good evening thank you for having me here it’s a great pleasure to talk about
here it’s a great pleasure to talk about
here it’s a great pleasure to talk about something I’ve been worried about for
something I’ve been worried about for
something I’ve been worried about for the last 25 years I was at Los Alamos
the last 25 years I was at Los Alamos
the last 25 years I was at Los Alamos National Laboratory when I started to
National Laboratory when I started to
National Laboratory when I started to think about the equation how do we
think about the equation how do we
think about the equation how do we balance the world’s carbon budget and of
balance the world’s carbon budget and of
balance the world’s carbon budget and of course that relates to climate change in
course that relates to climate change in
course that relates to climate change in from an energy perspective it’s actually
from an energy perspective it’s actually
from an energy perspective it’s actually quite simple conceptually at least we
quite simple conceptually at least we
quite simple conceptually at least we dig up carbon we extract carbon out of
dig up carbon we extract carbon out of
dig up carbon we extract carbon out of the out of the ground we burn it up we
the out of the ground we burn it up we
the out of the ground we burn it up we produce co2 which is a greenhouse gas
produce co2 which is a greenhouse gas
produce co2 which is a greenhouse gas and we just dump it into the atmosphere
and we just dump it into the atmosphere
and we just dump it into the atmosphere and we leave it there that’s the basic
and we leave it there that’s the basic
and we leave it there that’s the basic premise and we can’t do this much longer
premise and we can’t do this much longer
premise and we can’t do this much longer than we already are doing it because we
than we already are doing it because we
than we already are doing it because we have in essence a finite budget because
have in essence a finite budget because
have in essence a finite budget because that carbon dioxide sticks first for
that carbon dioxide sticks first for
that carbon dioxide sticks first for centuries and half of it is gone and for
centuries and half of it is gone and for
centuries and half of it is gone and for thousands of thousands of years and the
thousands of thousands of years and the
thousands of thousands of years and the other half is certifies the ocean for it
other half is certifies the ocean for it
other half is certifies the ocean for it to get out of the system again takes
to get out of the system again takes
to get out of the system again takes tens of thousands of years so we do
tens of thousands of years so we do
tens of thousands of years so we do uncontrolled dumping and somehow another
uncontrolled dumping and somehow another
uncontrolled dumping and somehow another we have to fix this and I started to
we have to fix this and I started to
we have to fix this and I started to figure out ways of mineralizing the
figure out ways of mineralizing the
figure out ways of mineralizing the carbon dioxide to put it away
carbon dioxide to put it away
carbon dioxide to put it away underground other people said we can
underground other people said we can
underground other people said we can eject it underground so we found ways of
eject it underground so we found ways of
eject it underground so we found ways of dealing with this problem from this
dealing with this problem from this
dealing with this problem from this perspective and lots of people then I
perspective and lots of people then I
perspective and lots of people then I gave talks asked what can I actually do
gave talks asked what can I actually do
gave talks asked what can I actually do to do this because there’s all sounds
to do this because there’s all sounds
to do this because there’s all sounds like heavy industry and doesn’t directly
like heavy industry and doesn’t directly
like heavy industry and doesn’t directly affect me on the other hand if you start
affect me on the other hand if you start
affect me on the other hand if you start looking at how we started to solve the
looking at how we started to solve the
looking at how we started to solve the problem we also started roughly 25 years
problem we also started roughly 25 years
problem we also started roughly 25 years ago at Rio with a treaty where the world
ago at Rio with a treaty where the world
ago at Rio with a treaty where the world agreed that we need to do something and
agreed that we need to do something and
agreed that we need to do something and cannot let harmful greenhouse gases pile
cannot let harmful greenhouse gases pile
cannot let harmful greenhouse gases pile up in the atmosphere then we went to
up in the atmosphere then we went to
up in the atmosphere then we went to Kyoto and more lately to Paris and we
Kyoto and more lately to Paris and we
Kyoto and more lately to Paris and we always agreed on great top-down ways of
always agreed on great top-down ways of
always agreed on great top-down ways of solving the problem where everybody had
solving the problem where everybody had
solving the problem where everybody had agreements lots of good ideas and
agreements lots of good ideas and
agreements lots of good ideas and everybody was told what to do and if you
everybody was told what to do and if you
everybody was told what to do and if you look back nothing really much happened
