Climate Break

Direct Air Capture:Direct air capture (DAC) refers to the process of extracting large quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using man-made technologies. Methods vary, and some are more energy efficient than others. Most DAC technologies function like mechanical trees: through a sequence of chemical reactions, they consume air rich in CO2, suck out the carbon dioxide and then release clean air back into the environment. The extracted carbon dioxide is expelled in a stream of gas to be stored or used. Recently, Massachusetts Institute of Technology developed a machine that extracts carbon dioxide from the air by passing the air through a series of electrochemical plates, releasing a pure stream of carbon dioxide out the other end.Carbon Capture and Utilization:There are a multitude of ways in which carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can be stored and used to create synthetic materials — materials that would otherwise require the removal of more carbon from the earth. While significant research remains to be done to understand the true environmental impact of artificial sequestration, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies have the potential to significantly reduce the level of emissions in the atmosphere.One promising method for CCUS lies in building materials, namely concrete. The recipe for concrete requires a number of ingredients, some of which can be replaced with carbon dioxide. For example, carbon dioxide can be used in place of steam to cure concrete, and aggregates added to the concrete mixture can be made using mineralized CO2. These substitutions achieve two goals: they remove CO2 from the atmosphere while simultaneously avoiding the extraction of more natural resources from the earth.CCUS can also be achieved through carbon-neutral synthetic fuels, which are created by removing one of the oxygen atoms from carbon dioxide and bonding the remaining carbon monoxide molecule to a hydrogen molecule. This fuel, known as syngas, could help decarbonize fields of industry that cannot be electrified. Similar combinations of recycled carbon monoxide and hydrogen can also produce low-carbon plastic.Today, some companies are even experimenting with ways to turn carbon dioxide emissions into food.Tags: carbon capture, concrete, cement, sequestration, carbon dioxide, syngas, CCUS For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/carbon-capture-and-utilization-with-noah-deich/

Overview of youth climate action:Likely to witness the environmental impacts of a changing climate within their lifetimes, young people have approached the issue of climate change with a certain urgency. Young adults are some of the most prominent supporters of the Green New Deal and have proven to be vigorous advocates for climate legislation and action. Recently, many youth organizations have gained national attention. Here are just a few:Zero HourWith the understanding that youth are often ignored in discussions of climate change, the founders of Zero Hour wanted to start a movement that places young voices at the center of climate action. Zero Hour believes youth are most fit to keep adults honest and accountable. Since its inception in 2017, Zero Hour has hosted a Youth Climate Summit, a lobby day in Washington D.C., an art festival and a climate march, all of which have emphasized the need for immediate, solution-based climate action.You can learn more about Zero Hour here.Sunrise MovementSunrise activists believe oil, gas and other industry executives are standing in the way of meaningful action against climate change. These activists stress the importance of transforming public opinion about the climate into political power. One of Sunrise’s main goals is to help spur the adoption of the Green New Deal, what they believe to be the strongest chance the next generation has to save the environment. The movement has participated in climate strikes and government sit-ins and even organized an interstate tour in support of the Green New Deal.You can learn more about the Sunrise Movement here.Climate Justice Youth Summit:This Summit is one of the largest annual conventions of young climate activists of color in the United States. Last year, the summit was hosted by UPROSE, a grassroots organization dedicated to climate justice and youth leadership. Youth leaders at the Climate Justice Summit recognize climate change will disproportionately affect marginalized communities, and so the Summit features these marginalized voices on the front lines of climate action.You can learn more about the Climate Justice Youth Summit here. Further reading:Youth Climate Activists You Should Be Following on Social Media: https://www.earthday.org/19-youth-climate-activists-you-should-follow-on-social-media/They Can’t Vote Yet, But Youths Are Ready to #Climate Strike: https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/they-can-t-vote-yet-youths-are-ready-climatestrikeHow a New Generation of Climate Activists is Reviving Fossil Fuel Divestment: https://wagingnonviolence.org/2020/03/climate-activists-reviving-fossil-fuel-divestment/Amid Shutdowns, Youth Climate Activists Are Writing the Curriculum for a Just Economic Recovery: https://www.yesmagazine.org/environment/2020/04/30/coronavirus-climate-crisis-online-curriculum/Xiye Bastida: How Are Young People Making The Choice To Fight Climate Change?: https://www.npr.org/2020/05/22/860168455/xiye-bastida-how-are-young-people-making-the-choice-to-fight-climate-change For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/youth-organizing-for-climate-solutions-with-isha-clarke/