TED2018
Jennifer Wilcox: A new way to remove CO2 from the atmosphere
珍妮佛 · 威尔考克斯: 从大气中移除二氧化碳的新方法
Filmed:
Readability: 4.8
3,117,805 views
我们的地球有一个关于“碳”的问题——如果我们不开始从大气中移除二氧化碳， 气温将很快变得越来越高。 化学工程师珍妮佛 · 威尔考克斯介绍了可直接从空气中减少碳含量的前沿科技，使用化学反应捕获和再次使用二氧化碳，跟树木吸收二氧化碳的原理类似，但是规模更大。 这个演讲详细地探讨了人类除碳的愿景和所需要面对的困难。
Jennifer Wilcox - Chemical engineer
Jennifer Wilcox works on ways to test and measure methods of trace metal and carbon capture, to mitigate the effects of fossil fuels on our planet. Full bio
Jennifer Wilcox works on ways to test and measure methods of trace metal and carbon capture, to mitigate the effects of fossil fuels on our planet. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:13
Four hundred parts per million:
0
1087
2334
百万分之四百：
这就是现在空气里
二氧化碳大概的浓度。
二氧化碳大概的浓度。
00:15
that's the approximate concentration
of CO2 in the air today.
of CO2 in the air today.
1
3445
4788
这意味着什么呢？
00:20
What does this even mean?
2
8257
1423
意味着每四百个二氧化碳分子，
00:22
For every 400 molecules of carbon dioxide,
3
10083
3424
00:25
we have another million molecules
of oxygen and nitrogen.
of oxygen and nitrogen.
4
13531
4513
都混了另外一百万个氧和氮分子。
今天这个房间里大概有1800人。
00:30
In this room today,
there are about 1,800 of us.
there are about 1,800 of us.
5
18068
3901
想象一下我们当中
只有一个人穿着绿色衬衫，
只有一个人穿着绿色衬衫，
00:33
Imagine just one of us
was wearing a green shirt,
was wearing a green shirt,
6
21993
3833
00:37
and you're asked to find
that single person.
that single person.
7
25850
2814
而你被要求找到那个人。
这就是我们从空气中
直接捕获二氧化碳
直接捕获二氧化碳
00:41
That's the challenge we're facing
when capturing CO2
when capturing CO2
8
29224
3719
需要面临的挑战。
00:44
directly out of the air.
9
32967
1578
把二氧化碳从空气中提取出来，
00:47
Sounds pretty easy,
10
35357
1426
00:48
pulling CO2 out of the air.
11
36807
2392
听起来很简单，
但这实际上是个很复杂的过程。
00:51
It's actually really difficult.
12
39223
1543
00:52
But I'll tell you what is easy:
13
40790
1820
但我要告诉你什么是简单的：
00:54
avoiding CO2 emissions to begin with.
14
42634
3431
在源头减少二氧化碳排放。
但是我们并没有真正这样做。
00:58
But we're not doing that.
15
46701
1616
所以我们现在得考虑如何逆转现状；
01:01
So now what we have to think
about is going back;
about is going back;
16
49289
4001
将二氧化碳从空气中移除。
01:05
pulling CO2 back out of the air.
17
53314
2970
虽然这个过程很困难，
但是依然有可能实现。
但是依然有可能实现。
01:08
Even though it's difficult,
it's actually possible to do this.
it's actually possible to do this.
18
56663
3875
我今天将与你们分享
用来移除二氧化碳的科技，
用来移除二氧化碳的科技，
01:12
And I'm going to share with you today
where this technology is at
where this technology is at
19
60983
3569
以及在不久的将来，它会朝哪个方向发展。
01:16
and where it just may be heading
in the near future.
in the near future.
20
64576
2689
地球能够自然地通过海水，
泥土，草木甚至是石头
泥土，草木甚至是石头
01:20
Now, the earth naturally
removes CO2 from the air
removes CO2 from the air
21
68106
4830
将二氧化碳从空气中移除。
01:24
by seawater, soils, plants and even rocks.
22
72960
4653
尽管工程师和科学家们
为了加快这个自然的过程
为了加快这个自然的过程
01:29
And although engineers and scientists
are doing the invaluable work
are doing the invaluable work
23
77637
4718
01:34
to accelerate these natural processes,
24
82379
3252
做了许多宝贵的工作，
但还远远不够。
01:37
it simply won't be enough.
25
85655
2040
好消息是， 我们还有别的技术。
01:39
The good news is, we have more.