look back nothing really much happened
look back nothing really much happened so we have to figure out how to look at
so we have to figure out how to look at
so we have to figure out how to look at this problem from the other end and
this problem from the other end and
this problem from the other end and maybe start from the bottom up which
maybe start from the bottom up which
maybe start from the bottom up which means we need to start thinking about
means we need to start thinking about
means we need to start thinking about individual responsibility maybe the
individual responsibility maybe the
individual responsibility maybe the responsibility at a municipal level on a
responsibility at a municipal level on a
responsibility at a municipal level on a state level or on the other
state level or on the other
state level or on the other individual corporations how can
individual corporations how can
individual corporations how can individuals and smaller entities
individuals and smaller entities
individuals and smaller entities actually take on responsibility for
actually take on responsibility for
actually take on responsibility for their own garbage and deal with the
their own garbage and deal with the
their own garbage and deal with the problem from that end that is in essence
problem from that end that is in essence
problem from that end that is in essence the question we have to ask and it’s not
the question we have to ask and it’s not
the question we have to ask and it’s not all as easy as you might think because
all as easy as you might think because
all as easy as you might think because people have looked at this and the first
people have looked at this and the first
people have looked at this and the first people suggestion people have changed
people suggestion people have changed
people suggestion people have changed your lifestyle now that may be helpful
your lifestyle now that may be helpful
your lifestyle now that may be helpful if you stop consuming things you will
if you stop consuming things you will
if you stop consuming things you will emit less co2 but it will take you a
emit less co2 but it will take you a
emit less co2 but it will take you a long time to get there and by the way
long time to get there and by the way
long time to get there and by the way asking people to do this nearly always
asking people to do this nearly always
asking people to do this nearly always engenders resistance and let’s be honest
engenders resistance and let’s be honest
engenders resistance and let’s be honest this will take a generation or two
this will take a generation or two
this will take a generation or two before this change happens and
before this change happens and
before this change happens and unfortunately our carbon credit card
unfortunately our carbon credit card
unfortunately our carbon credit card doesn’t have a limit that high we will
doesn’t have a limit that high we will
doesn’t have a limit that high we will run out much earlier than that so we
run out much earlier than that so we
run out much earlier than that so we have to come up with better ideas people
have to come up with better ideas people
have to come up with better ideas people said how about increasing efficiency and
said how about increasing efficiency and
said how about increasing efficiency and conserve it it works it helps but it can
conserve it it works it helps but it can
conserve it it works it helps but it can only reduce emissions it cannot stop
only reduce emissions it cannot stop
only reduce emissions it cannot stop emissions and we may already have gone
emissions and we may already have gone
emissions and we may already have gone over budget and have to figure out how
over budget and have to figure out how
over budget and have to figure out how to go negative so being less positive is
to go negative so being less positive is
to go negative so being less positive is probably not quite enough so that could
probably not quite enough so that could
probably not quite enough so that could work but it won’t get us there
work but it won’t get us there
work but it won’t get us there renewable energy will get us there if we
renewable energy will get us there if we
renewable energy will get us there if we push it long enough and hard enough
push it long enough and hard enough
push it long enough and hard enough unfortunately there is a very entrenched
unfortunately there is a very entrenched
unfortunately there is a very entrenched very powerful competitor which puts out
very powerful competitor which puts out
very powerful competitor which puts out lots and lots of fossil carbon and while
lots and lots of fossil carbon and while
lots and lots of fossil carbon and while I’m very hopeful that in the end
I’m very hopeful that in the end
I’m very hopeful that in the end renewable energy will win the day it
renewable energy will win the day it
renewable energy will win the day it will take time and it will take too much
will take time and it will take too much
will take time and it will take too much time and quite frankly why are you
time and quite frankly why are you
time and quite frankly why are you allowed to say I’m working very hard but
allowed to say I’m working very hard but
allowed to say I’m working very hard but I leave the rest of my garbage just out
I leave the rest of my garbage just out
I leave the rest of my garbage just out there in the atmosphere just this is
