Global Warming

Modern technology, notably the discovery and exploitation of fossil fuels, has contributed to climate change, but it has also allowed mankind to recognise its impact on the world and seek solutions.

1. Captured CO2

Scientists blame rising global temperatures on man-made greenhouse gas emissions that trap radiation that otherwise escape to space.

A major greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2), has increased by over 50% that since industrial revolution.

Carbon capture, utilisation, & storage technologies are being employed to minimise CO2 emissions, with the Net Zero Teesside project being an excellent example.

Secluded deep beneath the water, this carbon will no long contribute to climate change, but might be synthesised into alternative fuels for future vehicles.

The NZT project’s goal is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in North East industry to zero by 2030.

But the Earth’s crisis is much bigger than a few corporations selectively decarbonising.

2. Seaweed For Cows

Methane is another significant greenhouse gas, with record-high emissions due to livestock rearing.

Unsurprisingly, agriculture accounted for about two-thirds of any and all methane emissions in the world between 2000 and 2017, with fossil fuels accounting for the remaining third.

Because cows digest their food by fermentation it in their stomachs, the sugars are transformed into simple substances that may be absorbed into the body.

The addition of a red seaweed from the tropics to cattle feed reduces methane emissions by 80%.

With roughly 1.5 billion cattle worldwide, there is just not enough seaweed to suppress such burps – however some scientists may be able to duplicate the key element that will help hold them down.

3. Insects

Individual dietary choices aren’t covered by prospective technical climate change solutions, but food innovation is.

Another fascinating option to reduce methane emissions from cattle rearing is to replace beef with insect substitutes, which is already happening in some regions.

Mealworms, for example, are abundant in protein but lack a number of essential minerals found solely in meat, such as iron.

However, even it’s not a quick remedy – insect burgers are still mostly a curiosity item rather than one that can be manufactured overseas and devoured.

4. Replenishment

Their suggestions include brightening the clouds over the poles to help them reflect radiation back out to space.

Another idea is to “green” the oceans by fertilising it to promote the growth of plants and algae that absorb CO2.

However, some research indicates that this could severely alter ocean ecosystems, preventing CO2 collection sufficient to offset emissions.

5. Telecommute

Businesses scrambled to deal with the effects of COVID-19 upon their employees, and governments hastened to lock up their nations to avert mass deaths.

However, working remotely may only be effective during the summer.

It turns out when structures have to be heated in the winter, having many people in one place saves energy, and some study suggests that this could even balance transportation emissions.

6. More Data Centres

Computing follows a similar rationale to heating individual residences versus corporate buildings.

However, modern datacenters are frequently substantially more fuel efficient than desktop PCs.

Rather than running energy-intensive apps on local workstations, consumers might start saving energy by running them in the cloud.

Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are major consumers of renewables.

Google and Microsoft also have introduced cloud gaming services that do not require players to buy consoles (which also generate emissions).

But data centres require high-speed internet connections, which emit emissions, and many people throughout the world lack access to such connections.

7. Efficiency In The Home

Making homes more fuel efficient is the single most effective technological answer to climate change.

In fact, several of the newest devices on the market can save households hundreds of pounds per year in energy costs.

Consumers may find out what it will cost them to use refrigerators, washing machines, light bulbs, and televisions by using the European Union’s energy labelling scheme.

Individual energy savings from design changes for these home goods may be minor, but they can add up in the course of this year for a home, and even more so across all homes in a country.

Buildings utilise 40% of total energy and emit 35% of CO2 in the EU, despite the fact that energy consumption per family has decreased over the last 50 years.

But, according the independent Committee on Global Warming, US homes are currently “unfit” to face the problems posed warming with the need to reduce the energy consumption. Buying newer, greener electronics may be a good start.

Government responsible for 63 percent of global emissions have pledged to net zero, with corporate net-zero responsibilities covering 12 percent of global income ($9.81 trillion).

