Mitigating CO2 from

atmosphere
GreenEarthers
Team members: Akshat
Pandey, Ainapurapu
Rishabh and Jagmeet
Ghotra
Team Leader: Mrs.
Radhika Singh
School: Delhi Private
School – Dubai
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Contents
1. Introduction: ............................................................................................................................................. 4
2. Problem: .................................................................................................................................................... 6
3. Solutions: .................................................................................................................................................. 8
1. Speak up! .............................................................................................................................................. 8
2. Power your home with renewable energy. .......................................................................................... 8
3. Weatherize, weatherize, weatherize. ................................................................................................... 8
4. Invest in energy-efficient appliances. ................................................................................................... 9
5. Reduce water waste.............................................................................................................................. 9
6. Eat the food you buy—and make less of its meat. ............................................................................... 9
7. Buy better bulbs. ................................................................................................................................. 10
8. Pull the plug(s). ................................................................................................................................... 10
9. Drive a fuel-efficient vehicle. .............................................................................................................. 10
10. Maintain your ride. ........................................................................................................................... 11
11. Rethink planes, trains, and automobiles. ......................................................................................... 11
12. Shrink your carbon profile. ............................................................................................................... 11
4. Method we have devised: ....................................................................................................................... 12
5. Bibliography: ........................................................................................................................................... 13

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1. Introduction:

Carbon dioxide is a simple mixture of exactly what it sounds like; one-part carbon with two

oxygen atoms attached to it. Carbon dioxide is in a gaseous state at normal temperatures and

its chemical equation is stated as CO2. The gas originates from many different sources around

the globe. Some of the most common and highest producers of CO2 are fossil fuel combustion,

iron and steel production, natural gas refinery systems, and the manufacturing of cement. The

burning of fossil fuels is the largest single producer of CO2 gas. Many people associate this with

the internal combustion engine which powers the modern automobile. In fact, the largest

producer of carbon dioxide, in the United States, within the fossil fuel combustion group is the

generation of electricity (EPA). Transportation comes in second place in the United States for

CO2 production levels. This includes the burning of gasoline, diesel fuel, and many other

petroleum-based fuels. Although the burning of fossil fuels happens to be the largest source of

CO2 there are also natural causes of the gas within the atmosphere. The breathing of animals,

volcanic eruptions, and release of CO2 from the ocean, which happens to be a large carbon

“sink” (meaning that it stores mass amounts of carbon), are all-natural causes of carbon

dioxide.

One of the great parts about our Earth is the natural way it can clean itself. Carbon dioxide is a

naturally occurring gas within our atmosphere. Due to this naturally occurring substance there

is a natural way for decreasing the levels of CO2. The processes that absorb and consume

carbon dioxide consist of the natural photosynthesis process in which plants/trees use the suns

energy and convert it into food. During this process carbon dioxide is drawn in through the

leaves and stored within the main mass of the plant/tree. The carbon is then drawn into the soil

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through the roots of the agricultural crop or tree. This is nature’s way of drawing the carbon

dioxide out of the air and into the ground where it can be stored. Although the plants have

temporarily removed the CO2 from the atmosphere the substance still exists and can be re-

released into the atmosphere through a tilling process of the ground or digging up the soil. Even

though the carbon dioxide is being released into the air again this is how nature self regulates

the CO2 on its own. With naturally occurring carbon dioxide levels this process works great.

However, it can’t completely compensate for human generated carbon dioxide levels which are

produced today.

By most accounts, deforestation in tropical rainforests adds more carbon dioxide to the

atmosphere than the sum of cars and trucks on the world’s roads. According to the World

Carfree Network (WCN), cars and trucks account for about 14 percent of global carbon

emissions, while most analysts attribute upwards of 15 percent to deforestation. The reason

that logging is so bad for the climate is that when trees are felled, they release the carbon they

are storing into the atmosphere, where it mingles with greenhouse gases from other sources

and contributes to global warming accordingly. The upshot is that we should be doing as much

to prevent deforestation as we are to increase fuel efficiency and reduce automobile usage.

