The Giving Tree

So, I’m a little late in bringing this up, but recently, there was news around a new type of synthetic tree that will capture CO2 and let humans sequester it where ever we find the space. Many people wrote about this magical “tree” that will cheerfully sit in parks around the world (or tucked away in the Australian Outback) and suck up carbon from the atmosphere. I have a few issues with it, first and least important, is the look.  This thing is the real “ugly tree.”

An artist rendering of what a synthetic tree "might" look like. Really?

So that’s a tree.  Oh wait, it just “acts” like a tree, sucking up Carbon Dioxide as air moves through the round white plastic roof thing.  Makes sense, they are calling it a tree because it takes CO2 out of the air like trees do.  Except then it compresses it down into a liquid that can be injected into carbon sequestration plots.  Sounds a bit like inhaling smoke, scraping the tar off your lungs and then injecting it into your posterior.  There’s no more tar in your lungs, but wouldn’t you know it, there it is making your butt look big.

Real trees turn CO2 into carbon and oxygen, two fairly necessary elements for our existance.  Now, it may come to a point where we are so desperate to clean CO2 from the air, we are forced to fund something as ridiculous as a “synthetic tree,” but until that point comes, sustainy thinks a more proactive, educational approach is prudent for today.  Head over to CNN to read more fuzzy math as to how this would work, or drop your thoughts in the comments.

Last 3 posts by Eric Raymond

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