26
87719
2354
感谢人类的聪明才智，
01:42
Thanks to human ingenuity,
we have the technology today
we have the technology today
27
90097
3814
我们今天才能拥有通过化学制造
01:45
to remove CO2 out of the air
28
93935
3288
将二氧化碳从空气中移除的科技。
01:49
using a chemically manufactured approach.
29
97247
2605
我把它称为人工森林。
01:51
I like to think of this
as a synthetic forest.
as a synthetic forest.
30
99876
3265
01:55
There are two basic approaches
to growing or building such a forest.
to growing or building such a forest.
31
103165
5320
总的来说，有两种方法
可以实现人工森林。
可以实现人工森林。
一种是使用溶于水的
二氧化碳捕集材料。
二氧化碳捕集材料。
02:00
One is using CO2-grabbing chemicals
dissolved in water.
dissolved in water.
32
108509
5104
02:05
Another is using solid materials
with CO2-grabbing chemicals.
with CO2-grabbing chemicals.
33
113637
3854
另一种是使用固态的
二氧化碳捕集材料。
二氧化碳捕集材料。
无论你选择哪种方法，
它们看起来都差不多。
它们看起来都差不多。
02:09
No matter which approach you choose,
they basically look the same.
they basically look the same.
34
117515
3483
我现在向你们展示的是
一个具备这种功能的系统
一个具备这种功能的系统
02:13
So what I'm showing you here
is what a system might look like
is what a system might look like
35
121799
3793
02:17
to do just this.
36
125616
1461
可能的样子。
它被称为空气接触器。
02:19
This is called an air contactor.
37
127101
2237
02:21
You can see it has to be
really, really wide
really, really wide
38
129362
2286
可以看到，它必须设计得非常非常宽，
02:23
in order to have
a high enough surface area
a high enough surface area
39
131672
2158
这样才能获得足够大的表面积
来处理所有需要的空气，
02:25
to process all of the air required,
40
133854
2716
请谨记，
02:28
because remember,
41
136594
1152
我们要尝试在一百万个分子之中
捕获仅仅四百个分子。
捕获仅仅四百个分子。
02:29
we're trying to capture
just 400 molecules out of a million.
just 400 molecules out of a million.
42
137770
3978
若使用液体材料来捕获二氧化碳，
02:34
Using the liquid-based
approach to do this,
approach to do this,
43
142293
2971
需要选用表面积大的填充材料，
02:37
you take this high surface area
packing material,
packing material,
44
145288
2366
将空气接触器装满，
02:39
you fill the contactor
with the packing material,
with the packing material,
45
147678
2821
再使用泵驱动，并确保液体
在填充材料之间充分流动。
在填充材料之间充分流动。
02:42
you use pumps to distribute liquid
across the packing material,
across the packing material,
46
150523
4672
然后你就可以使用风扇，从装置的前面
02:47
and you can use fans,
as you can see in the front,
as you can see in the front,
47
155219
2911
将空气吹进装置，
以气泡的形态穿过液体。
以气泡的形态穿过液体。
02:50
to bubble the air through the liquid.
48
158154
2441
空气中的二氧化碳
与液体材料发生反应，
与液体材料发生反应，
02:53
The CO2 in the air
is separated from the liquid
is separated from the liquid
49
161173
3812
02:57
by reacting with the really strong-binding
CO2 molecules in solution.
CO2 molecules in solution.
50
165009
6659
从而将二氧化碳分子分离出来。
为了能捕获更多的二氧化碳，
03:03
And in order to capture a lot of CO2,
51
171692
2662
还必须将接触器造得更深。
03:06
you have to make this contactor deeper.
52
174378
2569
但是这种提升并不是无限的，
03:09
But there's an optimization,
53
177420
1381
因为接触器造得越深，
03:10
because the deeper
you make that contactor,
you make that contactor,
54
178825
2046
03:12
the more energy you're spending
on bubbling all that air through.
on bubbling all that air through.
55
180895
3685
制造气泡所消耗的能量也越多。
所以直接捕捉空气的空气接触器
就具备了这个独一无二的设计，
就具备了这个独一无二的设计，
03:17
So air contactors for direct air capture
have this unique characteristic design,
have this unique characteristic design,
56
185055
4354
03:21
where they have this huge surface area,
but a relatively thin thickness.
but a relatively thin thickness.
57
189433
4322
巨大的表面积和相对较薄的厚度。
在二氧化碳被捕获之后，
03:26
And now once you've captured the CO2,
58
194178
2627
我们还需要能够循环使用
用来捕获它的材料，
用来捕获它的材料，
03:29
you have to be able to recycle
that material that you used to capture it,
that material that you used to capture it,
59
197527
3881
持续不断进行捕获。
03:33
over and over again.
