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Highlights
- Carbon capture and storage plays a vital role in reducing greenhouse emissions.
- Apart from burning of fossil fuels, carbon dioxide is also released from the decomposition of organic matter, fires in the forest, etc.
- Carbon sequestration can be done in two different ways - biological carbon sequestration and geological carbon sequestration.
The world needs to significantly curb its greenhouse emissions to achieve the ambitious targets set as per the Paris Agreement. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) plays a vital role in reducing greenhouse emissions. In fact, the global and national level organisation have been vocal on the importance of carbon sequestration for the fight against climate change. The process captures, secures, and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The fundamental idea behind the technology is to stabilise carbon in either dissolved or liquid form so that it can't lead to global warming. The process shows a promising future for reducing carbon footprints.
Why does the world want to capture carbon?
Carbon dioxide is released by the burning of fossil fuels which are used in power plants, vehicles, industries, etc produce carbon dioxide on burning. Apart from these sources, carbon dioxide is also released from the decomposition of organic matter, fires in the forest, and many other activities.
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The carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap the Sun's heat, contributing to a global temperature rise called as global warming, which is primarily responsible for various calamities, including floods, melting of glaciers, avalanches, etc.
To avert these deadly catastrophes, it is necessary to reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide.
Also read: Carbon conscious: 6 carmakers agree to go green by 2040
What are the various types of carbon sequestrations?
Carbon dioxide is first separated from other gases contained in industrial emissions in carbon sequestration. Followed by this, the gas is compressed and transported to a location safely isolated from the atmosphere for storage. Carbon capture and sequestration primarily refers to the process of capturing carbon dioxide at its direct source. Carbon sequestration can be done in two different ways.
Firstly, biological carbon sequestration, which involves the storage of carbon dioxide in vegetations like forests, grasslands, soils, and oceans. Secondly, geological carbon sequestration involves underground geological formations such as porous rock formations in geologic basins.
How can carbon sequestration help the environment reduce carbon footprints
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Carbon sequestration and storage (CSS) could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions with additional advantages like:
- CSS helps to reduce global warming. Nearly 45% of the total carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere and the remaining is sequestrated by natural phenomena. The current technology could help the world to trap more carbon dioxide to reduce its effects.
- Nearly 30% of the total carbon dioxide released through the burning of fossil fuels is absorbed by the topmost layer of the ocean, significantly increasing the acidity of ocean water, making it unwell for aquatic animals.
- The technology also helps to fight carbon dioxide emitted from various sources, including coal-fired power plants and industries.
Also read: Nations conclude climate agreement after last-minute compromise on fossil fuels
How can carbon sequestration assist the world to attain a carbon neutral future
Bottom Line
With the world racing to slash the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, there is a rush to find out alternative ways to reduce its concentration from the environment. Carbon capture and storage is one such process that can be instrumental in helping the world reduce carbon concentration from the atmosphere by capturing it at the source.
