A couple of small ideas that could change the world
Many scientists agree that if climate change continues at its current rate, life as we know it could dramatically change by the year 2080. The arctic ice could be gone in the summer. Water shortages are predicted in large areas of Africa. Hurricanes are expected to become more frequent and more powerful. Even now, you probably see some of its effects. I think that most people can agree that something must be done to stop climate change before it cripples our environment.
I have two ideas that when used together could be of significant help in the battle against climate change. One of them removes carbon dioxide, the most common greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere. The other idea could possibly releive the world of its dependence on fossil fuels.
My first idea is a way to safely and easily remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Trees naturally remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow, as it is an essential compound in photosynthesis. Normally this carbon is released back into the atmosphere when the tree dies and eventually rots. With my idea, unnecessary wood would be turned into charcoal and buried. Charcoal is mostly carbon and won't rot, so the carbon will not be released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. People generate around 86 million tons of scrap wood every year, many types of wood are over 20% carbon by weight, so that is over 17 million tons of carbon that will be taken out of the air every year.
My second idea could revolutionize the energy industry and possibly relive the world of its dependence on fossil fuels. It is an idea on how to build a fusion reactor. It uses mostly current technology. It would generate large amounts of energy and might be small enough to fit inside a car. It would run on deuterium and tritium, two isotopes of hydrogen. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, so it would almost impossible to run out.
My only issue is that these are only ideas, and an idea by itself is worth nothing, it is great ideas that are executed, that shape the world. I do not have enough information to build a fusion reactor, and I don't have the influence to spread my idea for carbon sequesterization. this is why I need the help of other people. I can't do this by myself. So, do you want to help me save the world?
©Gabriel Bay 2012