We will continue to fall behind in the battle to achieve net zero, human-caused residual greenhouse emissions balanced by human led removals over a specified period and within specified boundaries, while we rely on renewable energy. In fact Global energy-related CO2 emissions grew in 2022 by 0.9%, or 321 million tonnes, reaching a new high of more than 36.8 billion tonnes, according to an official report. Wind turbines are 20% to 40% efficient and last for about 20 years, with routine maintenance required every six months. Solar panel efficiency is around 15-20% and an environmental problem when removed after 20 years.

The above graph shows a dip in 2012 proposals as a result of a concern of a nuclear fall out after a giant tsunami, triggered by an earthquake, swept over Japan’s main island of Honshu, killing more than 18,000 people trying to flee as entire towns were wiped off the map. The Fukushima nuclear power plant, was inundated by a gigantic wave which surged over coastal defences and flooded it reactors, sparking a major scare in 2011. There are virtually zero emissions from the 440 Nuclear Power Plants currently operating throughout the world with many more to follow. Sweden, among a number of countries recently adopting nuclear energy, has unveiled a road map which envisages the construction of new nuclear generating capacity equivalent to at least two large-scale reactors by 2035, with up to ten new large-scale reactors coming online by 2045. In January this year, a formal proposal to amend Sweden’s legislation on nuclear power was presented by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari. It aims to remove the current law limiting to 10 the number of reactors in operation, as well as allowing reactors to be built on new sites, rather than just existing ones. The proposed legislative amendments were open for consultation for three months. The government made a final decision on 28 September to introduce the bill to parliament. The changes to the law are proposed to enter into force on 1 January 2024.

We now have plants like the above all over the world that can remove Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere!

https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2915/the-atmosphere-getting-a-handle-on-carbon-dioxide/

The above link in 2019, NASA issued the following statement: Carbon dioxide is a different animal, however. Once it’s added to the atmosphere, it hangs around, for a long time: between 300 to 1,000 years which probably motivated the need to build these huge plants like the one above. But it is simply not true.

The data from the IPCC indicates a residency of as little as five years.  IPCC on CO2 Residency

There is a sought of knock on effect like when its stimulates growth in plants which in turn the plant eats more carbon dioxide. Tim Ball, a Canadian scientist of high regard, defines a residency period of up to 6 years.