Painting Our Way Out of the Climate Change Corner
Two distinguished scientists have initiated a project aimed at combating global climate change by capturing greenhouse gas emissions, with the goal of making China a leading nation in eliminating air pollution. Steve McDaniel, founder of Reactive Surfaces, a company specializing in bio-based paints and coatings, and Dominic Lam Man-kit, founder of the Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology, have jointly developed and implemented paints that can capture atmospheric carbon dioxide. These Carbon Capture Coatings (CCCs) contain live photosynthetic algae, similar to plants and ocean algae, and have the potential to capture carbon emissions effectively.
China has emerged as a frontrunner in addressing global emissions, having implemented significant measures to improve air quality and limit pollution. In contrast, the United States has not implemented such programs due to resistance from business interests, whereas China has taken aggressive action and is recognized for its efforts. By fully developing CCCs, China can establish itself as a global leader in eliminating atmospheric pollution, setting a standard for other nations to follow.
Preliminary studies have shown that CCCs applied to large plastic cylinders, known as “algae trees,” can capture 0.024 tons of atmospheric CO2 per year, equivalent to a mature tree. The scientists anticipate doubling this capture rate in the near future as development continues. By implementing CCCs across Shanghai, these coatings could reduce annual carbon emissions by 10 percent. Moreover, CCCs offer advantages over trees, as they require less fertile land and have a much faster carbon capture rate than trees.
The developers believe that CCCs will not only reduce greenhouse gases but also create marketable commodities, contributing to the growing Carbon Capture Utilization (CCU) industry. Additionally, CCCs produce oxygen, which improves air quality in heavily polluted areas, and carbohydrates that can be utilized in the manufacture of various products.
As the urgency to lower greenhouse gas emissions becomes more apparent, CCCs provide a solution that can be implemented seamlessly without drastic changes to current practices. The scientific team aims to build enough facilities to offset the world’s emissions by 2030, limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and to drawdown historical CO2 levels to pre-industrial levels. With successful implementation, CCCs could serve as a global thermostat, allowing for temperature normalization even under changing conditions.
Overall, CCCs present a promising approach to addressing climate change and painting ourselves out of the environmental corner we find ourselves in.