Holding global warming below 2°C with minimum investment cost, negligible land-use area, and acceptable risk

Oct 26, 2016

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Well-intentioned as they are and representing excellent progress along the required path, the INDC commitments on CO2 emission reduction made by 196 nations of the world at the Paris climate talks in December 2015 will not hold global warming below the environmentally critical value of 2°C by 2100. To accomplish this vital objective, there are really only 4 alternatives: 1) A massive use of wind, wave, and solar power “100% WWS” costing $14.6 trillion (US only), requiring 0.4% of US land area, and allowing brown-outs. 2) Massive implementation of Solar Radiation Management (SRM) injecting SO2 particles into the stratosphere. A recent review listed 15 cons and 5 pros, illustrating: “Don’t go there!” 3) A massive increase in the world’s use of nuclear power. Limited by Fukushima. 4) Massive use of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC). Its cold water upwelling will also set off a feedback loop involving increased sea ice, increased albedo, and increased reflection, enabling both generation of 2.6 TW of dispatchable clean electricity and reduction of the Earth’s Surface Atmospheric Temperature (SAT) by over 1°C, thereby allowing financial incentives which could keep the capital investment very low. The majority of this talk will further describe approach #4.

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About UCSC WiSE

A new "science cafe" is starting up in Santa Cruz, designed to connect the Santa Cruz community to the latest research happening at UC Santa Cruz. Science on Tap, held monthly at the Crepe Place in Santa Cruz, features scientists from UCSC who will present their work and engage in discussions with the audience in a relaxed setting. The informal talks are aimed at a general audience, including nonscientists and people not affiliated with UCSC.

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