World’s top climate scientists expect global heating to blast past 1.5C target

MicroWave@lemmy.world to News@lemmy.world – 431 points – World’s top climate scientists expect global heating to blast past 1.5C target
theguardian.com

Planet is headed for at least 2.5C of heating with disastrous results for humanity, poll of hundreds of scientists finds

Hundreds of the world’s leading climate scientists expect global temperatures to rise to at least 2.5C (4.5F) this century, blasting past internationally agreed targets and causing catastrophic consequences for humanity and the planet, an exclusive Guardian survey has revealed.

Almost 80% of the respondents, all from the authoritative Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), foresee at least 2.5C of global heating above preindustrial levels, while almost half anticipate at least 3C (5.4F). Only 6% thought the internationally agreed 1.5C (2.7F) limit will be met.

Many of the scientists envisage a “semi-dystopian” future, with famines, conflicts and mass migration, driven by heatwaves, wildfires, floods and storms of an intensity and frequency far beyond those that have already struck.

Numerous experts said they had been left feeling hopeless, infuriated and scared by the failure of governments to act despite the clear scientific evidence provided.

147

You are viewing a single comment
View all commentsShow the parent comment

One way to offset today’s high costs of carbon capture is to convert captured greenhouse gases – particularly CO2 and methane – into valuable chemicals, including carbon-neutral fuels, rather than sequester them. CO2 can be converted into ethanol or methanol, which can then be upgraded to gasoline and jet fuel. The combust-capture-convert cycle could be carbon-neutral or at least have very low carbon emissions. Other valuable products that could be made from captured CO2 include acetic acid, urea, plastics, construction materials, and biofuel from algae.

That’s from the Stanford link provided above.

Man they all talk about making carbon neutral fuel out of it.

convert captured greenhouse gases – particularly CO2 and methane – into valuable chemicals, including carbon-neutral fuels, rather than sequester them.

Read the rest of that paragraph.

Other valuable products that could be made from captured CO2 include acetic acid, urea, plastics, construction materials, and biofuel from algae.

The only reason they’re leaning into fuel creation is to generate a profitable product to secure funding. There are many more responsible ways to convert the carbon that would cost more money because they don’t yield a profitable product. So to bring it back to the point of my claim, more money would help.

no, this is what their research does, it creates carbon neutral fuel(or low carbon considering its an energy consuming process).

you wanted to show me that co2 can be used to make plastics and construction materials, and these people want to suggest it to secure more funding, but it hasnt been done yet.

The process is not new. Polyol is a plastic with more than one hydroxyl group, and most commonly made using CO2 and methanol or ethanol.

https://packagingeurope.com/news/how-can-the-plastics-industry-harness-carbon-capture-with-polymers-made-from-emissions/8432.article

The reason you don’t see it is because it would combat use of oil based plastics.

https://globalventuring.com/corporate/industrial/carbon-capture-plastics/

Again, this is all about money. The science is there.