We probably have the technology to create a new life form that uses photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide to a hydrocarbon that humans can use for energy. I also propose a method for deploying the technology.
Life form
- Inputs
- Light
- Water (preferably salt water)
- Carbon dioxide
- Output
- Growth of the plant/life form
- Sugar
- Oxygen
- Hydrocarbon
- Possible forms
- Fruit
- Gaseous emission
- Intracellular (requiring harvesting)
- Liquid emission
- Possible forms
How to implement
- Develop the life form
- Patent it
- Sell the patent to the world
- Countries pay for past emissions
- Proportional to their past emissions
- Emissions are calculated based on where the produced good was consumed, so items manufactured in one country for use
in a second country count against the second country
- Emissions are calculated based on where the produced good was consumed, so items manufactured in one country for use
- Enough to remove all of the current excess carbon dioxide
- Proportional to their past emissions
- Countries pay for future emissions
- Proportional to their population
- If they exceed their limit, they must pay someone to be a carbon sink
- If they don’t pay someone, then the international organization takes bids from vendors to be a carbon sink
- They buy the services and then fine the offending country
- Need a dispute resolution process
- Dispute a significant difference in the amount of exceeded emissions of any country
- Dispute a significant difference in the estimation of the current carbon dioxide level
- Moving party bears the cost unless they win
- Mechanism for collecting fines
- The international body can enter judgments in all other participant countries and that country must collect the
fine - Penalty for having to collect fines through other countries
- The international body can enter judgments in all other participant countries and that country must collect the
- If a country comes in under its limit, it can sell the unused emissions to the highest bidder
- Grow the life form
- In current deserts that are near salt water, especially in Africa, the Middle East, Southwest Asia, Mexico, Baja
California, and Australia - In the ocean
- In current deserts that are near salt water, especially in Africa, the Middle East, Southwest Asia, Mexico, Baja
- Use most of the energy to replace fossil fuels
- Sink some of the carbon by burying the life form
- In old fossil fuel locations (mines and wells)
- In the ocean
- Dump it in the desert farther from the water (this could spawn new ecosystems)