The US government plans to crack down on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, and as a result, a lot of money is about to be poured into technology that can capture carbon dioxide from smokestacks and lock it away. This raises an important question: When carbon dioxide it captures and stores how do we make sure it stays? Power plants that burn fossil fuels , such as coal and natural gas , release a lot of carbon dioxide. As CO₂ accumulates in the atmosphere, it traps heat near the Earth's surface, thereby causing global warming . However, if CO₂ emissions can be captured instead and lock them for thousands of years, existing power plants on fossil fuels could meet proposed new federal standards and reduce their impact on climate change . We work as scientists and engineers on the technologies and policies carbon capture and storage. one of us Klaus Lackner , proposed a principle more than two decades ago that is reflected in the proposed standards: For all carbon extracted from the earth, there must be the same amount safely and permanently neutralized. To ensure this, carbon capture and storage needs an effective certification system.by Stephanie Arcus and Klaus Lackner)

Carbon dioxide equivalent or CO equivalent ₂ , abbreviated CO ₂ - eq , is a metric measure used to compare emissions from different greenhouse gases based on their global warming potential (GWP) by converting the amount of other gases into an equivalent. amount of carbon dioxide with the same global warming potential. Carbon dioxide equivalents are commonly expressed as million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents,  abbreviated  MMTCDE . The carbon dioxide equivalent for a gas is derived by multiplying the tonnes of gas by the associated GWP:

MMTCDE = (million metric tons of gas) * (GWP of gas).

For example, the GWP for methane is 25 and for nitrous oxide is 298. This means that emissions of 1 million metric tons of methane and nitrous oxide are equivalent to emissions of 25 and 298 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, respectively.

The World Meteorological Organization said on Wednesday that for the first time in history, global temperatures are more likely to exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 F) of warming over the next five years. However, this did not necessarily mean that the world would exceed the long-term warming threshold of 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement. With a 66 per cent chance of temporarily reaching 1.5°C by 2027, "this is the first time in history that we are more likely to exceed 1.5°C," said Adam Scaife, head of long-range forecasting at the UK's Met Office Hadley Center, which worked on the latest update of the WMO's global annual to decadal climate. Last year's report it stated a 50-50 probability. Partly responsible for increasing the likelihood of reaching 1.5°C is the El Niño weather expected in the coming months. During this natural phenomenon, warmer waters in the tropical Pacific warm the atmosphere above them and increase global temperatures. El Niño "will combine with human-induced climate change to push global temperatures into uncharted territory," WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said in a press release. (Gloria Dickie, Reuters)

The European Union (EU) has announced the implementation of its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) from October 2023, which will introduce a carbon tax on products that are not environmentally sustainable imported into the EU. The tax will range from 20 to 35 % and will be levied on selected imports from 1 January 2026.

What is the Carbon Boundary Adjustment Mechanism?

CBAM is a policy tool put in place by the EU to reduce carbon emissions by imposing a carbon tax on imported products, ensuring they are subject to the same carbon costs as products produced in the EU. It is part of the EU's "Fit for 55 in 2030" package to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The goal of CBAM is to prevent imports with high CO2 emissions from undermining the EU's climate goals and to encourage the adoption of cleaner production practices worldwide. To implement CBAM, importers will have to declare the amount of imported goods and their greenhouse gas emissions each year. To compensate for these emissions, they will have to hand over the corresponding number of CBAM certificates and the price of these certificates will be based on the weekly average auction price of EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) allowances in EUR/ton of CO2 emitted. It encourages non-EU countries to adopt stricter environmental regulations, reduce global carbon emissions and prevent carbon leakage by discouraging companies from moving to countries with weaker environmental regulations.  In addition, CBAM revenues will be used to support EU climate policies that can serve as an example for other countries to promote green energy. (Pooja Yadav)

US oil and gas giant Chevron has confirmed its flagship carbon capture and storage project off Australia's northwest coast is operating at just a third of capacity as problems limit the facility. The revelations come amid growing calls from the oil and gas industry for carbon capture to be used to offset emissions as part of a wider shift towards renewable energy and decarbonisation. But Chevron Australia's David Fallon insisted carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology was working and the reinjection plant at the giant Gorgon gas field could be a model for others. “Gorgon CCS works,” he said. It has its problems and is not working the way Chevron and our JV partners (joint venture partners) would like.” Speaking in Adelaide at the annual meeting of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, Mr Fallon argued that carbon capture was a proven and viable technology. He said the problems at Gorgon, in which Chevron is sequestering carbon under Barrow Island on Western Australia's Pilbara coast, were specific to that project and not to the wider process. According to Mr. Fallon, his problems related to the need to extract water from the tank in which the carbon was located. (Daniel Mercer, ABC News)