there in the atmosphere just this is
there in the atmosphere just this is effectively what we have agreed on in
effectively what we have agreed on in
effectively what we have agreed on in discussions like in Paris think about it
discussions like in Paris think about it
discussions like in Paris think about it for a moment if I just replace the word
for a moment if I just replace the word
for a moment if I just replace the word co2 with garbage
co2 with garbage
co2 with garbage so I’m dumping my garbage in the street
so I’m dumping my garbage in the street
so I’m dumping my garbage in the street in front of my house and I tell you you
in front of my house and I tell you you
in front of my house and I tell you you really shouldn’t complain about it
really shouldn’t complain about it
really shouldn’t complain about it because I’m 20 percent better than last
because I’m 20 percent better than last
because I’m 20 percent better than last year right well I’m paying for your
year right well I’m paying for your
year right well I’m paying for your garbage and therefore I’m allowed to put
garbage and therefore I’m allowed to put
garbage and therefore I’m allowed to put my garbage in the street right that’s
my garbage in the street right that’s
my garbage in the street right that’s what we do with co2 so we have to change
what we do with co2 so we have to change
what we do with co2 so we have to change our view on that in in this environment
our view on that in in this environment
our view on that in in this environment and but keep in mind we will make likely
and but keep in mind we will make likely
and but keep in mind we will make likely much more because if you think about it
much more because if you think about it
much more because if you think about it for a moment they are billion people on
for a moment they are billion people on
for a moment they are billion people on the planet who have no electricity who
the planet who have no electricity who
the planet who have no electricity who are they
are they
are they deal with bei dirty water they have no
deal with bei dirty water they have no
deal with bei dirty water they have no good access to water they are poor and
good access to water they are poor and
good access to water they are poor and they want to have economic development
they want to have economic development
they want to have economic development and in order to give it to them we need
and in order to give it to them we need
and in order to give it to them we need more energy on top of it I think the
more energy on top of it I think the
more energy on top of it I think the policy implications of telling the rich
policy implications of telling the rich
policy implications of telling the rich and developed countries that you cannot
and developed countries that you cannot
and developed countries that you cannot grow any more
grow any more
grow any more also unmanageable so we have to figure
also unmanageable so we have to figure
also unmanageable so we have to figure out how to make this happen how to get
out how to make this happen how to get
out how to make this happen how to get waste management in place while all the
waste management in place while all the
waste management in place while all the other things are going on and figure out
other things are going on and figure out
other things are going on and figure out how to do this but if you come back to
how to do this but if you come back to
how to do this but if you come back to the individual and ask where are you
the individual and ask where are you
the individual and ask where are you responsible well if I look at myself I
responsible well if I look at myself I
responsible well if I look at myself I Drive a car and I have a gas heater at
Drive a car and I have a gas heater at
Drive a car and I have a gas heater at home and a so every time I take a hot
home and a so every time I take a hot
home and a so every time I take a hot shower
shower
shower I very directly put out co2 if I decide
I very directly put out co2 if I decide
I very directly put out co2 if I decide to step on the accelerator of my car I
to step on the accelerator of my car I
to step on the accelerator of my car I very directly put out co2 and then of
very directly put out co2 and then of
very directly put out co2 and then of course I do things indirectly I in the
course I do things indirectly I in the
course I do things indirectly I in the evening decide I want to morrow morning
evening decide I want to morrow morning
evening decide I want to morrow morning some piece of equipment from a
some piece of equipment from a
some piece of equipment from a mail-order place well I can do so and I
mail-order place well I can do so and I
mail-order place well I can do so and I try get overnight delivery guess what
try get overnight delivery guess what
try get overnight delivery guess what that truck put out co2 so we have to we
that truck put out co2 so we have to we
that truck put out co2 so we have to we can look at that and then of course the
can look at that and then of course the
can look at that and then of course the goods I bought also have co2 involved so
goods I bought also have co2 involved so
goods I bought also have co2 involved so we have to figure out how to manage all
we have to figure out how to manage all
we have to figure out how to manage all of this and I would argue if you look at
