Forward to five friends & email lists!
 

Carbon Dioxide Removal

& Negative Emissions

 

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) refers to the process of removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Since this is the opposite of emissions, practices or technologies that remove CO2 are often described as achieving "negative emissions." The process is sometimes referred to more broadly as greenhouse gas removal if it involves removing gases other than CO2.

 

There are two main types of CDR: either enhancing existing natural processes that remove carbon from the atmosphere (planting trees, enhancing soil, etc.) or using chemical processes such as Direct Air Capture to remove CO2 from the ambient air and store it elsewhere. All CDR methods are at different stages of development and some are more conceptual than others, as they have not been tested at scale.

 

The Hearings on the January

6th Attack on the US Capitol

 

We've also included a video covering the investigation into the right-wing extremists' attack on the US Capitol.  This is a major event in the history of our country and we believe it deserves our attention.
 

What You Can Do Right Now:

Call or Email Your Congressperson!

 

For the past three plus years, we have searched for hope on climate change. First, we worked for over two years to get support for the Green New Deal which we finally concluded will never be passed in Congress, then Fee and Divided which has the same problem. Next, we worked on the UN Glasgow Conference which was a predictable failure and then a few other possibilities which were also lacking. 

 

Recently, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which consists of thousands of scientists, said that Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Direct Air Capture (DAC), which involves sucking greenhouse gases (GHG) out of the air, are absolutely necessary because we have waited far too long for sufficient climate action.

 

Dr. James Hansen, who many think is the most important climate scientist, has said that a better option to do the same thing is planting billions of trees and changing farming practices. Perhaps, we should start both DAC and Dr. Hansen’s suggestion.

 

One advantage of CDR/DAC is Corporate Greed in that the rich could become even richer by building huge CDR/DAC plants all over the world. This profit motive might get GOP votes on this proposal. Even Trump supported CDR and thought it should be given more money. In the past the GOP have opposed all action on climate change. The problem there is that the GOP will claim that we will be able to continue burning fuels if we used CDR on a massive scale.

 

Pick Up the Phone and Call Now!

 

To call your representative and ask for increased funding for Carbon Dioxide Removal research and development, simply dial the capitol switchboard 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your representative's office.  If you do not know your congressperson, feel free to ask for any of the Texas congresspeople below.  Additionally, please click a name below to email your rep:
 

Background Articles

 

Many, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), now view Carbon Dioxide Removal as a necessary part of our strategy -- even though direct air capture technology has yet to be proven to work at large scale:

 

The Guardian: Final warning: what does the IPCC’s third report installment say?

  • We have reached the point where it is likely that we will need to do both achieve net zero AND begin CDR to avoid dangerous climate change

Scientific American: Carbon Removal ‘Unavoidable’ as Climate Dangers Grow, New IPCC Report Says

  • ...but if the world relies too heavily on this strategy, it could risk overshooting targets to limit warming

Huffington Post: Activists Call It A ‘False Solution.’ But UN Scientists Say We Need To Suck Up CO2

  • The latest global climate report makes clear we need to suck carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, and planting trees won’t be enough

Article by George Monbiot on climate change and politics: Those who claim that we can prevent environmental collapse without political pressure or political change are now more dangerous than climate deniers

  • Idealists who believe in world-saving technology and "the relentless march of humanity toward a more bountiful future" fail to recognize the importance of political pressure and may lead us to environmental collapse
 

The Hearings on the January

6th Attack on the US Capitol

 

Here is the video of day 1 of the Select Committee investigating Trump's supporter's attack on the US Capitol.  Here is a shorter summary article from NPR.
 

What We’re Doing, and How You Can Help

The Texas Drought Project was formed in the fall of 2008 when we worked on the first big US climate bill called Waxman-Markey. In the following years, we did much-need climate education and then a series of large successful campaigns. 

In the wake of COP26 in Glasgow, we have made a strong push to get people to call, write, and email targeted Texas Democrats in hopes of pushing them and Biden to act boldly for the climate.

We need only $2500 per month to sustain this critical push to our last best chance for a safe future.  Any donation of $100 or more will be matched!