A new study reveals an alarming rise in emissions of five ozone-depleting substances from 2010 to 2020, despite their production for most applications being banned by the Montreal Protocol. The release of these five chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) stems in part from leakage during the production of ozone-friendly CFC alternatives. Although these incidental or transient emissions are technically permitted under the Montreal Protocol, they are at odds with the broader objective of the agreement and the observed increase is cause for concern. "We're paying attention to these emissions now because of the success of the Montreal Protocol," says Luke Western, lead author of the paper and a researcher at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Global Monitoring Laboratory and the University of Bristol. CFC emissions from more widespread uses that are now banned have fallen to such low levels that CFC emissions from previously minor sources are now on our radar.” A study by an international team of scientists from NOAA, University of Bristol , Empa, CSIRO, University of East Anglia, University of California San Diego, University of Colorado, Boulder and Forschungszentrum Jülich was recently published in a journal Nature Geoscience. No immediate threat to the ozone layer - but a significant greenhouse effect. According to researchers, emissions from these freons currently do not significantly threaten ozone restoration. However, at the current rate of increase, they could become a significant contributor to the total emissions of ozone-depleting chemicals. Because they are strong greenhouse gases, they have an impact on the climate: their combined emissions equal the CO2 emissions in 2020 for a country as small as Switzerland. This is equal to about one percent of total United States greenhouse gas emissions, or 1/1,000th of all global greenhouse gas emissions. (SciTechDaily)

Climate change now dominates people's minds and conversations around the world. It also supports significant action by governments and companies in the form of net zero targets. While general recognition of climate change is good news, it also breeds well-intentioned but sometimes misguided activism. The real risks now lie in pursuing impossible, haphazard and uncoordinated actions, reverting to commitment and paralysis and numbing inaction. While getting rid of unabated carbon is essential, there are seven realities we need to deal with before we get there. This is a transition, not a change. Renewables are growing, but not fast enough. However, fossil fuels are not slowing down in absolute terms. Primary energy demand increased by 5.8 % in 2021, surpassing 2019 levels by 1.3 %. Between 2019 and 2021, energy from renewable sources increased by more than 8 EJ. Fossil fuel consumption was essentially unchanged and accounted for 82 % of primary energy consumption in 2021, down from 83 % in 2019 and 85 % five years ago. The five key reasons why renewables are not growing faster are the high cost of supplied energy with increasing renewable energy penetration, limited storage capacity and high energy storage costs, lack of infrastructure, political and regulatory barriers, and local constraints and saturation. The truth is that these are massive system-wide changes that are necessarily challenging and should be seen as a transition, not a change. Moreover, there cannot be a universal option for the energy transition. (Anish DE, The Economic Times)

The use of gaseous and air-captured CO2 for technical biosynthesis is highly desirable, but so far elusive due to several obstacles including high energy consumption (ATP, NADPH), low thermodynamic driving force, and limited biosynthesis rate. Here we present an ATP- and NAD(P)H-free chemoenzymatic system for the biosynthesis of amino acids and pyruvate by combining methanol with CO2. It relies on a redesigned glycine cleavage system with the NAD(P)H-dependent protein L replaced by the biocompatible chemical reduction protein H dithiothreitol. The latter provides a higher thermodynamic driving force, determines the direction of the reaction and prevents protein polymerization of the rate-limiting enzyme carboxylase. Designing the H protein to efficiently release the lipoamide arm from the protected state further enhanced the performance of the system, achieving synthesis of glycine, serine, and pyruvate at g/lz methanol and air-captured CO2 levels. This work opens the door to the biosynthesis of amino acids and derived products from air. Photosynthesis as a form of biosynthesis using CO₂ from the atmosphere and solar energy formed the birth and past of life on Earth. Technical biosynthesis using gaseous and air-derived CO₂ will certainly affect the future of our planet and man due to the ever-increasing anthropogenic CO emissions₂, which threaten the balance of the planetary climate. For the sustainable development of human beings, we face other global challenges such as the supply of goods and food for an ever-growing population that requires the use of CO₂ as an abundant source of carbon with a sustainable energy input to replace fossil carbon and even carbohydrates in commodity production.  (Jianming Liu, Han Zhang, Yingving Xu, Hao Meng, An-Ping Zeng, Nature Communications)

