[Terrapreta] "Giving Up On Two Degrees"

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi Larry,

A very interesting article.  I have read much from scientific journals (SCIENCE, Nature, Scientific American) on climatic change.  The vast majority of climatic scientists view these changes as being effected by human activity; large urban areas, mining, clearing of forestland for agriculture, and primarily the increase in atmospheric CO2 from burning of fossil fuels.

I have not seen any scientific papers specifically in any of those journals, but some articles.  I think there is a Journal of Soil Science, which may contain some research papers.  There is a plenary of information on this website, including research papers and articles.

I believe strongly, too, that we are in nearly desperate straits on global climatic change.  Something very large scale has to be done to harvest CO2 from the atmosphere and it must be done sooner, rather than later!  I also believe that putting charcoal in soil is already a proven carbon sequestration technique; the Terre Preta soil in the Amazon has contained carbon in a stable form for 2500 to 4500 years!

Clearly, also, if charcoal is made from existing, living biomass, growing now, and inspiring CO2 from the atmosphere as it to grows, then once this charcoal is put into soil, it will effectively sequester the carbon from the atmosphere.  The impact can be significant, if the amount of charcoal is significant.  To me, its is that simple.  Let's get on with it.  We can write a research paper as we go.

Regards,

SKB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Larry Williams<mailto:lwilliams at nas.com> 
  To: Tom Miles<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
  Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 6:13 PM
  Subject: [Terrapreta] "Giving Up On Two Degrees"


  Tom and all:


  We have had discussion on two aspects of Terra Preta that I hold dear. Growing plants for food and the sequestration of carbon. This morning an article by George Monbiot, "Giving Up ON Two Degrees" was sent to me. Although, this is the first critical analysis of national and international plans to reduce atmospheric CO2 that I have read, I have questioned climate change solutions that are achieved in 2020 and beyond as a day late and a dollar short.


  In fact, this article scares me and I don't have any children that will receive the problems from global warming. My spirituality is tied to Nature. I derive my inspiration and strength from the natural world. I am not asking you to accept my belief. You have your own guiding beliefs and values. I feel that this is important for you to know when you read my comments.


  Understanding the soil management techniques around Terra Preta for the purpose of growing food has, I believe, value in the Pacific NW. Small events have occurred in the local soils and in my garden that suggest some significance impact in using fertilized charcoal for growing plants locally. Although, the tropical soils have specific limiting factors, those forests do not seem to lack in abundance of flora or fauna. So to say, as I have heard locally, that Terra Preta doesn't apply in rich local, Whatcom County, WA, soils is not proven till we know more of the process. Some local soils are poor growing soils for specific plants that might be improved. I digress from my greater concern.


  The second aspect that this list has discussed relates to the sequestering of carbon in the soil. Monbiot's point is for setting realistic reduction standards that achieve a stable CO2 level that, as I read his article, prevents unnecessary harm to the greater population. I may have 20-30+ years to watch and participate in this "show". If the tone of his article is anywhere close to reality and if Steiner's comments (of this list, April 20,  2007 1:31:01 AM PDT) hold merit then it seems that our contributions in time and effort face a critical junction.


  My experiences with water, soil, plants and wildlife tell me that change is on us even if we act on an emergency basis. I suggest that we acknowledge the serious situation that we, this list and the larger we of this blue-green globe, are facing. Each year the extent and the rapidity of change is increasing and each year scientists note the increased rate of change. The Monboiot article only reinforces my sense of urgency. I am open to a review of the below article. 


  Are there many scientific papers that suggest the sequestration of black carbon in the soil profile can have a significant impact on atmospheric carbon?


  There are many ways for a goal to fail and far fewer ways to succeed. Ah! The search for the critical path-------Larry












  -----------------------
  @ http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2007/05/01/1058/<http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2007/05/01/1058/> 


  Giving Up On Two Degrees<http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2007/05/01/1058/>    (click to review the full article)
  Posted May 1, 2007
  Have we already abandoned our attempts to prevent dangerous climate change?By George Monbiot. Published in the Guardian, 1st May 2007



  The rich nations seeking to cut climate change have this in common: they lie. You won’t find this statement in the draft of the new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which was leaked to the Guardian last week. But as soon as you understand the numbers, the words form before your eyes. The governments making genuine efforts to tackle global warming are using figures they know to be false.

  ------------------snip------------------

  www.monbiot.com

   References:
  1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, February 2007. Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Summary for Policymakers. http://www.ipcc.ch/WG1_SPM_17Apr07.pdf<http://www.ipcc.ch/WG1_SPM_17Apr07.pdf>

  2. Rachel Warren, 2006. Impacts of Global Climate Change at Different Annual Mean Global Temperature Increases. In Hans Joachim Schellnhuber (Ed in Chief). Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change. Cambridge University Press.

  3. F.R. Rijsberman and R.J. Swart (Eds), 1990. Targets and indicators of climate change: Report of Working Group II of the Advisory Group on Greenhouse Gases. Stockholm Environment Institute.

  4. Council of the European Union, 11th March 2005. Information note 7242/05. http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/05/st07/st07242.en05.pdf<http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/05/st07/st07242.en05.pdf>

  5. Malte Meinshausen, 2006. What Does a 2°C Target Mean for Greenhouse Gas Concentrations? A Brief Analysis Based on Multi-Gas Emission Pathways and Several Climate Sensitivity Uncertainty Estimates. In Hans Joachim Schellnhuber (Ed in Chief). Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change. Cambridge University Press.

  6. The IPCC uses the words “Unlikely” and “Very Unlikely”. These have precise definitions in the IPCC process: a 33% likelihood and a 10% likelihood. For the full set of definitions, see Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, February 2007, ibid.

  7. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007. Mitigation of Climate Change. Unpublished draft report, version 3.0. Table SPM 1.

  8. The figures the IPCC uses in Table SPM 1 suggest that the other greenhouse gases account for 21% of the climate change due to carbon dioxide alone. This is a high estimate – other authors (eg Sir Nicholas Stern, the UK Department for Environment), suggest 10 or 15%.

  9. Again, I use the IPCC’s formula here. Other estimates would produce a slightly lower figure.

  10. Sir Nicholas Stern, October 2006. The Economics of Climate Change. HM Treasury. Part 3, p194. http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews/stern_review_economics_climate_change/stern_review_report.cfm<http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews/stern_review_economics_climate_change/stern_review_report.cfm>

  11. DEFRA, 2003. The Scientific Case for Setting a Long-Term Emission Reduction Target. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/pubs/pdf/ewp_targetscience.pdf<http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/pubs/pdf/ewp_targetscience.pdf>

  12. HM Government, March 2006. Climate Change: The UK Programme 2006. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/ukccp/pdf/ukccp06-all.pdf<http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/ukccp/pdf/ukccp06-all.pdf>

  13. Council of the European Union, ibid.

  14. Nick Hurd MP and Clare Kerr, April 2007. Don’t give up on 2°C. Conservative Party’s Quality of Life Commission. http://www.qualityoflifechallenge.com/documents/TwoDegreesApril2007.pdf<http://www.qualityoflifechallenge.com/documents/TwoDegreesApril2007.pdf>

  15. This is on the basis of a metric developed by Colin Forrest. He is not a professional climate scientist but his calculations can be replicated by any numerate person. For details, see Chapter 1 of Heat.

  16. Nathan Rive et al, 10th March 2007. To what extent can a long-term temperature target guide near-term climate change commitments? Table 1. Climatic Change 82:373-391. DOI 10.1007/s10584-006-9193-4

  17. John Vidal, 25th April 2007. China could overtake US as biggest emissions culprit by November. The Guardian.













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