Measures to reduce CO₂

CO₂ has no effect on the climate, as the trace gas only makes up 0.04% of the atmosphere.

This and similar claims are often invoked by climate sceptics when arguing against climate change, which has presumably been caused by man. But: Even if the share of CO₂ in the atmosphere is almost imperceptibly small, it is misguided to assume that this doesn’t have any effect on the climate.

Quite the opposite: In fact, part of the CO₂ remains in the air for millennia, and the concentration of greenhouse gases has been rising for years. Strain on the environment is growing, and the results can be both seen and felt: An increase in heat-waves, droughts, forest fires and storms – to name but a few. Extreme weather is proliferating, and devastating natural catastrophes may become the norm.

We have a particular duty to take a stand in the fight against climate change: Since industrialisation around the year 1850, 4.6 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions have been on Germany’s account. This places us well above the global average and we still rank among the top 10 countries with the highest greenhouse gas emissions.

This means that target-oriented measures are inevitable. So what are the possible solutions? There is a lot of talk about processes which produce negative emissions. These processes extract greenhouse gases from the air and absorb them in the long term. On one hand, there are nature-based approaches. By re-foresting woodland, for example, we tap into the ability of trees to absorb and convert CO₂ from the air using photosynthesis. However, it will take some time to unfurl the full potential of the woodlands. There are also a number of opposing voices when it comes to the actual benefits, since not every region, among other things, due to the ‘ablbedo effect’ – reduced solar radiation, is suitable for reforestation.

The world’s oceans also play a significant role in reducing the CO₂-content of the atmosphere. Deep water is especially important as a critical carbon sink for the planet in reducing the greenhouse effect. Although the oceans still absorb the same amount of CO₂ in percentage terms, i.e. around 30%, the effects are significant: CO₂ that is dissolved in the ocean adds to the acidity of the water. This in turn has serious consequences for marine life.

In this context, seaweed fertilisation is also a hotly discussed topic. Phytoplankton stores carbon dioxide, and growth could be encouraged by adding iron, thus further increasing the storage capacity of the oceans. But when it dies off, it would have to sink into the deep water in order to store CO₂ in the long-term. However, this procedure can have negative effects on the sensitive ecosystem. It comes with many hidden risks and is seen critically.

On the other hand, there are innovative technological approaches. These remove CO₂ from the atmosphere, store it on a permanent basis or use it for other purposes. Projects are being implemented, and their feasibility examined. However, there is also significant interference in the natural CO₂-cycle, the results of which we do not yet fully comprehend.

There are a number of possibilities, none of which are simple. This means only one thing is certain: The clock is ticking and the countdown is on. We have to advance solutions, drastically reduce or eliminate emissions in order to meet the goals set by the Climate Council.

At ENNEATECH sustainability is at the very top of our list of priorities. For example, in the manufacture of our technical ENTRON eco compounds, we predominantly use synthetic fibres, which are produced as by-products in the ‘high-end textile industry’, as sustainably sourced raw materials. We thus reduce CO₂ emissions that are harmful to the environment, and not only improve our own life-cycle assessment, but also that of our customers. Here at Enneatech, we rely on the circular economy, think in the long-term, and provide fresh impulses. We don’t know what the world will look like in the future. But we take responsibility and do everything in our power to make it greener.