People's willingness to believe in climate change varies widely, as does their willingness to engage in pro-environmental behavior such as saving energy. In our recent study we tried to understand the psychological factors behind these differences. The problem of climate change represents a social dilemma that raises the conflict between cooperation for the common good and acting in one's own interest. For example, if all fishermen comply with fishing quotas, it is good for everyone. If one fisherman exceeds the quota while everyone else complies, then that individual is better off at the expense of others. However, if it is rational for everyone to exceed the quota, then it is rational for everyone to do so, leading to rapid depletion of fish stocks. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is costly. If other countries reduce while one does not, the other is better off at the expense of the others. But if everyone acts to maximize their self-interest, we get more pollution and global warming. Willingness to cooperate. One psychological mechanism that could explain differences in climate change opinions and pro-environmental behavior is the general willingness to cooperate in responding to social dilemmas. (Ananish Chaudhuri, Quentin Douglas Atkinson, Schott Claessens, The Conversation)

While many universities proudly talk about how they are fighting climate change, some also invest in and receive donations from the same oil companies that are causing global warming. Experts and students call these schools hypocritical and demand change.  CBS News' environmental series "On the Dot" explores the scope of the problem, starting with the University of Texas system, which collected $2.2 billion in oil and gas royalties last year. Drill 'Em Horns: When it comes to sustainability, the UT Austin campus promotes itself as a leader among universities by reducing emissions and waste, saves energy and water resources and builds green buildings. “I still want to commend the university for taking measures to reduce emissions on campus. But that's only a small part of the picture," said Ella Hammersly, a student and climate activist at the university. The bigger picture comes into focus hundreds of miles from the Austin campus, in the oil fields of the Permian Basin in West Texas, where 30 % of US oil is produced. That's where the UT System owns 3,000 square miles of property.  On the property, energy companies lease land, extract oil and gas and pay royalties to the university system, which includes Austin and 12 other sites. Oil revenue has helped make the University of Texas the wealthiest public university system in America, with an endowment of $42.7 billion, according to a report by the National Association of College and University Business Officers. Number two is the $18.2 billion Texas A&M System, which will also get a cut in oil royalties from the university's West Texas properties.  (David Schechter, Chance Horner, Aparna Zalani, CBC News)

From the US Climate Act to the UN COP, leaders in government and business are pushing technology like never before. The prospect of capturing carbon dioxide and storing it so it can't warm the planet has always been tantalizing. Now governments and companies are throwing their weight behind technology as a way to tackle the climate problem like never before. The oil and gas industry has long argued that real emissions reductions can be achieved by removing CO2 from stacks and burying it deep underground – an approach known as carbon capture and storage (CCS). But after decades of failing to achieve the scale needed for real change, the people responsible for approving generous subsidies and directing billions in investment want proof that this time it will really work… (AKSHAT RATHI)

WASHINGTON - US climate scientists have quantified for the first time the extent to which greenhouse gases from the world's leading fossil fuel companies have contributed to the fires. Their analysis, published Tuesday in Environmental Research Letters, found that carbon dioxide and methane emissions from the so-called "big 88" firms were responsible for more than a third of the area burned by wildfires in western North America over the past 40 years. years. First author Kristina Dahl of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) said wildfires in the western United States and southwestern Canada have been getting worse for decades: burning more intensely, for longer periods, covering larger areas and reaching higher elevations. To date, the costs of rebuilding and increasing resilience are largely borne by the general public, "so we wanted to better understand the role that fossil fuel emissions have in changing the wildfire landscape," she said. "We really wanted to highlight their role in being able to be held accountable for their fair share of the cost."

The world's leading corporate carbon producers are responsible for more than a third of the area burned by wildfires in the western United States and southwestern Canada since the 1980s, according to a new study. Analysis published on Tuesday in the magazine Environmental Research Letters focuses on the 88 largest fossil fuel producers and cement producers, which account for most of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. It's a kind of climate attribution study that links rising temperatures to worsening fires and the source of the emissions that fueled them."We know that wildfires in western North America are getting worse because of climate change," said study co-author Carly Phillips, a scientist at the Union for Concerned Scientists' Science Hub for Climate Litigs. “And we also know, based on previous research, that emissions from these 88 largest carbon producers have contributed significantly to global warming. And so we wanted to combine these two lines of inquiry to highlight the role of the fossil fuel industry in wildfire management.”

A new zero-carbon development has launched in a Suffolk town, creating five homes, all made using different technologies.Taylor Wimpey, one of the UK's largest residential developers, announces the launch of its flagship carbon-free ready-made home in Sudbury. Five trial prototype homes combine a range of innovative low-carbon technologies as they will be 100% electric with triple glazing and an improved building structure to reduce heat loss. Zero Carbon Homes Trial Starts at 'Living' Development Site in Sudbury, Taylor Wimpey (Image: Taylor Wimpey) . Taylor Wimpey is testing a range of energy efficient and low carbon technologies, including various air source heat pumps, heat pump cylinders, electric panel heating, smart cylinders, mechanical ventilation, heat recovery (MVHR), waste water (WWHR), underfloor heating, heated skirting boards" thermaskirt', infrared radiant heating, elegant photovoltaic solar systems, innovative battery storage and electric car charging. These measures will radically reduce the carbon emissions and footprint of Sudbury homes. The development is currently in the trial phase, with sales and residences planned.