60
201432
1539
03:34
The scale of carbon capture is so enormous
61
202995
2987
毕竟，当碳捕获具备了庞大的规模，
其捕获方法必须能够满足长远需求
03:38
that the capture process
must be sustainable,
must be sustainable,
62
206006
2208
并能重复利用材料。
03:40
and you can't use a material just once.
63
208238
2080
另外，重复利用材料的过程
需要消耗大量的热量，
需要消耗大量的热量，
03:42
And so recycling the material requires
an enormous amount of heat,
an enormous amount of heat,
64
210758
4223
试想一下： 二氧化碳在空气中是如此稀薄，
03:47
because think about it:
CO2 is so dilute in the air,
CO2 is so dilute in the air,
65
215005
3256
03:50
that material is binding it really strong,
66
218285
2850
材料对它的约束力就会非常大，
你需要消耗很多热量
才能回收这个材料。
才能回收这个材料。
03:53
and so you need a lot of heat
in order to recycle the material.
in order to recycle the material.
67
221159
3837
所以你消耗热量回收材料时，
03:57
And to recycle the material
with that heat,
with that heat,
68
225407
2663
从空气中收集的浓缩二氧化碳
04:00
what happens is that concentrated CO2
that you got from dilute CO2 in the air
that you got from dilute CO2 in the air
69
228094
5793
将被释放出来，
04:05
is now released,
70
233911
1593
你将得到高纯度的二氧化碳。
04:07
and you produce high-purity CO2.
71
235528
2474
这一点很重要，
04:10
And that's really important,
72
238417
1723
因为高纯度的二氧化碳更容易液化，
04:12
because high-purity CO2
is easier to liquify,
is easier to liquify,
73
240164
4202
无论是利用管道还是卡车，
都比气态二氧化碳更容易运输，
都比气态二氧化碳更容易运输，
04:16
easier to transport, whether
it's in a pipeline or a truck,
it's in a pipeline or a truck,
74
244390
3164
甚至更容易被直接使用，
04:19
or even easier to use directly,
75
247578
2221
04:21
say, as a fuel or a chemical.
76
249823
2588
比如作为燃料或者化学品。
关于能量，我想再多讲一些。
04:25
So I want to talk a little bit more
about that energy.
about that energy.
77
253033
3778
再生或者回收那些材料的热量需求
04:28
The heat required to regenerate
or recycle these materials
or recycle these materials
78
256835
4213
决定了这个过程需要的能量和附随的成本。
04:33
absolutely dictates the energy
and the subsequent cost of doing this.
and the subsequent cost of doing this.
79
261072
6453
04:40
So I ask a question:
80
268834
1928
我想问一个问题：
04:42
How much energy do you think it takes
81
270786
2858
你觉得在一年内
从空气中移除一百万吨的二氧化碳
04:45
to remove a million tons
of CO2 from the air
of CO2 from the air
82
273668
3741
04:49
in a given year?
83
277433
1358
需要多少能量？
答案是： 一个发电厂。
04:51
The answer is: a power plant.
84
279343
1811
需要一个发电厂来提供从空气中
捕获二氧化碳所需要的能量。
捕获二氧化碳所需要的能量。
04:53
It takes a power plant
to capture CO2 directly from the air.
to capture CO2 directly from the air.
85
281178
3669
发电厂的发电量，
04:56
Depending on which approach you choose,
86
284871
1884
取决于选择的方法，
可能在300到500兆瓦之间。
可能在300到500兆瓦之间。
04:58
the power plant could be on the order
of 300 to 500 megawatts.
of 300 to 500 megawatts.
87
286779
4418
还要谨慎选择发电厂的燃料类别。
05:03
And you have to be careful about
what kind of power plant you choose.
what kind of power plant you choose.
88
291847
3809
如果选择的是煤，
05:07
If you choose coal,
89
295680
1677
05:09
you end up emitting more CO2
than you capture.
than you capture.
90
297381
3578
产生的二氧化碳会比捕获的还多。
现在让我们谈谈成本问题。
05:13
Now let's talk about costs.
91
301509
1823
如果仅仅为了捕获一吨二氧化碳
05:15
An energy-intensive version
of this technology
of this technology
92
303356
3474
05:18
could cost you as much
as $1,000 a ton
as $1,000 a ton
93
306854
3091
而选择在该技术上投入大量能源，
其花费将多达一千美金。
05:21
just to capture it.
