climate solutions

Polyethylene Terephthalate (otherwise known as PET plastic) is a clear, strong, lightweight plastic used for food and beverage containers, textiles, and many other things. It is one of the most pervasive forms of plastic piling up in the world’s oceans, in landfills, and elsewhere. Getting rid of it is a real challenge.

Scientists at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark have found a way to make use of waste PET plastic to address the pervasive problem of carbon dioxide emissions. There are a variety of methods in use for capturing the carbon dioxide in the exhaust from industrial facilities. They make use of various chemicals and sorbent materials that soak up the CO2 from the gas stream. Some are expensive, or unstable at higher temperatures, or require hard-to-get ingredients.

The Copenhagen researchers have developed a way to break down PET plastic by adding a chemical called ethylenediamine. The result is a new material they call BAETA, which is very effective in pulling carbon dioxide out of the air and binding it.

BAETA is a powdery substance that can be pelletized. In an industrial plant, exhaust would be transmitted through BAETA-containing units, which would cleanse it of CO2. The BAETA eventually gets saturated and then would be heated up in a chamber where the carbon dioxide would be collected and either stored underground or used for various purposes.

This cutting-edge invention is an example where one man’s trash could become another man’s treasure. It just might be a way to get rid of lots of waste plastic and carbon dioxide at the same time.

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Scientists transform plastic waste into efficient CO2 capture materials

Photo, posted June 8, 2021, courtesy of Ivan Radic via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

A new policy perspective published in Science by researchers at seven prestigious institutions looked at the role of natural science solutions in stabilizing the Earth’s climate for people and ecosystems. While they asserted that it is imperative to ramp up natural climate solutions, they also concluded that natural solutions alone will not be sufficient.

Natural science solutions include such things as enhancing carbon sinks from forests, agriculture and other lands. Doing these things are very beneficial in their own right as they lead to improved forests, croplands, grazing lands, and wetlands.

However, these things will not be enough to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and must be combined with rapid efforts to decrease emissions from the energy and industrial sectors. Among their various findings, the researchers warn that a ten-year delay in emissions reductions from these sectors could completely negate any potential benefits of natural climate solutions.

As has become increasingly clear, there is not an either-or situation with regard to the actions that need to be taken with respect to climate change.

Maximizing natural climate solutions and reducing emissions from the energy and industrial sectors will provide broad benefits beyond climate change mitigation. Doing these things will improve forests and habitats, reduce the risk of wildfires, and decrease air and water pollution thereby improving human health and well-being.

Of course, to reduce cumulative emissions and put a cap on the warming of the planet, there will need to be policy mechanisms and incentives in place that support both natural climate solutions and increasing mitigation efforts across the energy and industrial sectors.

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Natural Climate Solutions Are Not Enough

Photo, posted February 11, 2012, courtesy of Joao Andre O. Dias via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.