The relentless pursuit of an ideal standard of living has led us to consume an ever-increasing amount of fossil fuels without concern for the consequences.
As a result, people must now face the challenge of reducing or at least stabilizing global CO2 emissions as a long-term task. It is time to put aside scientific speculation about the reliability of global warming and take action.
The New Earth for the 21st Century program is the framework for the next 100 years, aiming to restore the ecology and reverse the damage caused by 200 years of accumulated carbon dioxide and air-conditioning gases.
Curbing the planet's warming should be the top priority. Here are some ways to achieve it:
Methane gas emissions must not exceed the existing standards. We should also try to limit the increase in emissions of nitrous oxide and other air-conditioning gases. Monitoring and controlling methane and other air conditioning gases should also include reducing methane emissions from waste, strengthening the management of agricultural and energy production and applications, and limiting emissions of nitrogen monoxide, carbon monoxide, non-methane hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxide gases.
Forest plantations globally should be protected and developed, and national forest green belts should be established on a large scale. CO2 absorption can be increased by improving national forest management, greening urban areas, and making more efficient use of wood resources. The target date for achieving the goal is 2010, with the year 2000 being the year of basic achievement.
Research on observing and monitoring air-conditioning gas emissions must be accelerated. It is necessary to develop technologies that can limit the diffusion of air-conditioning gases, studies the absorption and stabilization properties of the gases, and adapt to a warming global environment.
Bioenergy can be used on a large scale in combustion-based thermoelectric power stations. In North America, bioenergy sources can produce 200-300 metric tons of oil-equivalent fuel if 1/3 of the land to be reclaimed is exploited (over 28,000,000 hectares) and open forests (20,000,000 hectares) are used.
Other energy sources, such as wind energy, have great potential but require a comprehensive cost analysis to predict the amount of energy that will actually be used in the future.
Combining energy systems is also important. One strategic research option is to reduce and consume each energy unit of CO2 emissions through combustion conversion. Another study is to reduce the energy consumption per economic unit of production, for example, by recombining the entire energy flow to reduce the basic energy supply. Although such recombination is attractive, it will take considerable time to achieve.
Carbon dioxide processing technologies are necessary to eliminate, store, or recycle carbon dioxide from fossil fuels. Several methods have been introduced for the chemical or physical removal of carbon dioxide. Separated CO2 has the potential to be eliminated in deep-sea and abandoned gas mines or in groundwater formations, but the environmental impacts must be further investigated.
The Earth's environment is deteriorating, and we must take responsibility for greening it.