94
309969
1349
让我们解释一下这句话。
05:24
Let's translate that.
95
312183
1360
05:26
If you were to take that very expensive
CO2 and convert it to a liquid fuel,
CO2 and convert it to a liquid fuel,
96
314128
4015
如果你要把非常昂贵的
二氧化碳转化成液体燃料，
二氧化碳转化成液体燃料，
05:30
that comes out to 50 dollars a gallon.
97
318167
2337
燃料价格将会高达
五十美元一加仑。
五十美元一加仑。
这太贵了；完全是不可行的。
05:33
That's way too expensive;
it's not feasible.
it's not feasible.
98
321179
2534
那么我们要怎样降低费用？
05:35
So how could we bring these costs down?
99
323737
2411
这就是我所做的部分工作。
05:38
That's, in part, the work that I do.
100
326172
2472
当前有一个公司，
一个商业规模的公司，
一个商业规模的公司，
05:41
There's a company today,
a commercial-scale company,
a commercial-scale company,
101
329771
2719
05:44
that can do this as low
as 600 dollars a ton.
as 600 dollars a ton.
102
332514
2689
可以使费用降到每吨六百元。
还有其他几个开发技术的公司，
05:47
There are several other companies
that are developing technologies
that are developing technologies
103
335227
3781
还可以进一步降低成本。
05:51
that can do this even cheaper than that.
104
339032
2125
我要向你们简单介绍一下
05:53
I'm going to talk to you a little bit
105
341583
1769
05:55
about a few of these different companies.
106
343376
1973
这些不同的公司。
其中一个叫做Carbon Engineering，
05:57
One is called Carbon Engineering.
107
345373
1668
位于加拿大。
05:59
They're based out of Canada.
108
347065
1468
他们使用基于液体的分离方法
06:00
They use a liquid-based
approach for separation
approach for separation
109
348557
2893
结合过剩的， 廉价的天然气
06:03
combined with burning
super-abundant, cheap natural gas
super-abundant, cheap natural gas
110
351474
4265
来提供所需要的热量。
06:07
to supply the heat required.
111
355763
2335
他们发明了一个很巧妙的方法，
06:10
They have a clever approach
112
358122
1684
06:11
that allows them to co-capture
the CO2 from the air
the CO2 from the air
113
359830
4290
可以从空气中捕获二氧化碳的同时，
也捕获燃烧天然气产生的二氧化碳。
06:16
and the CO2 that they generate
from burning the natural gas.
from burning the natural gas.
114
364144
3959
这样一来，
06:20
And so by doing this,
115
368127
1802
他们就抵消了过度污染的
影响，也降低了成本。
影响，也降低了成本。
06:21
they offset excess pollution
and they reduce costs.
and they reduce costs.
116
369953
3418
位于瑞士的Climeworks
和位于美国的Global Thermostat
和位于美国的Global Thermostat
06:26
Switzerland-based Climeworks
and US-based Global Thermostat
and US-based Global Thermostat
117
374006
4046
使用的则是不同的方法，
06:30
use a different approach.
118
378076
1603
固体材料捕获。
06:31
They use solid materials for capture.
119
379703
2609
Climateworks
使用来自地球的热量
使用来自地球的热量
06:34
Climeworks uses heat from the earth,
120
382336
2783
06:37
or geothermal,
121
385143
1413
或者地热能，
甚至是来自其他工业过程的过量蒸汽
06:38
or even excess steam
from other industrial processes
from other industrial processes
122
386580
3112
06:41
to cut down on pollution and costs.
123
389716
2359
来减少污染和降低费用。
Global Thermostat则另辟蹊径，
06:44
Global Thermostat
takes a different approach.
takes a different approach.
124
392759
2200
他们专注于所需的热量
06:46
They focus on the heat required
125
394983
2847
以及它穿过材料的速度，
06:49
and the speed in which it moves
through the material
through the material
126
397854
3673
于是就可以在一个很快的速率下
06:53
so that they're able to release
and produce that CO2
and produce that CO2
127
401551
4679
释放和生产二氧化碳，
06:58
at a really fast rate,
128
406254
1775
这使得他们采用了更密致的设计，
07:00
which allows them to have
a more compact design
a more compact design
129
408053
3355
以及整体上更低廉的费用。
07:03
and overall cheaper costs.
130
411432
2001
还有很多这样的例子。
07:06
And there's more still.
131
414806
1894
人造森林与天然森林相比
有一个显著的优势： 规模。
有一个显著的优势： 规模。
07:08
A synthetic forest has a significant
advantage over a real forest: size.
advantage over a real forest: size.
