Our climate fix must be big and quick

TL;DR

The paper argues that a rapid, large-scale carbon sink, such as sinking sewage in offshore dead zones, is essential to offset ongoing fossil fuel use and reduce atmospheric CO2 to pre-industrial levels within decades.

Contribution

It proposes a novel, large-scale approach to carbon sequestration by sinking sewage in offshore dead zones to rapidly lower atmospheric CO2.

Findings

A sink of 25 billion tonnes of carbon annually is needed.

Sinking sewage in offshore dead zones could provide a significant carbon sink.

Half of the global population lives near coasts, enabling widespread participation.

Abstract

We need enough new carbon sinks to 1) cancel out any continuing use of fossil fuels, 2) overcome the delayed effect of earlier excesses, and then 3) lower atmospheric CO2 concentrations to the old maximum value of 280 ppm. We need to sink about 25 billion tonnes of carbon each year, half to counter current emissions and commitments, and half for drawing down the CO2 concentrations within a few decades. A very large carbon sink could be created by sinking sewage in offshore dead zones. Half of all people live close enough to a coast to personally contribute, making the sink size close to half the annual food production.