We all know that the Earth is changing. Temperatures are rising up, new viruses are spreading, the landscape is dying or reimagining. Yet, climate change isn’t being fought. It isn’t being tackled like a war with an enemy. In order to best battle climate change, we need to use weapons just like we soldiers use guns, tanks, and grenades.
Scientists are recommending four weapons in our war against climate change. Fighting climate change has to be treated as World War III, and we can’t fight this world war without some serious weapons. The following four were mentioned by a group of experts in physics, geology, climate systems, and others alike areas.
The first weapon is to plant more trees. And not just a few in a backyard, but a LOT more trees. Recent research on the restoration of the Earth that trees cause has strengthened the need for this weapon. As the scientists state, “900 million hectares of additional tree cover could exist outside of already-established forests, farmland and urban areas – sufficient to store 25 percent of the current atmospheric carbon pool.” Those numbers are worldwide. More plants means less CO2. Less CO2 means a healthier planet. It’s simple. The worldwide population has to plant more trees.
The second weapon is turning carbon dioxide into rock. The process of carbon mineralisation involves turning carbon dioxide into carbonate minerals, many times paralleling the process that seashells and limestone are made naturally from. Think about it. Taking produced CO2 and making it into a useful building material. It seems like the perfect weapon. However, many techniques are being researched and proposed, and the kinks are still being solved. Yet, the future is bright if this weapon can become a main backbone in the war against climate change.
Weapon three is making the Earth’s surface more reflective. Changing the reflectivity of surfaces can counteract planetary heating by reflecting sunlight back to space. Ideas such as painting a dark roof white, or planting paler crops fall under this weapon. In the end, a large scale change in reflectivity has the chance of decreasing temperatures by up to three degrees Celsius.
The fourth and final weapon is reimagining transport. Look at Norway. The country incentives clean travel by offering rewards for zero-emission vehicles powered by hydrogen or electricity. Some examples include tax exemption and free parking in areas. In addition, the results are positive, as more than half of the cars sold in Norway in recent months were entirely electric-powered.
The scientists have given us the weapons to win World War III. Now, we all have to be better soldiers and use them.
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