Thursday, January 11, 2018

Reducing emissions is ambiguous

Let's leave aside the second derivative, the rate of growth of the rate of growth, or acceleration of emission growth.

The rate of growth, even if it were a steady percent, is still exponential. If emissions grow, for example, 2.3 percent per year, then the amount of carbon in the atmosphere will double every 30 years.

Let's say that emissions are brought to zero. The amount of carbon already emitted is still not being reduced. It stays the same. This is the state which China aspires to reach in 12 years. That means they plan to continue adding carbon until that time.

Many technofixers are saying X reduces carbon emissions. But people read it as X reduces carbon. This needs to be made clear.