of this and I would argue if you look at
of this and I would argue if you look at it from this perspective you actually
it from this perspective you actually
it from this perspective you actually know that you can get volunteers behind
know that you can get volunteers behind
know that you can get volunteers behind something like this if you phrase it
something like this if you phrase it
something like this if you phrase it right because there are people who are
right because there are people who are
right because there are people who are perfectly willing to pay an extra penny
perfectly willing to pay an extra penny
perfectly willing to pay an extra penny for renewable energy there are people
for renewable energy there are people
for renewable energy there are people who pay for an electric car in order to
who pay for an electric car in order to
who pay for an electric car in order to avoid all of these emissions so we need
avoid all of these emissions so we need
avoid all of these emissions so we need to tell them that we also need to clean
to tell them that we also need to clean
to tell them that we also need to clean up after ourselves and maybe we can find
up after ourselves and maybe we can find
up after ourselves and maybe we can find enough volunteers to get started so this
enough volunteers to get started so this
enough volunteers to get started so this is the the first question then the next
is the the first question then the next
is the the first question then the next question is can we actually do it is it
question is can we actually do it is it
question is can we actually do it is it feasible and I would argue the answer is
feasible and I would argue the answer is
feasible and I would argue the answer is yes we know how to put co2 a way you can
yes we know how to put co2 a way you can
yes we know how to put co2 a way you can mineralize it you can inject it
mineralize it you can inject it
mineralize it you can inject it underground and you can even get it back
underground and you can even get it back
underground and you can even get it back from the environment now people have not
from the environment now people have not
from the environment now people have not done this very much because nobody ever
done this very much because nobody ever
done this very much because nobody ever asks you but we can do it and here at
asks you but we can do it and here at
asks you but we can do it and here at ASU we are working on a device which can
ASU we are working on a device which can
ASU we are working on a device which can collect co2 directly out of the
collect co2 directly out of the
collect co2 directly out of the atmosphere in the dry air it works
atmosphere in the dry air it works
atmosphere in the dry air it works marvelously well then we make it wet it
marvelously well then we make it wet it
marvelously well then we make it wet it releases the co2 again we can think of
releases the co2 again we can think of
releases the co2 again we can think of this like a tree it has leaves the wind
this like a tree it has leaves the wind
this like a tree it has leaves the wind blows over them they see
blows over them they see
blows over them they see two sticks to the leaves we then free it
two sticks to the leaves we then free it
two sticks to the leaves we then free it again we process it on and be properly
again we process it on and be properly
again we process it on and be properly dispose of it these mechanical trees are
dispose of it these mechanical trees are
dispose of it these mechanical trees are a thousand times faster than natural
a thousand times faster than natural
a thousand times faster than natural trees so they are very good at what they
trees so they are very good at what they
trees so they are very good at what they are doing and so you could in principle
are doing and so you could in principle
are doing and so you could in principle put together a way of making it happen
put together a way of making it happen
put together a way of making it happen you have all the bits and pieces the
you have all the bits and pieces the
you have all the bits and pieces the technologies are there the technological
technologies are there the technological
technologies are there the technological fix could work if people are willing to
fix could work if people are willing to
fix could work if people are willing to do that so that still doesn’t answer the
do that so that still doesn’t answer the
do that so that still doesn’t answer the question how can you as an individual
question how can you as an individual
question how can you as an individual make it happen and I would argue you can
make it happen and I would argue you can
make it happen and I would argue you can get more efficient you can change your
get more efficient you can change your
get more efficient you can change your lifestyle but that as I said before is
lifestyle but that as I said before is
lifestyle but that as I said before is not quite good enough so how can you get
not quite good enough so how can you get
not quite good enough so how can you get involved in making this problem go away
involved in making this problem go away
involved in making this problem go away and I think in part you can do something
and I think in part you can do something
and I think in part you can do something which many of you will have done before
which many of you will have done before