132
416724
5492
这是亚马逊热带雨林的地图。
07:14
This next image that I'm showing you
is a map of the Amazon rainforest.
is a map of the Amazon rainforest.
133
422899
3809
亚马逊地区每年能捕获
16亿吨的二氧化碳。
16亿吨的二氧化碳。
07:18
The Amazon is capable of capturing
1.6 billion tons of CO2 each year.
1.6 billion tons of CO2 each year.
134
426732
6079
大约等于美国每年排放量的
07:24
This is the equivalent
of roughly 25 percent
of roughly 25 percent
135
432835
3379
百分之二十五。
07:28
of our annual emissions in the US.
136
436238
2295
而要捕获等量的二氧化碳所需的
07:31
The land area required
for a synthetic forest
for a synthetic forest
137
439007
2935
人工森林或者人造空气捕获工厂，
07:33
or a manufactured direct air capture plant
138
441966
2297
其占地面积
07:36
to capture the same
139
444287
1432
只有天然森林的五百分之一。
07:37
is 500 times smaller.
140
445743
2088
另外，人工森林
07:41
In addition, for a synthetic forest,
141
449180
3047
不需要在耕地上建造，
07:44
you don't have to build it on arable land,
142
452251
2865
所以并不会占用畜牧和农耕土地，
07:47
so there's no competition
with farmland or food,
with farmland or food,
143
455140
4271
而且我们也不需要
砍去任何自然生长的树木
砍去任何自然生长的树木
07:51
and there's also no reason
to have to cut down any real trees
to have to cut down any real trees
144
459435
4994
来建造人工森林。
07:56
to do this.
145
464453
1261
07:58
I want to step back,
146
466570
1780
我想退一步，
再次提出负排放的概念。
08:00
and I want to bring up the concept
of negative emissions again.
of negative emissions again.
147
468374
3566
负排放，需要被分离的二氧化碳
08:04
Negative emissions require
that the CO2 separated
that the CO2 separated
148
472394
3569
永久性地从大气层中去除，
08:07
be permanently removed
from the atmosphere forever,
from the atmosphere forever,
149
475987
4387
08:12
which means putting it back underground,
150
480398
2722
这意味着把它送回地下，
也就是它最初所在的地方。
08:15
where it came from in the first place.
151
483144
2369
但请让我们面对现实吧，
至今都没有人以此为生——
至今都没有人以此为生——
08:17
But let's face it, nobody
gets paid to do that today --
gets paid to do that today --
152
485537
3539
至少相关从业者数量还远远不够。
08:21
at least not enough.
153
489100
1358
所以开发这些技术的公司
08:23
So the companies that are developing
these technologies
these technologies
154
491009
3488
其实是对获取二氧化碳感兴趣，
08:26
are actually interested in taking the CO2
155
494521
2477
为了从中造出有价值的东西，
一个可销售的产品。
一个可销售的产品。
08:29
and making something useful
out of it, a marketable product.
out of it, a marketable product.
156
497022
3147
它可以是液体燃料， 塑料，
08:32
It could be liquid fuels, plastics
157
500193
3580
甚至是合成的砾石。
08:35
or even synthetic gravel.
158
503797
1746
08:38
And don't get me wrong --
these carbon markets are great.
these carbon markets are great.
159
506043
3166
别误会我的意思——
这些碳源的市场非常好。
这些碳源的市场非常好。
但是我也不想让你们
产生错误的幻想。
产生错误的幻想。
08:42
But I also don't want you
to be disillusioned.
to be disillusioned.
160
510550
2718
这些市场还不够大，
不足以解决气候危机，
不足以解决气候危机，
08:45
These are not large enough
to solve our climate crisis,
to solve our climate crisis,
161
513292
3729
所以我们需要认真思考一下
08:49
and so what we need to do
is we need to actually think about
is we need to actually think about
162
517045
3833
08:52
what it could take.
163
520902
1477
还能做些什么来解决危机。
08:54
One thing I'll absolutely say
is positive about the carbon markets
is positive about the carbon markets
164
522403
3979
关于碳市场的一个绝佳的事实就是，
它至少支撑了建造新的捕获工厂，
08:58
is that they allow for new
capture plants to be built,
capture plants to be built,
165
526406
4592
每建造一个捕获工厂，
09:03
and with every capture plant built,
166
531022
1903
我们都会学到更多；
09:04
we learn more.
