Scientist Susan Solomon has conducted a study concluding that the damage being done to the environment by excess levels of carbon dioxide is irreparable, and climate change cannot be stopped. Unlike other greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide continues to do damage long after it has been emitted. This is because the earth’s oceans are constantly absorbing the carbon dioxide being generated and the heat being trapped. Even if we get our greenhouse gas emissions under control, the oceans will be releasing the carbon dioxide they have soaked up for the next hundreds of years.
The threats we face from this steady release of carbon dioxide will include drought, sea level rise, and permanent dustbowl conditions in certain regions. Scientist Michael Oppenheimer believes we are already in dangerous territory, and that the need for emissions control is becoming more urgent every day.
These findings show that carbon capture and storage are more important than we initially believed. Fossil fuels aren’t going anywhere, at least not any time soon. So while it is important to keep our emissions in check, we also need to invest in carbon capture and storage, especially now that this study concludes that in addition to our emissions, our oceans will continue to release carbon dioxide for hundreds of years.
It’s a good thing this study came out when it did because of this year’s upcoming Copenhagen climate treaty. If this study is introduced during treaty negotiations, it could be used as incentive to further lower the acceptable level of carbon dioxide emissions.
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