Circle of Blue

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Carbon-reduction plans, if not well designed, can worsen water scarcity and pollution. Plans to reduce carbon emissions should take water into account. Some low-carbon energy options require significant amounts of water. But other low-carbon technologies do not tread as lightly. Carl Ganter/Circle of Blue.

Biofuels 363

Biofuels Carbon Emissions Cooling Fossil Fuels 363

Circle of Blue

DECEMBER 6, 2022

The report’s authors claim that success in lowering carbon emissions will be determined by how well the world manages its water. Freshwater ecosystems like marshes and wetlands store carbon, protect biodiversity, and improve soil and water quality. Nuclear plants, for instance, require enormous volumes of water for cooling.

2022 246

2022 Biofuels Carbon Emissions Cooling 246

Circle of Blue

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021

But other low-carbon technologies do not tread as lightly. Nuclear plants demand enormous volumes of water for cooling, and they kill aquatic life and make rivers warmer in the process. Then there are more difficult maneuvers like trapping carbon emissions from power plants or pulling carbon directly from the air.

2021 246

2021 Biofuels Cooling Carbon Emissions 246