Innovative Technologies That Are Emerging To Combat Climate Change

Written by Ryan Ghaemi.

Introduction
To begin with, climate change is caused by long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns which are meant to be natural due to the changes in the sun’s activity or large possible volcanic eruptions. Climate change has been well known since the 1800s and the Industrial Revolution in which human activities have been the main driver of climate change since humans can burn fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. In addition to climate change, greenhouse gas emissions are known through burning fossil fuels and the main greenhouse gasses causing climate change include carbon dioxide and methane. Furthermore, a carbon footprint is the total
amount of greenhouse gasses generated by our actions. With this being mentioned, the average carbon footprint for a single person in the United States is 16 tons, one of the highest rates in the world. In comparison to the United States, the average carbon footprint is closer to 4 tons. Several innovative technologies are emerging to combat climate change and reduce carbon
footprints.

Carbon Capture And Storage (CCS)
Technologies such as CCS are emerging to reduce carbon dioxide emissions which can help tackle global warming. Carbon capture and storage is a three-step process that involves capturing the carbon dioxide produced by power generation or industrial activity, such as hydrogen production, steel making, and transportation. Following this, the step taken is to
permanently store it deep underground. In addition to this process, it is important to know that the carbon dioxide is transported from where it was produced through a ship or in a pipeline which is then stored deep underground in geological formations as mentioned. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) ruled that if achievements of the Paris
Agreement are made then we can limit future temperature increases to 1.5 Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit). You are probably asking, where was the first CCS facility? CCS has been in operation since 1972 in the United States where several natural gas plants in Texas have captured more than 200 million tons of carbon dioxide underground proving its effectiveness.

Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than consumed. Sunlight and wind are examples of sources that are constantly being replenished. Solar energy is the most abundant of all energy sources that can be harnessed in cloudy weather. Solar technologies convert sunlight into electrical energy through mirrors that concentrate solar
radiation or photovoltaic panels. According to the IPCC, the carbon footprint of rooftop solar panels is roughly 12 times less than natural gas and 20 times less than coal, in terms of carbon dioxide emissions per kWh of selectively generated.

Nuclear Power
Nuclear energy is a form of energy released from the nucleus, the core of atoms, made up of protons and neutrons. Nuclear power has a minimal carbon footprint of around 15-50 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt hour. In comparison, the average footprint of a gas-powered generator is around 450 g CO2/KWh, and for coal, it is around 1,050 g C)2/KHh. Nuclear power
can contribute a lot currently providing almost 30% of the world’s low-carbon electricity making it the second largest source after hydropower.

References
United Nations. (n.d.). What is climate change?. United Nations.
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change

The Nature Conservancy. (n.d.). What is your carbon footprint?. The Nature Conservancy.
https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/carbon-footprint-calculator/#:~:text=A%20carbon%20footprin t%20is%20the,is%20closer%20to%204%20tons.

Nationalgrid. (n.d.). What is carbon capture and storage?. CCS explained | National Grid Group.
https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/what-is-ccs-how-does-it-work

United Nations. (n.d.-b). What is renewable energy?. United Nations.
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-renewable-energy#:~:text=Renewable%20energy%20is%20energy%20derived ,plentiful%20and%20all%20around%20us.

Wigness, S. (2023, August 31). What is the carbon footprint of solar panels?. Solar.com.
https://www.solar.com/learn/what-is-the-carbon-footprint-of-solar-panels/#:~:text=Installing%20solar%20panels%20on%20 your,they%20are%20installed%20and%20operational.

IAEA. (2022, November 15). What is nuclear energy? The Science of Nuclear Power. IAEA.
https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-is-nuclear-energy-the-science-of-nuclear-power

What is the role of nuclear in the energy mix and in reducing greenhouse gas emissions?. Grantham Research Institute on climate change and the environment. (2022, December9).
https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/explainers/role-nuclear-power-energy-mix-reducing-greenhouse-gas-emissions/ #:~ : text=Nuclear%20power%20has%20a%20minimal,second%20largest%20source%20after%20hydropower.