Branson's $25m Carbon Earth Challenge Prize

[StuartDH]

Richard Branson is putting up $25m for the best idea in removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

I hope a kid comes up with the answer...they always seem to have a great way of simplifying problems with basic but brilliant solutions

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Branson launches $25m climate bid

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by StuartDH

Richard Branson is putting up $25m for the best idea in removing CO2 form the atmosphere.

He could start by grounding all his planes.

[svenrufus]

Originally Posted by StuartDH

Richard Branson is putting up $25m for the best idea in removing CO2 form the atmosphere.

I hope a kid comes up with the answer...they always seem to have a great way of simplifying problems with basic but brilliant solutions

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Branson launches $25m climate bid

Simple really, it's either trees or plankton - on balance, probably plankton. All we need to do is to stop producing it at levels faster than our friends in the sea can absorb it. How to do that is the real $25million question.

Incidentally, does anyone know how fast CO2 is removed from the atmosphere by the sea/plankton? Had a go at googling it, but didn't come up with much of use.

[Kymba]

Originally Posted by svenrufus

Simple really, it's either trees or plankton - on balance, probably plankton. All we need to do is to stop producing it at levels faster than our friends in the sea can absorb it. How to do that is the real $25million question.

Incidentally, does anyone know how fast CO2 is removed from the atmosphere by the sea/plankton? Had a go at googling it, but didn't come up with much of use.

I managed to find these facts after a bit of research.... Dont know if they answer your question or not......

The passive uptake and release of carbon dioxide is not as important, however, as the active uptake of carbon dioxide by the phytoplankton in photosynthesis and its active release in respiration by the whole community of marine organisms, which amount to about 100 Gt a year each way (Oceans and global warming, this series).

Oceans absorb carbon dioxide naturally in ongoing processes that are very slow. However, the oceans’ capacity for carbon dioxide is quite large—oceans already take up one-third of the carbon emitted by human activity, which is about 2 billion metric tons each year.

"Plankton are as important as plants and trees in the take-up of carbon. Scientists estimate that about half the 800 billion tonnes of CO2 put into the atmosphere by mankind since the start of the industrial revolution has been soaked up by the sea. Much of the carbon is fixed in the shells of creatures called coccolithphores, the tiny plankton whose bodies make up the white cliffs of Dover. They live on the ocean surface in trillions and when they die their shells sink to the bottom taking the carbon with them."

[svenrufus]

Originally Posted by Kymba

"Much of the carbon is fixed in the shells of creatures called coccolithphores, the tiny plankton whose bodies make up the white cliffs of Dover. They live on the ocean surface in trillions and when they die their shells sink to the bottom taking the carbon with them."

That's where the crucial bit of info is missing, and I just can't seem to track it down. How much of the CO2 that they talk about being in the cycle sinks like this? This is, as far as I know the only way that CO2 is permanently removed from our atmosphere in any decent quantities. By 'permanent', I mean for geological time scales, and by 'decent quantities' means anything more than the meagre potential that exists now for other carbon capture such as new oil beds forming (is this happeneing anywhere? Doesn't matter, it takes too long).

Good quote and stats though, very interesting.

[Kymba]

Dont know if this link helps!!
Carbon Dioxide in the Ocean and Atmosphere

but it might be that no one really knows the answer

[philbyuk]

well if bransons really serious about co2 emissions and cares enough about the levels, how can he be running a fleet of planes the hypocrite!!! rant over.

[Paul mabbott]

Except that we're polluting the oceans even more rapidly than the atmosphere - seawater will soon become absolutely toxic .....
There have been many calculations with wide-ranging results - just assume it's not quick enough

Originally Posted by svenrufus

Simple really, it's either trees or plankton - on balance, probably plankton. All we need to do is to stop producing it at levels faster than our friends in the sea can absorb it. How to do that is the real $25million question.

Incidentally, does anyone know how fast CO2 is removed from the atmosphere by the sea/plankton? Had a go at googling it, but didn't come up with much of use.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by philbyuk

well if bransons really serious about co2 emissions and cares enough about the levels, how can he be running a fleet of planes the hypocrite!!! rant over.

aviation accounts for a littleover 4% of anthropogenic CO2 output - so in fact grounding the virgin fleet - which only accounts for a tiny proportion of the toal aviation output would in fact have a neglible effect.

[James_Owen]

Originally Posted by eeyore

aviation accounts for a littleover 4% of anthropogenic CO2 output - so in fact grounding the virgin fleet - which only accounts for a tiny proportion of the toal aviation output would in fact have a neglible effect.

Although airliners do release emissions directly into the stratosphere, which is two to three times more damaging than that released as ground level.

To me, the solution is about everybody making their own contribution to cutting the amount of CO2 mankind puts into the atmosphere, meaning we decide to change our own habits, not pay somebody to produce some magical wonder solution that just isn't going to exist.
That's what Branson doesn't seem to understand. Indeed, his reward seems less about tackling climate change, more about allowing his business to continue sans guilt and without change.