167
532949
1452
当我们学到更多，
09:06
And when we learn more,
168
534425
1511
我们就能不断地降低成本。
09:07
we have an opportunity
to bring costs down.
to bring costs down.
169
535960
2724
09:11
But we also need to be willing to invest
170
539914
3527
但作为一个国际社会，
我们还需要愿意去投资。
09:15
as a global society.
171
543465
1656
09:18
We could have all of the clever thinking
and technology in the world,
and technology in the world,
172
546534
3374
我们有世界上所有的奇妙思想和科技，
但是这还远无法
09:21
but it's not going to be enough
173
549932
1635
让这项技术对气候带来显著的改善。
09:23
in order for this technology
to have a significant impact on climate.
to have a significant impact on climate.
174
551591
4879
我们还切实地需要法规扶持，
09:28
We really need regulation,
175
556494
2182
我们需要补贴，
09:30
we need subsidies,
176
558700
1533
碳税，
09:32
taxes on carbon.
177
560257
2193
我们当中有一部分人
绝对愿意为此花更多的钱，
绝对愿意为此花更多的钱，
09:34
There are a few of us that would
absolutely be willing to pay more,
absolutely be willing to pay more,
178
562474
4810
但为了走向零碳排放，
09:39
but what will be required
179
567308
2394
甚至是碳负排放的道路，
09:41
is for carbon-neutral,
carbon-negative paths
carbon-negative paths
180
569726
2693
我们需要让社会中的大多数人
都能够承担得起这部分费用，
都能够承担得起这部分费用，
09:44
to be affordable for
the majority of society
the majority of society
181
572443
2689
才能真正影响气候。
09:47
in order to impact climate.
182
575156
1777
除了这些投资，
09:49
In addition to those kinds of investments,
183
577403
2573
我们还需要人们在研发项目中投资。
09:52
we also need investments
in research and development.
in research and development.
184
580000
3608
这意味着什么呢？
09:55
So what might that look like?
185
583632
1557
1966年， 美国百分之五十的GDP
09:57
In 1966, the US invested about
a half a percent of gross domestic product
a half a percent of gross domestic product
186
585865
6280
被用于投资阿波罗计划。
10:04
in the Apollo program.
187
592169
1495
该计划帮助人类安全地登上了月球，
10:06
It got people safely to the moon
188
594568
2852
并顺利返回地球。
10:09
and back to the earth.
189
597444
1447
而在今天，一半的GDP
大概是一千亿美金。
大概是一千亿美金。
10:11
Half a percent of GDP today
is about 100 billion dollars.
is about 100 billion dollars.
190
599464
3529
所以当知道直接捕获空气
10:15
So knowing that direct air capture
191
603522
2729
和与气候变化做斗争
是同一个战线后，
是同一个战线后，
10:18
is one front in our fight
against climate change,
against climate change,
192
606275
3203
想象一下我们能够投资
20%的GDP， 两百亿美元。
20%的GDP， 两百亿美元。
10:21
imagine that we could invest
20 percent, 20 billion dollars.
20 percent, 20 billion dollars.
193
609502
3608
10:25
Further, let's imagine
that we could get the costs down
that we could get the costs down
194
613848
2881
更进一步，让我们设想一下降低成本
到100美金一吨。
10:28
to a 100 dollars a ton.
195
616753
1673
这很困难， 但也正是我工作中的乐趣所在。
10:31
That's going to be hard,
but it's part of what makes my job fun.
but it's part of what makes my job fun.
196
619274
3772
两百亿美金，一百美金一吨，
10:35
And so what does that look like,
197
623897
1541
是个什么概念呢？
10:37
20 billion dollars,100 dollars a ton?
198
625462
2321
这需要我们建造二百个人工森林，
10:39
That requires us to build
200 synthetic forests,
200 synthetic forests,
199
627807
3124
每个人工森林一年能
捕获一百万吨的二氧化碳。
捕获一百万吨的二氧化碳。
10:42
each capable of capturing
a million tons of CO2 per year.
a million tons of CO2 per year.
200
630955
5686
这加起来相当于美国每年
碳排放量的百分之五。
碳排放量的百分之五。
10:48
That adds up to about five percent
of US annual emissions.
of US annual emissions.
201
636665
4052
听起来好像不多。
10:53
It doesn't sound like much.
202
641235
1459
10:55
Turns out, it's actually significant.
203
643226
2114
实际上，效果已经相当明显了。
如果你查看长途运输
10:57
If you look at the emissions
associated with long-haul trucking
associated with long-haul trucking
204
645364
3454
和商用飞机产生的碳排放，
11:00
and commercial aircraft,
205
648842
1732
11:02
they add up to about five percent.
