„When we know the exact climate response to increasing concentrations of CO2 it may be too late“
In his talk, Torben R. Jensen showed the problems of carbon based energy sources and he proposed some alternatives.
What are the possible solutions for our energy problem?
- Saving energy: Is it true that more efficiency would lead to more production and thereby to again an increased energy consumption? Is saving energy really nonsense? Or may it help if all street lights would be turned off an hour earlier?
- Renewable energy sources: Is bio-ethanol in rivalry with food production? Could synthetic ethanol be a solution? Electricity produced in wind mills or solar cells is limited to periods of wind or sunlight and dependent on geographical issues. How to transport and store it?
- Energy storage: Is hydrogen the fuel of the future? Wouldn’t it be better to stay with the well-known carbon hydrides and the corresponding motors. Is there no way to recycle the emitted CO2 and synthesize new fuels from it?
While listening to the talk you got the impression that hydrogen may be a possible new energy carrier. But there are still a lot of problems to be solved like long-term storage and compression. This is were nanotechnology comes into play: may nano-pourous networks solve the problems?
At least it is impressive that things beeing so small may contribute to the macroscopic effect of global warming.
Where is the challenge regarding to climate change at the moment?
From a technological point of few we can solve the energy problem. We can build windmills, solar panels have acceptable efficiencies and with batteries and smart network solutions we can coordinate the distribution of the energy. I see at the moment two large hurdles.
Let’s first be clear. Time is running out. The limit of CO2 in the atmosphere is laid at 450 ppm and this would cause 2 degrees of global heating. It is believed that the earth can sustain this but how is this decided (yes decided). By politics! During international conferences such as the Kyoto protocol and the reports of the IPCC (UN) the conclusions have to be acceptable for all joining countries. Developing (but also developed) countries want to lower the consequences of climate change because the needed measurements are bad for economical development. Many scientists believe that 2 degrees rise can occur at even a lower CO2 concentration than 450. Time is running out these levels can be reached within about 20 years.
Global CO2 emissions have been rising also for the last years. China announced that the will not cut back their emissions before 2050. And policy in Europe tries to cut back emissions but it is likely that it will not work.
Technology is already there (of course it should always be improved among others with the help of nano). The problem is true actions. The world is not taking it serious and is not taking action with impact. The solution is political and social (people are not willing to cut back on wealth and this is needed in the future).
Now first the fondue :) so put up your comments!
Adorabili capi peer neonati, bambini еd ragazzi.