How 2 corporations are taking totally different approaches to carbon seize as local weather experiences present rising temperatures

Current local weather experiences have proven alarming tendencies as 2023 was confirmed because the hottest year on record and rising temperatures led to the lack of 1 million sq. kilometers of arctic ice within the final 12 months. 

Because the Biden administration is committing almost $4 billion towards jumpstarting a brand new carbon capture business within the U.S., CBS Information was given an inside take a look at two corporations taking totally different approaches to course of.

Graphyte is a startup that takes leftover materials from timber and rice mills and turns it into bricks to be wrapped up and buried within the floor — for now, in a area in central Arkansas.

“We’re taking the carbon captured by vegetation and protecting it out of the environment for a thousand years or extra,” stated Graphyte CEO Barclay Rogers.

Graphyte plans to show an empty warehouse into the world’s largest carbon elimination facility, ultimately eradicating 50,000 tons of carbon dioxide a 12 months — concerning the equal of taking 10,000 automobiles off the highway. American Airways is presently paying Graphyte to offset a number of the air pollution from its flights.

To keep away from the worst impacts of local weather change, scientists say we have to cease burning fossil fuels and change to cleaner types of power. However, they are saying, billions of tons of carbon which have already been put into the environment additionally should be eliminated.

Heirloom Carbon not too long ago opened the nation’s first industrial direct air seize plant in Central California. The automated facility stacks trays of limestone 40 toes excessive, permitting the rock to suck carbon dioxide from the air like a sponge. The stone can do in days what nature would usually take months to perform.

Heirloom Carbon stated its pilot plant removes simply 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide per 12 months, nevertheless it plans to construct amenities that seize 1,000 occasions extra. 

Whereas carbon seize is often criticized for its price, with opponents saying the cash can be higher spent on pursuing renewable power sources, Heirloom Carbon CEO Shashank Samala says it is a vital a part of the local weather change resolution.

“We have to begin turning again the clock on local weather change/what carbon elimination provides us is the closest factor to a time machine,” he stated.

Ben Tracy

Ben Tracy is CBS Information’ senior nationwide and environmental correspondent based mostly in Los Angeles. He experiences for all CBS Information platforms, together with the “CBS Night Information with Norah O’Donnell,” “CBS Mornings” and “CBS Sunday Morning.”