(Aleksandra Cupriaková)

PARIS — Climate change isn't making cyclones like Bangladesh less frequent, but it's making them more intense and destructive, according to climatologists and weather experts. These extremely powerful natural phenomena have different names depending on the area they hit, but cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons are powerful tropical storms that can generate 10 times more energy than the atomic bomb that hit Hiroshima. They are divided into different categories according to their maximum sustained wind strength and the extent of damage they can potentially cause. "A cyclone is a low pressure system that forms in the tropics in an area hot enough to develop," said Emmanuel Clopet of the French weather office Meteo France. "It is characterized by rain/thunder clouds that begin to rotate and generate intense rain and winds, and wind-induced surges," he added. These huge weather phenomena - averaging several hundred kilometers across - are made even more dangerous by their ability to travel long distances. Tropical cyclones are categorized by wind intensity, from a tropical depression (below 40 mph), to a tropical storm (40 mph to 75 mph) and a major hurricane (above that). They are called cyclones in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific, hurricanes in the North Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, and typhoons in the Northwest Pacific. The weather agencies that monitor them use different scales to categorize them, depending on the ocean basin in which they occur. The best-known scale for measuring their intensity and destructive potential is the five-point Saffir-Simpson wind scale. (The Straits Times)

Adopting eco-friendly cooking habits is crucial in our quest for sustainable living. By making simple changes in our kitchen routines, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint. Choosing local and organic ingredients, reducing food waste through careful meal planning and choosing energy-efficient cooking methods such as steaming or using induction cookers are effective ways to minimize your impact on the environment. Dr Shilpa Yadav, Nutritionist, Medharbour Hospital, Gurugram, “Unknowingly, our daily activities are responsible for increasing our carbon footprint and our cooking habits also contribute significantly. From boiling water to disposing of waste, energy and natural resources are wasted. Always be careful to choose the right pots and pans and constantly check the temperature of the refrigerator and its seals. Our cooking habits have a significant impact on the carbon footprint of our kitchen. Sanandan Sudhir, CEO and founder of On2Cook says, “To reduce our carbon footprint, we need to pay attention to several factors such as the number of appliances used, the meals cooked at a time and the utensils we use. Instead of adding new appliances, we can extend the life of the ones we already have, reducing our footprint. We should also eliminate the idea of using appliance-specific tools.” (Swati Chaturvedi, News18)

The European Commission published today notification  on the total number of allowances in circulation (TNAC) in 2022 in the European carbon market. This is 1,134,794,738 quotas. The TNAC indicator plays an important role in the functioning of the Market Stability Reserve (MSR) of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). Determines whether quotas are withdrawn or released from the MSR.  According to Decision 2015/1814 (MSR Decision), 24 % TNAC will be placed in MSR if it exceeds the threshold of 833 million. This is achieved by reducing the volume of quotas with which member states trade in the form of an auction. If TNAC falls below the threshold of 400 million, part of the quotas from the MSR will be released for auction. In accordance with Decision 2015/1814 and based on the TNAC indicator published today, a total of 272,350,737 allowances will be placed in the MSR during the 12-month period, from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024. According to article 1 par. 5a of Decision 2015/1814 from 2023, any quotas held in the MSR above the auction volume from the previous year are no longer valid. Today's announcement states that 2,515,135,787 quotas in the MSR became invalid on January 1, 2023.

Growing food and fiber is no longer enough for farmers in the era of global warming. This week our local Landcare group is hosting a workshop on environmental accounting where farmers learn to measure their 'natural capital' such as native vegetation, fauna and soil. Right now they are being flooded with offers to sell carbon and biodiversity credits, often with the aim of providing compensation to other industries. I can plant a paddock of trees here so you can emit emissions. It's a far cry from 10 years ago, when emissions-intensive industries including energy, transport and agriculture railed against any change to business as usual. One of the big missed opportunities in the decade-long climate wars was the chance for agriculture to break away from the fossil fuel industry. While agriculture will need to continue to reduce emissions to stay in the game, the advantage farmers have over the coal and gas industry is simply that they produce food. There are fewer alternatives to large-scale land-based food, regardless of the new lab-meat and high-rise farming businesses. By dragging its feet on accepting climate science, agriculture has left itself open to being lumped in with fossil fuels as an industry holding back needed change. It currently appears to play a large role in providing offsets, although many smart operators are wary of selling carbon. The bottom line is that if fossil fuel companies and other industries demand large amounts of compensation, it will have a significant impact on farmland. So are you growing food, carbon or both? (Gabrielle Chan)