OPINION:
A few centuries ago, the medieval church sold indulgences for the remission of sins. The modern version is carbon capture, to forgive the “sin” of burning fossil fuels.
Never mind that coal, oil and gas have generated the greatest advancements of human well-being in history.
“Carbon capture” is a misnomer. Carbon dioxide can’t really be “captured”; it can only be moved from one place to another, in the process releasing more carbon dioxide than is sequestered. It is a zero-sum game. Sooner or later, over geological time, the sequestered carbon dioxide will come back.
Carbon dioxide is no more “carbon” than water is “hydrogen.” It’s not a pollutant but rather an essential gas without which there would be no life on Earth, aside from maybe a few microbes. It’s not even the strongest greenhouse gas. Water vapor (humidity) and clouds account for about 75% of the so-called greenhouse effect.
Only 1% of carbon dioxide comes from human activity. The other 99% derives from the Earth, which has been degassing carbon dioxide from its upper crust and mantle for billions of years, mainly through submarine volcanoes and tectonic spreading centers.
The oceans contain about 80 times more carbon dioxide than the atmosphere. When deep, cold ocean currents supersaturated in carbon dioxide reach warmer latitudes, they release carbon dioxide. Plants, which thrive on carbon dioxide, benefit — along with people.
The real purpose of carbon capture is to create a carbon credit market, which simply robs consumers. That’s how climate charlatan Al Gore makes his ill-gotten millions. Incredibly, both Presidents Biden and Trump have bought into this scam.
We don’t need more carbon capture rip-offs in the U.S. or in Canada, which has similar schemes. We need a Martin Luther to nail a proclamation to the doors of the White House and Canada’s Parliament denouncing this absurd practice.
EDWARD SAGER
Cochrane, Alberta
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