206
650598
2058
其合计总量就达到了百分之五左右。
我们对液体燃料的依赖
使这样的碳排放量
使这样的碳排放量
11:05
Our dependence on liquid fuels
makes these emissions
makes these emissions
207
653458
3665
非常难以避免。
11:09
really difficult to avoid.
208
657147
2573
所以毋庸置疑，这项研究意义重大。
11:11
So this investment
could absolutely be significant.
could absolutely be significant.
209
659744
4815
11:17
Now, what would it take
in terms of land area to do this,
in terms of land area to do this,
210
665496
3103
那么要建造200个工厂，
需要多少土地呢？
11:20
200 plants?
211
668623
1338
11:22
It turns out that they would take up
about half the land area of Vancouver.
about half the land area of Vancouver.
212
670406
4311
事实上，它们将占据
温哥华大约一半的土地面积。
温哥华大约一半的土地面积。
这还是在利用天然气
作为燃料的前提下。
作为燃料的前提下。
11:26
That's if they were fueled by natural gas.
213
674741
2096
但是别忘了天然气的缺点——
燃烧时也会排放二氧化碳。
燃烧时也会排放二氧化碳。
11:28
But remember the downside
of natural gas -- it also emits CO2.
of natural gas -- it also emits CO2.
214
676861
4672
所以如果你使用天然气直接捕获空气，
11:33
So if you use natural gas
to do direct air capture,
to do direct air capture,
215
681557
2897
11:36
you only end up capturing
about a third of what's intended,
about a third of what's intended,
216
684478
3761
你最终只会捕获到预期量的三分之一，
除非你有像Carbon Engineering一样
11:40
unless you have that
clever approach of co-capture
clever approach of co-capture
217
688263
2563
同时捕获两者的方法。
11:42
that Carbon Engineering does.
218
690850
1618
如果我们有一个替代的方法，
11:45
And so if we had an alternative approach
219
693253
2179
11:47
and used wind or solar to do this,
220
695456
2831
使用风力发电或者太阳能发电，
但随之所需的土地面积
可能会扩大十五倍，
可能会扩大十五倍，
11:50
the land area would be
about 15 times larger,
about 15 times larger,
221
698311
3588
和现在的新泽西州一样大。
11:53
looking at the state of New Jersey now.
222
701923
2010
11:56
One of the things that I think about
in my work and my research
in my work and my research
223
704360
3532
我在工作和研究时经常思考的一件事，
就是优化和解决两个问题，
将这些工厂放在哪里，
将这些工厂放在哪里，
11:59
is optimizing and figuring out
where we should put these plants
where we should put these plants
224
707916
3925
12:03
and think about
the local resources available --
the local resources available --
225
711865
2653
以及如何就地取材——
是否有足够的土地面积， 水资源，
廉价和无污染的电能——
廉价和无污染的电能——
12:06
whether it's land, water,
cheap and clean electricity --
cheap and clean electricity --
226
714542
3675
因为， 例如无污染的电能
12:10
because, for instance,
you can use clean electricity
you can use clean electricity
227
718241
2702
可以把水分解成氢气，
12:12
to split water to produce hydrogen,
228
720967
2185
这是一个极好的，
无碳的天然气替代品，
无碳的天然气替代品，
12:15
which is an excellent, carbon-free
replacement for natural gas,
replacement for natural gas,
229
723176
3881
可以提供所需的热量。
12:19
to supply the heat required.
230
727081
1750
12:22
But I want us to reflect a little bit
again on negative emissions.
again on negative emissions.
231
730212
3772
但是我想提醒大家再次
对负排放进行反思。
对负排放进行反思。
负排放不应该被当作是万全之策，
12:26
Negative emissions should not be
considered a silver bullet,
considered a silver bullet,
232
734420
3553
但是它们可以在实现
真正减少全球二氧化碳排放前
真正减少全球二氧化碳排放前
12:29
but they may help us
if we continue to stall
if we continue to stall
233
737997
2503
12:32
at cutting down on CO2
pollution worldwide.
pollution worldwide.
234
740524
3259
帮我们争取一些时间。
12:36
But that's also why we have to be careful.
235
744441
3034
这也是为什么我们
必须小心谨慎。
必须小心谨慎。
这个方法是如此的诱人，
甚至会产生负面效应，
甚至会产生负面效应，
12:39
This approach is so alluring
that it can even be risky,
that it can even be risky,
236
747499
2977
12:42
as some may cling onto it as some kind
of total solution to our climate crisis.
of total solution to our climate crisis.
