Climate change: New way to suck carbon dioxide from the air

9 March 2023

car with exhaust fumes — Image caption,
Car exhaust fumes contain lots of carbon dioxide which can contribute to global warming

A new way to combat climate change by sucking carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the air has been thought up by scientists.

The new method can absorb CO2 and turn it something called bicarbonate of soda that can be dropped safely into the sea.

Although ideas to absorb CO2 have been tried before, scientists think this new method may be three times better.

But the idea comes just days after the UN said that

More on this story:

What is carbon capture?

SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/ Getty Images

Bicarbonate of soda is used in cleaning, baking, and even as a medicine

The idea of sucking carbon dioxide out of the air isn't new, it's a technique called carbon capture.

Scientists have used carbon capture before, but often it's very expensive and involves pumping the carbon dioxide deep underground.

Before this new method, scientists have been filtering out carbon dioxide from the air using machines that use lots of energy.

But researchers say this new method is much cheaper and takes up a lot less energy.

What does the new technique do?

It uses common chemicals to absorb extra CO2 from the air
That CO2 turns into bicarbonate of soda, which is used for baking and for other scientific purposes
The bicarb can then be deposited safely in the sea

Carbon offsetting and how carbon capture helps

Getty Images

Planting trees on a large scale, like here in China, is a cheap form of direct air capture but it uses large areas of land

Carbon offsetting is when companies or governments spend money on ideas like carbon capture to make up for the polluting they do.

Scientists think this new method of carbon capture will be very attractive for many companies and countries.

But it is still a new technology, so may take some time before it's widely available.

Jason Hosking/Getty Images

The average global temperature is rising, causing problems for the natural world

Lead author for the study, Professor Arup SenGupta from Lehigh University in the US, says it could be critical to limiting the rise in global temperatures.

Other experts in the field agree.

"It is very exciting," says Prof Catherine Peters from Princeton University, an expert in geological engineering, "the demonstrated performance for CO2 capture is promising."

Some climate change experts warn that although new technologies like carbon capture are exciting, the priority should be focusing on stopping burning fossil fuels and releasing greenhouse gases.