To limit global warming, we must reduce our greenhouse gas emissions substantially. Rather, offset some of it by removing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere. By planting forests? No, say researchers today. Nature will not be enough!
In 2009, a series of scientific publications laid the groundwork for what experts call today. “net zero”. A principle according to which we can continue to emit greenhouse gases. Provided we can remove as much carbon dioxide (CO₂) from our environment as possible. This goal will be achieved sooner if we hope to limit anthropogenic global warming to +1.5°C, or even +2°C, above the pre-industrial average.
Today, researchers who were involved in the 2009 study published in the journal The natureSome important details on this topic. According to him, to depend “Natural Carbon Sinks”Like forests or oceans, to compensate for BroadcastingBroadcasting Due to CO₂ consumption FuelFuel Fossils won’t really stop global warming. Because when the science of “net zero” was developed, it didn’t include these carbon sinks in the definition of emissions—like positive the carthe car or like the negative a The treeThe tree which absorbs CO₂ of human origin.
Forests and seas have a role, but we shouldn’t expect too much.
The researchers note on the one hand that governments as well as companies increasingly rely on these natural carbon sinks to offset their emissions. Moreover, emission accounting rules encourage them to do so. Because they create a clear equation between fossil fuel emissions and CO₂ emissions from certain natural carbon sinks. In reality it is not. So a country can think it has reached net zero in its contribution to global warming. “Natural carbon sinks currently remove almost half of our emissions for free. AnnuallyAnnuallybut this ecosystem must be separated from the fossil emissions that are causing climate change. Replanting things won’t stop global warming »warns Glenn Peters, co-author of the study at the Cicero Center for International Research on ClimateClimate (Norway), in a press release.
However, we hear that forests and oceans have a role to play in moderating the impact of our emissions and reducing atmospheric concentrations of CO₂. This work does not call it into question. They simply explain that this role can only be taken over by natural carbon sinks when we reach net zero. So, to clarify the situation in everyone’s mind, the researchers proposed to introduce a new concept. with the “geological net zero”every ton of CO₂ we emit will have to be offset by a ton of geologically stored CO₂.
Geological storage or stopping fossil fuels?
“We already rely on forests and oceans to absorb our past emissions. We cannot expect future emissions from them either. By mid-century, all the carbon that still comes out of the ground will have to go back into permanent storage. This is geologic net zero.», explains Myles Allen, PhysicistPhysicist at Oxford University (UK).
A few days ago, another study showed this. The CO₂ we intend to remove from our atmosphere will need to be stored for at least 1,000 years if we hope to save the climate. To do this, there is no other solution. Geological depositGeological deposit. The costs and challenges imposed by the latter may provide additional motivation to focus increasingly on reducing fossil fuel use as deeply and quickly as possible.
