The Solution to Global Warming

Approaches to Solving Global 

Warming


Warming 

Background 

The Idea 

Going through the steps 

Summary

The Solution to Global Warming 

What is the solution to Global Warming? 

Biofuels such as ethanol? 

Mass transit replacing individual 

automobiles? 

Wind and solar power? 

Nuclear power? 

Carbon sequestration? 

None of these and possibly all of these.


There is no one solution to Global 

Warming. 

There is no one cause of Global 

Warming. 

There are still respected scientists 

who believe the current warming is 

part of the natural cycle.



But what if the Global Warming 

skeptics are right? 

We are still nearing the peak of 

crude oil production and worldwide 

demand continues to increase. 

We are using our resources at an 

unsustainable rate.



We can’t take the sprinter’s view of 

using our resources. 

We’re in a marathon – we 

can’t deplete our 

resources and have 

nothing for the end of the 

race (or to pass on to 

future generations).



So what can we do? 

You as the major energy consumer 

of the world can have a huge impact.

Per Capita Electricity Consumption 

Author: Frank van Mierlo. Graph was produced from data in the 2006 Key World Energy Statistics from the 

International Energy Agency.

Your actions will: 

have twice the impact of a person in England or 

South Korea (and twice the CO 2 emissions)


have 8 times the impact of a person in China. (5 

times the CO 2 emissions.)


have 29 times the impact of a person in India. (19 

times the CO 2 emissions.)



“Stabilization Wedges: Solving the 

Climate Problem for the next 50 

Years with Current Technologies” S. 

Pacala and R. Socolow, 2004 Science 

305 968-972



In this paper Pacala and Socolow present 

a set of wedges each of which represents 

a way to offset 1 billion tons of carbon 

emissions per year by 2054. 

The authors assume the process currently 

is unused, but the application will be 

increased linearly over the next 50 years.

Modified figure from S. Pacala and R. Socolow, 2004 Science 305 968-972 

Stabilization of carbon emissions at 

current levels – need 7 wedges

More “wedges” could be applied to reduce 

emissions further – can adjust to meet 

priorities. 

Modified figure from S. Pacala and R. Socolow, 2004 Science 305 968-972

Application of some “wedges” may 

decrease the effectiveness of 

others. 


All the wedges represent current 

technologies. 


I. Efficiency and Conservation 

1. Double automobile fuel efficiency 

(that’s less than 2% increase in fuel 

efficiency per year) 

– Buy a more efficient vehicle (when you can) 

http://www.toyota.com/prius/exterior.html and asmartcar.com 

http://www.caranddriver.com/carmodel/hummer-h3.htm


2. Decrease reliance on cars 

(same fuel efficiency, but cut use by 50%) 

Walk, ride or at least be smarter with your 

trips. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walking www.Metroareatransit


ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/pictures/tv.film/Muppet_Show/kermit.gif


3. Increase efficiency in buildings 

(especially in developing countries) 

Do what you can to make your living space 

more efficient – insulate, turn off lights, 

computers, etc. 

http://www.boldstarinfrared.com/homeimages.html 

www.remax.com (a house in omaha) 

http://www.unomaha.edu/enotes/2006/0119.php


4. Increase coal power plant 

efficiency by 50% 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_fuel_power_plant

II. Decarbonization of Electricity 

and Fuels 

5. Substitute natural gas for coal. 

Carbon emissions are about half those of 

coal plants. 

Increase use 4-fold 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_fuel_power_plant


and Fuels 

6. Carbon sequestration 

Capture power plant emissions and sequester 

underground. 

Support efforts to limit allowable CO 2 emissions. 

Chemical and Engineering News, Sept 24, 2007, Bette Hillman and Jeff Johnson


and Fuels 

7. Carbon sequestration from 

hydrogen plants 

http://www.getenergysmart.org/Files/ 

HydrogenEducation/6HydrogenProduction 

SteamMethaneReforming.pdf


and Fuels 

8. Carbon sequestration from synfuel 

plants. 

Large scale production of 

synthetic fuel from coal (similar 

to current work in South Africa) 

http://sasol.investoreports.com/sasol_mm_2006/html/sasol_mm_2006_9.php


and Fuels 

9. More nuclear fission power plants 

Roughly a doubling of current nuclear power 

use worldwide 

Seriously consider pros and cons. 

http://wesupportlee.blogspot.com/2006/10/m 

ajor-renovations-at-fort-calhoun.html


and Fuels 

10. More wind generated electricity 

Assume turbine operate at 1/3 peak capacity. 

Increase about 50 times current capacity. 

Requires land mass about equal to 3% of U.S. 

http://www.nytimes 

.com/2006/08/02/u 

s/02wind.html; of 

wind farm in Kansas


and Fuels 

11. Solar power (photovoltaic) 

Increase about 700 times current capacity. 

This requires less than one tenth the land 

needed for the wind “wedge” 

http://www.soultek.com/blog/labels/solar%20powe 

r.html 

http://www.evworld.com/article.cfm?storyid=856


and Fuels 

12. Renewable Hydrogen 

Use Wind or Solar electricity for electrolysis 

of water to make hydrogen fuel for vehicles. 

http://hydrogencommerce.com/ind 

exa2.htm


and Fuels 

13. Biofuels 

If ethanol, need to 

increase 

production about 

50-fold 

Would require an 

area equal to 1/6 

current cropland. 

(About 10 times 

the land 

requirement for a 

wind “wedge”.) 

National Geographic October 2007

III. Natural Sinks 

14. Forest Management 

Reduce the rate tropical deforestation so it is zero in 

50 years. 

Reforestation of some tropical and temperate areas 

Photo © Mark Godfrey/TNC

III. Natural Sinks 

15. Agricultural soils management 

Adopt conservation tillage so agricultural 

land is not tilled. (Decreasing release of 

carbon from the soil to the atmosphere.) 

Conservation tillage would have to be 

increased about 10-fold. 

http://www.agry.purdue.edu/cti/images/


Summary 


– There is no one solution to address 

carbon dioxide release or sustainable 

energy production.


Summary 

– Employ 

best practices to conserve energy, 

apply current technologies to energy 

generation and 

increase biomass through better land 

management 

Can help mitigate carbon emissions 

and propel us toward sustainable 

energy production.


YOU can help more than most any 

other individuals on this planet. 

Start with conservation 

– You can eliminate a lot of waste. 

– Support renewable energy. 

We need to use our energy wisely so 

we can finish the race!


What will you do??

The Solution to Global Warming

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