Define
Climate Change is one of the biggest challenges our world faces today. If I had an opportunity to receive half a million dollars to address climate change, I would have to find something pretty spectacular. My challenge is to find a solution to the changing climate that is creative and researched. The problem I have chosen to address is carbon scrubbing to reduce the effects of fossil fuel use. This is a complicated problem because many of our products use fossil fuels and we can’t just stop making them. Also, other solutions can be costly. It is not simply a matter of telling everyone to drive electric vehicles. Coal, oil and gas are a big part of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Even if we do everything we can in Canada to use renewable resources, we will still have countries putting carbon dioxide into the environment. We need ways to scrub the atmosphere of carbon.
Discover
Many countries have proposed changes to their Conservations acts as the Energy Conservation article shares. Renewable resources are the focus. But many countries are not doing this. Our dependence on fossil fuels has given a lot of power to Russia. In an article by Svitlana Romanko, it was reported that 40% of Russia’s federal budget is based on oil, coal, and gas. Planting trees is not enough. When dead trees decay, they send just as much carbon into the atmosphere as the carbon they scrub when they are alive. Using sodium hydroxide, I can transform CO2 into sodium carbonate. When I add lime, I can make limestone.
Dream
Here are some of the ideas I have to deal with the carbon in the atmosphere:
- a campaign for more tree planting
- turn CO2 into s commodity to be sold
- make a campaign to reduce meat and dairy industry
- a campaign for more sustainability in war
- can we freeze CO2 and sell it to Soda Stream
- make some contraption to scrub carbon from the atmosphere
Design/Deliver
Here is my design
Debrief
In this challenge, I did well with my process. I found four great sites to research. I used my graphic organizer so that I put all my learning in my own words. I cited all my sources with embedded links. I could, however, have improved upon my dreaming as I only came up with 5 ideas. Regarding my product, I came up with a great innovation to make. My drawing is very simple though. What I would do next time is to spend more time on my design. I also wouldn’t use felt pen. I am excited to start building my innovation.
Sources
Chertow, Marian, and David Nemerson. “Sustainability.” World Book Advanced, World Book, 2022,
https://www-worldbookonline-com.bc.idm.oclc.org/advanced/article?id=ar756011. Accessed 8 June 2022.
Romanko, Svitlana. “Fossil fuels were always dangerous. Now they fuel war on my doorstep.” National Catholic Reporter, vol. 58, no. 13, 1 Apr. 2022, p. 5. Gale In Context: Canada, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A701000238/GPS?u=43riss&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=e7156a9e. Accessed 7 June 2022.
“Scientists develop way to ‘scrub’ the atmosphere clean.” Geographical, vol. 79, no. 12, Dec. 2007, p. 11. Gale In Context: Science, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A172597059/GPS?u=43riss&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=60d2fbae. Accessed 8 June 2022.
“Government Proposes Changes to Energy Conservation Act.” Chemical Industry Digest, 2 Nov. 2021, p. NA. Gale In Context: Science, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A680992716/GPS?u=43riss&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=71941a33. Accessed 8 June 2022.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/10-solutions-for-climate-change/
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