237
750500
4974
有些人过分依赖它，把它看作
能彻底解决气候危机的方案。
能彻底解决气候危机的方案。
12:47
It may tempt people to continue
to burn fossil fuels 24 hours a day,
to burn fossil fuels 24 hours a day,
238
755982
5455
它可以诱使人们
每年365天，每天24小时，
每年365天，每天24小时，
继续燃烧化石燃料。
12:53
365 days a year.
239
761461
2174
我认为我们不应该把负排放
12:55
I argue that we should not
see negative emissions
see negative emissions
240
763659
3206
12:58
as a replacement for stopping pollution,
241
766889
1928
当成中断污染的替代品，
13:00
but rather, as an addition to an existing
portfolio that includes everything,
portfolio that includes everything,
242
768841
5771
相反的， 应该把它当成现有的
改善环境措施的一个附加品，
改善环境措施的一个附加品，
从提高能源效率
13:06
from increased energy efficiency
243
774636
1775
到低碳排放，
13:08
to low-energy carbon
244
776435
1714
再到优化农业——
13:10
to improved farming --
245
778173
1633
总有一天，会让我们走上
一条零碳排放的道路。
一条零碳排放的道路。
13:11
will all collectively get us on a path
to net-zero emissions one day.
to net-zero emissions one day.
246
779830
5001
我还想谈谈自己的一点反思：
13:17
A little bit of self-reflection:
247
785909
1826
我的丈夫是一位急诊医师。
13:20
my husband is an emergency physician.
248
788481
2508
他和同事每天从事的
13:23
And I find myself amazed
by the lifesaving work
by the lifesaving work
249
791727
3545
13:27
that he and his colleagues
do each and every day.
do each and every day.
250
795296
3297
救死扶伤的工作令我大为惊叹。
13:31
Yet when I talk to them
about my work on carbon capture,
about my work on carbon capture,
251
799235
3933
然而当我和他们谈起
我与碳捕获相关的工作，
我与碳捕获相关的工作，
他们也同样表示了赞叹，
13:35
I find that they're equally amazed,
252
803192
2262
13:37
and that's because combatting
climate change by capturing carbon
climate change by capturing carbon
253
805896
4773
因为通过捕获碳来对抗气候变化
并不只是关于拯救北极熊
13:42
isn't just about saving a polar bear
254
810693
2058
或者防止冰川融化，
13:44
or a glacier.
255
812775
1166
这是为了拯救人类。
13:45
It's about saving human lives.
256
813965
1670
13:49
A synthetic forest may not ever be
as pretty as a real one,
as pretty as a real one,
257
817905
5017
人工森林可能没有天然森林的美观，
13:54
but it could just enable us
to preserve not only the Amazon,
to preserve not only the Amazon,
258
822946
3619
但是它不仅仅让我们保护有能力亚马逊，
还能保护所有
13:58
but all of the people
259
826589
1460
我们所爱的和珍惜的人，
14:00
that we love and cherish,
260
828073
2370
以及所有的子孙后代
14:02
as well as all of our future generations
261
830467
4662
和现代文明。
14:07
and modern civilization.
262
835153
1662
谢谢。
14:08
Thank you.
263
836839
1153
14:10
(Applause)
264
838016
4223
（掌声）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Jennifer Wilcox - Chemical engineerJennifer Wilcox works on ways to test and measure methods of trace metal and carbon capture, to mitigate the effects of fossil fuels on our planet.
Why you should listen
Jennifer Wilcox is the James H. Manning Chaired Professor of Chemical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Having grown up in rural Maine, she has a profound respect and appreciation of nature, which permeates her work as she focuses on minimizing negative impacts of humankind on our natural environment.
Wilcox's research takes aim at the nexus of energy and the environment, developing both mitigation and adaptation strategies to minimize negative climate impacts associated with society's dependence on fossil fuels. This work carefully examines the role of carbon management and opportunities therein that could assist in preventing 2° C warming by 2100. Carbon management includes a mix of technologies spanning from the direct removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to its capture from industrial, utility-scale and micro-emitter (motor vehicle) exhaust streams, followed by utilization or reliable storage of carbon dioxide on a timescale and magnitude that will have a positive impact on our current climate change crisis. Funding for her research is primarily sourced through the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy and the private sector. She has served on a number of committees including the National Academy of Sciences and the American Physical Society to assess carbon capture methods and impacts on climate. She is the author of the first textbook on carbon capture, published in March 2012.
Jennifer Wilcox | Speaker | TED.com