"K. Hashimoto, M. Yamasaki, S. Meguro, T. Sasaki, H. Katagiri, K. Izumiya, N. Kumagai, H. Habazaki, E. Akiyama and K. Asami
Tohoku Institute of Technology, Sendai 982-8588, Japan
Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Ichihara 290-8601, Japan
Daiki Engineering Co. Ltd., 11 Shintoyofuta, Kashiwa 277-8511, Japan
Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8682, Japan
National Research Institute for Metals, Sengen, Tsukuba 305-0047, Japan
Abstract
CO2 emissions, which induce global warming, increase with the development of economic activity. It is impossible to decrease the CO2 emissions by suppression of the economic activity. Global CO2 recycling can solve this problem. The global CO2 recycling consists of three district: The electricity is generated by solar cells on deserts. At desert coasts, the electricity is used for H2 production by seawater electrolysis and H2 is used for CH4 production by the reaction with CO2. CH4 which is the main component of liquefied natural gas is liquefied and transported to energy consuming districts where CO2 is recovered, liquefied and transported to the desert coasts. A CO2 recycling plant for substantiation of our idea has been built on the roof of the Institute for Materials Research in 1996. Key materials necessary for the global CO22 conversion. All of them have been tailored by us. They have very high activity and selectivity for necessary reactions in addition to excellent durability. A pilot plant consisting of minimum units in an industrial scale is going to be built in three years." recycling are the anode and cathode for seawater electrolysis and the catalyst for CO
Note this from the abstract: "It is impossible to decrease CO2 emissions by suppression of the economic activity."
It is a categorical statement. But, we should all instinctively recognize the essential truth within it, and stop trying to "decrease", or punish through taxation, the co-production of Carbon Dioxide. Instead, we can decrease, not the emissions of CO2, but, it's concentrations in our atmosphere by the stimulation of an economic activity: The recovery of atmospheric CO2, and the recycling of it into more liquid fuels and useful chemicals.