which many of you will have done before in the context of recycling you start to
in the context of recycling you start to
in the context of recycling you start to volunteer and you do things and you will
volunteer and you do things and you will
volunteer and you do things and you will need help because you can go out and say
need help because you can go out and say
need help because you can go out and say I have their stuff the old newspapers I
I have their stuff the old newspapers I
I have their stuff the old newspapers I put them at the curb but quite frankly
put them at the curb but quite frankly
put them at the curb but quite frankly you cannot recycle them yourself
you cannot recycle them yourself
you cannot recycle them yourself you have to have help from a third party
you have to have help from a third party
you have to have help from a third party which comes picks it up processes it and
which comes picks it up processes it and
which comes picks it up processes it and puts it somewhere so you should demand
puts it somewhere so you should demand
puts it somewhere so you should demand these kinds of services and that is what
these kinds of services and that is what
these kinds of services and that is what individuals can do you can go out and
individuals can do you can go out and
individuals can do you can go out and say we want that co2 back so imagine for
say we want that co2 back so imagine for
say we want that co2 back so imagine for a moment you were successful with us and
a moment you were successful with us and
a moment you were successful with us and next time you drive to a gasoline
next time you drive to a gasoline
next time you drive to a gasoline station a gas station you can go in and
station a gas station you can go in and
station a gas station you can go in and you can push a button and say for maybe
you can push a button and say for maybe
you can push a button and say for maybe 50 60 cents more I can get the twenty
50 60 cents more I can get the twenty
50 60 cents more I can get the twenty pounds of co2 which are generated every
pounds of co2 which are generated every
pounds of co2 which are generated every time I put a gallon of gasoline out
time I put a gallon of gasoline out
time I put a gallon of gasoline out consuming a gallon of gasoline I can put
consuming a gallon of gasoline I can put
consuming a gallon of gasoline I can put back into the ground and safely put it
back into the ground and safely put it
back into the ground and safely put it away I balanced the books on my gasoline
away I balanced the books on my gasoline
away I balanced the books on my gasoline you could imagine that a car company
you could imagine that a car company
you could imagine that a car company offers you a car which has a hundred
offers you a car which has a hundred
offers you a car which has a hundred hundred tons of co2 built-in that is the
hundred tons of co2 built-in that is the
hundred tons of co2 built-in that is the lifetime emissions of a car which goes
lifetime emissions of a car which goes
lifetime emissions of a car which goes some 200 thousand miles and you can make
some 200 thousand miles and you can make
some 200 thousand miles and you can make it carbon neutral from day one by
it carbon neutral from day one by
it carbon neutral from day one by scrubbing out a hundred tons of co2 out
scrubbing out a hundred tons of co2 out
scrubbing out a hundred tons of co2 out of the atmosphere right away one of the
of the atmosphere right away one of the
of the atmosphere right away one of the nice features is you have some
nice features is you have some
nice features is you have some flexibility when you do it and how you
flexibility when you do it and how you
flexibility when you do it and how you do it because the atmosphere is a good
do it because the atmosphere is a good
do it because the atmosphere is a good big buffer where you can hide a little
big buffer where you can hide a little
big buffer where you can hide a little bit of co2 for a short time or take it
bit of co2 for a short time or take it
bit of co2 for a short time or take it out a few years early
out a few years early
out a few years early it doesn’t matter so you have technology
it doesn’t matter so you have technology
it doesn’t matter so you have technology options you can do that you could answer
options you can do that you could answer
options you can do that you could answer to to your mail or tech on the computer
to to your mail or tech on the computer
to to your mail or tech on the computer you could say I want to pay back the the
you could say I want to pay back the the
you could say I want to pay back the the co2 which is emitted from the overnight
co2 which is emitted from the overnight
co2 which is emitted from the overnight delivery I do want to take and you could
delivery I do want to take and you could
delivery I do want to take and you could even go one step further and say over my
even go one step further and say over my
even go one step further and say over my lifetime I’m putting out a thousand tons
lifetime I’m putting out a thousand tons
lifetime I’m putting out a thousand tons of co2 or maybe two thousand tons of co2
of co2 or maybe two thousand tons of co2
of co2 or maybe two thousand tons of co2 maybe I want them back maybe I take my
maybe I want them back maybe I take my
maybe I want them back maybe I take my parents co2 back right and so gradually