According to the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a leading green group, 32 million acres of

tropical rainforest was cut down each year between 2000 and 2009—and the pace of

deforestation is only increasing. “Unless we change the present system that rewards forest

destruction, forest clearing will put another 200 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere in

coming decades…,” says EDF. “Any realistic plan to reduce global warming pollution

sufficiently—and in time—to avoid dangerous consequences must rely in part on preserving

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tropical forests,” reports EDF. But it’s hard to convince the poor residents of the Amazon basin

and other tropical regions of the world to stop cutting down trees when the forests are still

worth more dead than alive. “Conservation costs money, while profits from timber, charcoal,

pasture and cropland drive people to cut down forests,” adds EDF. Exacerbating global warming

isn’t the only negative impact of tropical deforestation. It also wipes out biodiversity: More

than half of the world’s plant and animal species live in tropical rainforests

2. Problem:

There is no dispute about the basic facts of this issue: carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas; the

world's automobiles and power plants pour nearly 6 billion tons of it into the air every year; and

there are countless indications that the planet is warming. Perhaps the most revealing is the

fact that average temperatures have been gradually rising, and the ten hottest years on record

since the 1860s have occurred since 1973.

The strong statements of scientists on this issue derive from the catastrophic potential of even

a small amount of global warming. The reason why the planet Venus bakes under 900-degree

heat is not because it is so close to the sun, but it is trapped under greenhouse gases. Global

warming is a serious threat here on earth because it would cause more severe weather,

increase the range of deserts, melt the polar ice caps, cause a rise in sea level (which, according

to the fossil record, is a major cause of mass extinctions), as well as expand the habitat of

deadly tropical diseases.

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Global carbon emissions from fossil fuels have significantly increased since 1900. Since 1970,

CO2 emissions have increased by about 90%, with emissions from fossil fuel combustion and

industrial processes contributing about 78% of the total greenhouse gas emissions increase

from 1970 to 2011. Agriculture, deforestation, and other land-use changes have been the

second-largest contributors. Emissions of non-CO2 greenhouse gases have also increased

significantly since 1900. To learn more about past and projected global emissions of non-CO2

gases.

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3. Solutions:

1. Speak up!

What’s the single biggest way you can make an impact on global climate change? “Talk to your

friends and family, and make sure your representatives are making good decisions,” Haq says.

By voicing your concerns—via social media or, better yet, directly to your elected officials—you

send a message that you care about the warming world. Encourage Congress to enact new laws

that limit carbon emissions and require polluters to pay for the emissions they produce. “The

main reason elected officials do anything difficult is because their constituents make them,”

Haq says. You can help protect public lands, stop offshore drilling, and more here.

2. Power your home with renewable energy.

Choose a utility company that generates at least half its power from wind or solar and has been

certified by Green-e Energy, an organization that vets renewable energy options. If that isn’t

possible for you, look at your electric bill; many utilities now list other ways to support

renewable sources on their monthly statements and websites.

3. Weatherize, weatherize, weatherize.

“Building heating and cooling are among the biggest uses of energy,” Haq says. Indeed, heating

and air-conditioning account for almost half of home energy use. You can make your space

more energy efficient by sealing drafts and ensuring it’s adequately insulated. You can also

claim federal tax credits for many energy-efficiency home improvements.

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4. Invest in energy-efficient appliances.

Since they were first implemented nationally in 1987, efficiency standards for dozens of

appliances and products have kept 2.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide out of the air. That’s about

the same amount as the annual carbon pollution coughed up by nearly 440 million cars.

“Energy efficiency is the lowest-cost way to reduce emissions,” Haq says. When shopping for

refrigerators, washing machines, and other appliances, look for the Energy Star label. It will tell

you which are the most efficient.

5. Reduce water waste.

Saving water reduces carbon pollution, too. That's because it takes a lot of energy to pump,

heat, and treat your water. So, take shorter showers, turn off the tap while brushing your teeth,

and switch to WaterSense-labeled fixtures and appliances. The EPA estimates that if just one

out of every 100 American homes were retrofitted with water-efficient fixtures, about 100

million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year would be saved—avoiding 80,000 tons of global

warming pollution.

