capture
and Storage Technology
Roadmap calls for
governments to invest US
$54 billion by 2020 to
fund 100 Carbon Capture
Storgae projects
worldwide, which would
capture carbon dioxide
and pipe it underground
for long-term storage. [3]

11. CO2-Eating
Bacteria
US researchers have
genetically modified
bacteria to eat carbon
dioxide and produce
isobutyraldehyde, which
could be a great fuel
alternative to gasoline.
The modified bacteria are
powered by sunlight,
which allows greenhouse
gases to be recycled into
useful chemical
feedstock.

12. Support Those Who Care
 Support government policies which promote
greenhouse gas emission reduction & capture.
 Support companies that operate with Triple Bottom
Line business practices.
 Reduce your own consumption of fossil fuels.

13. Thank You

14. Sources
 [1] Recycling CO2 to make plastic 28 July 2010
http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2010/July/28071001.asp
 [2] Capturing carbon with copper 15 January 2010
http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2010/January/15011001.asp
 [3] Trillions for CCS to fight climate change 21 October 2009
http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2009/October/21100901.asp
 [4] Bacteria turn carbon dioxide into fuel 15 November 2009
http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2009/November/15110901.asp
 [5] Carbon dioxide http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide#cite_note-0
 [6] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/basicinfo.html
 [7] 350.org http://www.350.org/en/about/science