Name: Information session: A climate change solution for Cornwall
Start: 2023-03-01T19:00:00Z
End: 2023-03-01T20:30:00Z
Location: Passmore Edwards Institute

Information session: A climate change solution for Cornwall

Passmore Edwards Institute

Canada and Cornwall partner on innovative climate change solution Canadian company Planetary aims to restore the climate and the ocean, and seeks public feedback Imagine being able to pull carbon out of the air and at the same time reduce ocean acidification, thereby solving two of the 21st century’s most pressing issues. That’s exactly what Canadian company Planetary proposes as the radical answer to climate change - and with its lengthy coastline, Cornwall is the perfect testbed for its game-changing technology. A major trial is proposed in Hayle this spring, and two public events will be held in Hayle and Truro in March for stakeholders and communities to find out more and offer feedback.Global warming is indisputably the challenge of our time. The latest report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that at least five gigatonnes of CO2 need to be removed annually from the atmosphere by 2050 to ensure no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming, thereby avoiding catastrophic impact to biodiversity and human life. Around a third of the carbon we put in the atmosphere is absorbed naturally by the ocean. This leads to the sea water becoming increasingly acidic. Planetary scientists have developed a method, called Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement, which essentially simply accelerates the natural carbon cycle. Mild alkaline substances safe enough to be delivered in bulk to the ocean through wastewater reduce the level of dissolved CO2, also known as carbonic acid. This creates a deficit enabling the ocean to draw more CO2 from the atmosphere. This process could benefit marine ecosystems currently threatened by ocean acidification, while also counteracting the carbon excesses caused by human activity – a win-win situation.The model was trialled successfully in September 2022, when four tonnes of mineral salt magnesium hydroxide was added over three days to the ocean near Hayle, resulting in a gross removal of more than four tonnes of atmospheric CO2.It is hoped a subsequent 90 to 120-day trial in Hayle will result in a net removal of CO2 of between 200 and 300 tonnes. Tests will be conducted with the full knowledge and support of all appropriate regulators, and in adherence with all permit levels at all times. Assessments will be carried out before and after the test to validate that there are no unanticipated changes upon the local environment.Scientists from around the world will be invited to follow the project and explore the science of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement. Public information events will take place on Wednesday, March 1 at Passmore Edwards Institute, Hayle; and on Thursday, March 2 at Epiphany House in Truro. Both run from 7pm to 8.30pm and will offer refreshments in exchange for written feedback via a short survey. Interested parties are invited to save the date and book a place via Eventbrite. “One of the best ways to counter ocean acidity is to use a safe antacid. That’s how the Planetary process works,” says Planetary CEO Mike Kelland. “The happy co-benefit is that it helps address climate change as well. With its extensive coastline, Cornwall is perfectly placed to be at the forefront of this revolutionary climate change solution. We look forward to engaging with the community, and we hope people will come to our events to learn more and provide their comments.”In Cornwall, the scheme has received the support of Truro-based climate consultant Luci Isaacson of Climate Vision. “My role in this project has been to explore everything until I feel confident enough to share it with stakeholders and the public as a good plan,” she says. “I’ve spent a lot of time with Planetary team members, and it has been a very rewarding, even humbling experience. The work that they are doing globally and hopefully here in Cornwall, offers up the possibility of a real game changing solution. ”“I have worked with local people who have been traumatised by flooding. We cannot expect to live in the future scenario, and I was finding it increasingly hard to live up to my reputation of being optimistic about climate solutions – until now.”TRANSPORT: Half a mile (five-minute walk) from the train station, 50 yards from War Memorial Bus stop.

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Information session: A climate change solution for Cornwall

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