6. Eat the food you buy—and make less of its meat.

Approximately 10 percent of U.S. energy use goes into growing, processing, packaging, and

shipping food—about 40 percent of which just winds up in the landfill. “If you’re wasting less

food, you’re likely cutting down on energy consumption,” Haq says. And since livestock

products are among the most resource-intensive to produce, eating meat-free meals can make

a big difference, too.

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7. Buy better bulbs.

LED lightbulbs use up to 80 percent less energy than conventional incandescent. They’re also

cheaper in the long run: A 10-watt LED that replaces your traditional 60-watt bulb will save you

$125 over the lightbulb’s life.

8. Pull the plug(s).

Taken together, the outlets in your home are likely powering about 65 different devices—an

average load for a home in the U.S. Audio and video devices, cordless vacuums and power

tools, and other electronics use energy even when they're not charging. This "idle load" across

all U.S. households adds up to the output of 50 large power plants in the U.S. So, don't leave

fully charged devices plugged into your home's outlets, unplug rarely used devices or plug them

into power strips and timers, and adjust your computers and monitors to automatically power

down to the lowest power mode when not in use.

9. Drive a fuel-efficient vehicle.

Gas-smart cars, such as hybrids and fully electric vehicles, save fuel and money. And once all

cars and light trucks meet 2025’s clean car standards, which means averaging 54.5 miles per

gallon, they’ll be a mainstay. For good reason: Relative to a national fleet of vehicles that

averaged only 28.3 miles per gallon in 2011, Americans will spend $80 billion less at the pump

each year and cut their automotive emissions by half. Before you buy a new set of wheels,

compare fuel-economy performance here.

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10. Maintain your ride.

If all Americans kept their tires properly inflated, we could save 1.2 billion gallons of gas each

year. A simple tune-up can boost miles per gallon anywhere from 4 percent to 40 percent, and

a new air filter can get you a 10 percent boost.

11. Rethink planes, trains, and automobiles.

Choosing to live in walkable smart-growth cities and towns with quality public transportation

leads to less driving, less money spent on fuel, and less pollution in the air. Less frequent flying

can make a big difference, too. “Air transport is a major source of climate pollution,” Haq says.

“If you can take a train instead, do that.”

12. Shrink your carbon profile.

You can offset the carbon you produce by purchasing carbon offsets, which represent clean

power that you can add to the nation’s energy grid in place of power from fossil fuels. But not

all carbon offset companies are alike. Do your homework to find the best supplier.

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4. Method we have devised:

After research and observing collected data, we have identified that deforestation is one of the

main reasons that are responsible for the increase in the CO2 increment in the atmosphere. We

use AI controlled drones which have Nondispersive Infrared (NDIR) CO2 Sensors (NDIR sensors

are spectroscopic sensors to detect CO2 in a gaseous environment by its characteristic

absorption. The key components are an infrared source, a light tube, an interference

(wavelength) filter, and an infrared detector. The gas is pumped or diffuses into the light tube,

and the electronics measure the absorption of the characteristic wavelength of light. NDIR

sensors are most often used for measuring carbon dioxide.) and in the areas of high

concentrations of carbon dioxide, these drones search the area for uncultivated land and take

the sample of the soil of the land. These drones then move to the research laboratory to detect

if the land is good for use or not. If it is, plants are planted on that field which in return results

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in afforestation and that results in the lowering of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,

thus, mitigating the effect of CO2 on Earth.

5. Bibliography:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_sensor

https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/global-greenhouse-gas-emissions-data

https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Global-Warming-is-Causing-the-Destruction-of-FKCLBKPZTC

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/deforestation-and-global-warming/

https://www.ucsusa.org/our-work/global-warming/solutions/global-warming-solutions-reduce-

emissions

https://www.nrdc.org/stories/how-you-can-stop-global-warming

https://www.google.com/

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