Climate fatigue, efficient carbon capture and solar storage breakthrough
In this issue:
Climate fatigue
A couple of reports out of the UK recently indicate climate change is slipping a bit in people’s consciousness. A survey of over 2,000 UK residents by The Eco Experts reports 51% of respondents consider there to be a global climate emergency, down from 73% last year. The fall is being attributed to confused messages emerging from the UK election and a short term focus caused by the cost of living crisis. More than 90% did not have a clear understanding of net-zero. Meanwhile, a survey by Deloitte uncovered that 60% of people are losing interest in making sustainable lifestyle and purchasing decisions.
Business investment bounces back
While the UK public’s concern about climate change may be ebbing, business investment on sustainability seems to be bouncing back after the pandemic and some tough economic times. That’s the conclusion of a report from Simply Sustainable covering businesses in the UK and The Netherlands, who report 9 out of 10 sustainability professionals expect their companies to increase spending on environmental projects next year. Energy efficiency emerged as the most productive target area, followed by risk management.
Consultation on natural climate solutions launched
The Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), a group of investors with over US$150 trillion (NZ$250trn) under management has launched a consultation on how nature can be integrated into net zero transition plans. Currently, two-thirds of the 700+ financial institutions making up the alliance have aligned to the existing plan guidance. The consultation closes on 27th January next year.
Lithium hoard discovered in Arkansas
The US Geological Survey has uncovered a large lithium source in Arkansas, with current estimates suggesting 5 to 19 million tonnes of deposits, significantly reducing supply risks for the precious element. The scale of the find, even at the 5 million tonne lower end of the estimate, would satisfy the predicted 2030 demand for lithium for car batteries by a factor of 9. For context, the national reserves of Argentina and Bolivia are estimated at 22 milliion and 23 million tonnes respectively.
Carbon capture breakthrough
The jury remains firmly out on quite how material carbon capture technologies will be in achieving net zero targets, even if they become economically viable. However, a new innovation from scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, may just help hasten that viability. They have developed a new, powdery material they are calling COF-999, COF standing for covalent organic framework. Just 200 grammes of the powder can capture around 20 Kg of CO2, about the amount a tree absorbs in a year. Unlike traditional direct air capture methods, which require heat, COF-999 operates effectively at room temperature, making it highly energy-efficient. The creators claim it also absorbs CO2 ten times faster than traditional methods.
Storing meaningful solar for months
That’s the breakthrough claim of scientists from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and the University of Siegen. Using photoswitches (chemical bonds), energy is stored as heat and can be retained for months without loss. While photoswitches have been around for a few years, until now they have only been capable of capturing UV light, only a small range of the spectrum. The new development of a “sensitiser” captures light from a much wider range of the spectrum and transfers it to the photoswitch, extending the capturable range enormously.