parents co2 back right and so gradually
parents co2 back right and so gradually we can with volunteers move forward now
we can with volunteers move forward now
we can with volunteers move forward now I’m not kidding myself that volunteers
I’m not kidding myself that volunteers
I’m not kidding myself that volunteers will change the needle on climate change
will change the needle on climate change
will change the needle on climate change but they what they will change is change
but they what they will change is change
but they what they will change is change the debate and that’s just like with
the debate and that’s just like with
the debate and that’s just like with recycling right once everybody started
recycling right once everybody started
recycling right once everybody started to do it suddenly policies came in place
to do it suddenly policies came in place
to do it suddenly policies came in place and so you know it’s a good thing and we
and so you know it’s a good thing and we
and so you know it’s a good thing and we should actually support this and make it
should actually support this and make it
should actually support this and make it happen
happen
happen and I think this will happen here too
and I think this will happen here too
and I think this will happen here too once everybody can see it’s a good idea
once everybody can see it’s a good idea
once everybody can see it’s a good idea then it will work and it will move
then it will work and it will move
then it will work and it will move forward right and so ultimately when you
forward right and so ultimately when you
forward right and so ultimately when you do that you give the politicians cover
do that you give the politicians cover
do that you give the politicians cover to say we do need to regulate this
to say we do need to regulate this
to say we do need to regulate this because without regulations it will
because without regulations it will
because without regulations it will never get big enough to work but on the
never get big enough to work but on the
never get big enough to work but on the other hand learning by doing which is
other hand learning by doing which is
other hand learning by doing which is what it will take to make it cheap the
what it will take to make it cheap the
what it will take to make it cheap the first day around this will be expensive
first day around this will be expensive
first day around this will be expensive learning by doing only happens if you do
learning by doing only happens if you do
learning by doing only happens if you do and for that you need the volunteers so
and for that you need the volunteers so
and for that you need the volunteers so the first time around is probably more
the first time around is probably more
the first time around is probably more than 60 cents on the gallon and maybe
than 60 cents on the gallon and maybe
than 60 cents on the gallon and maybe the oil company was smart enough to eat
the oil company was smart enough to eat
the oil company was smart enough to eat some of that in order to make it work
some of that in order to make it work
some of that in order to make it work but over time I actually would predict
but over time I actually would predict
but over time I actually would predict it will get cheaper than that and once
it will get cheaper than that and once
it will get cheaper than that and once there is enough of it going that people
there is enough of it going that people
there is enough of it going that people say oh it really works and it is a good
say oh it really works and it is a good
say oh it really works and it is a good idea you can move to the next step and
idea you can move to the next step and
idea you can move to the next step and make it happen
make it happen
make it happen and I think technology and technological
and I think technology and technological
and I think technology and technological fixes have worked in the past and we
fixes have worked in the past and we
fixes have worked in the past and we just need to step back and figure out
just need to step back and figure out
just need to step back and figure out what it is we are seeing here and we see
what it is we are seeing here and we see
what it is we are seeing here and we see a waste management problem and we need
a waste management problem and we need
a waste management problem and we need to think about it this way and it’s
to think about it this way and it’s
to think about it this way and it’s great if we figure out how to be more
great if we figure out how to be more
great if we figure out how to be more efficient if you figure out how to
efficient if you figure out how to
efficient if you figure out how to recycle the carbon and do all of these
recycle the carbon and do all of these
recycle the carbon and do all of these things as well but the part we couldn’t
things as well but the part we couldn’t
things as well but the part we couldn’t figure out any other way we need to put
figure out any other way we need to put
figure out any other way we need to put properly away and not just let it sit
properly away and not just let it sit
properly away and not just let it sit the atmosphere in wreak havoc on the
the atmosphere in wreak havoc on the
the atmosphere in wreak havoc on the environment thank you very much
environment thank you very much
environment thank you very much [Applause]
”
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