However, huge discrepancies between targets & actual emissions are not uncommon, especially when effective emission reduction progress is required. When the G7 voted in June 2021 to make climate disclosure mandatory, 7 of the world’s most powerful economies acknowledged that carbon monitoring and disclosure will be critical to meeting emission reduction commitments.

Setting a goal is only the first phase; the next is to understand the actual emission baseline. Next, the strategy for reducing emissions must be defined. Finally, near-real-time tracking of targets and progress is required. To attain net zero, countries and businesses must monitor, reduce, and in certain cases, offset their emissions.

For beginners, the path can be difficult, time-consuming, and error-prone. That shouldn’t stop businesses from decarbonizing. Besides satisfying customers and political leaders, going to net zero may also be economically beneficial, as those resisting the energy revolution will have difficulty accessing financing. Earlier net-zero movers will also have a substantial financial edge above laggards as ‘carbon tax’ and ‘cap-and-trade’ programmes become more plausible.

Process Of Reducing CO2

Carbon management is divided into three categories: measurement, reduction, and offsetting.

1. Reporting Carbon Footprint

The very first objective was to measure CO2. The carbon reporting procedure collects CO2 data by emissions type and geography. It is then compared to worldwide carbon accounting standards like GHG standard or ISO 14064-1. In the current state, emission data can be gathered via metre readings or other methods such as mass balance or stoichiometry (calculating reactant in chemical reactions). The tedious data gathering procedure, difficulty assessing carbon footprints across product lines and assets, and validating basic assumptions of emissions are common challenges.

2. Abatement Management

Identifying important emission sources and reducing them is part of abatement planning. Identifying and measuring the operations that release the most CO2 allows organisations to optimise their carbon-reduction strategy. Abatement roadmaps set targets and KPIs for reducing emissions by modifying emission-intensive processes and introducing new technologies. The process might be unclear and complex due to the numerous variables that must be addressed. It is also difficult to track the effectiveness of abatement programmes. Uncertainty over the marginal cost-benefit of remediation programmes, and a shortage of staff to manage the process.

3. Neutralizing CO2

After exhausting all mitigation and decarbonization options, carbon offsetting is the last resort. It’s a technique of compensating everyone else to decrease or absorb CO2 emissions. Carbon offsets include environmental projects including reforestation, carbon capture technologies, & renewable energy production. Carbon credits are quantifiable emission reductions used by governments and businesses to offset carbon dioxide emissions. Other options include using RECs to offset non-renewable energy consumption. But offsets have their own set of issues, from measurement to openness and verification to commerce.

Innovating Against Climate Change

Some of the issues related with carbon management can be addressed with AIoT technology. Carbon management must become more efficient, transparent, and successful in three ways.

1. AIoT – Measuring And Reporting

The labour required to categorise and organise data from many corporate units and assets is significant. AIoT integration allows for easy access to real-time activity and asset data from several platforms. This allows an organisation to organise, gather, and report data efficiently, lowering overall data collection efforts and improving data quality & report resolution.

2. Predictive Analytics To Model Emissions Over Time

Planning for emission reductions is difficult due to a lack of precise emission measurements. AIoT technology solves this problem by analysing real-time data to predict process emissions. AIoT can improve emissions forecasting and performance evaluation by analysing & learning from data from numerous operations. This technique optimises abatement strategies while lowering marginal abatement costs.

3. Offsets And Integration

Although a last option, the carbon credit market is expected to reach $15 billion by 2050. However, carbon offsetting verification and trading are problematic. Technology can validate RECs in near true and provide a marketplace for low-cost carbon offsets. Assembling a worldwide pool of the offsets would reduce administrative burden and optimise the timing of REC buy-ins and retirements.

Carbon reduction solutions are required by the G7 to disclose climate risk. More crucially, they enable governments and corporations to actively control and reduce carbon emissions, achieving net-zero goals. Carbon management systems will be part of reducing emissions due to strong political, social, and economic agendas. Real-time measurement, mitigation, & offset integration will enable companies achieve net-zero targets transparently.