Professor John Robertson OBA

Thanks to Bernadette Robertson for alerting me to this.

In the UK Daily Mail, today, but not on the ‘Scottish’ edition’s front page:

The long–awaited solution to Britain’s climate crisis could finally be here. Scientists have identified eight potential sites for the ‘direct air capture machines’ (DAC), which would extract CO2 from the air and turn it to stone. The eight promising locations include Antrim in Northern Ireland, Borrowdale in the Lake District and the Isle of Mull in Scotland. According to the experts, the sites have a wealth of volcanic rock underground that would react with CO2 and turn the greenhouse gas into a solid form. 

Combined, the eight sites could safely store more than three billion tonnes of CO2 – equivalent to around 45 years’ worth of the UK’s industrial emissions.  Researchers think the UK offers ‘significant CO2 storage potential’ as one weapon against climate change.  Study leader Professor Gilfillan, geochemist at the University of Edinburgh, said ‘we urgently need carbon storage’ solutions like this to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere. 

Link: Is this the solution to Britain’s climate crisis? Scientists pinpoint eight sites across the UK where they claim 3 billion tonnes of CO2 could be turned to STONE | Daily Mail Online

There’s not one worry expressed and I see in most of the media narrative on this technology. Not surprisingly an AI questions repeats the same complacent view based on many dominating sources comparing it favourably to other methods of CO2 disposal.

However, when, as you often have to do, you ask AI if any experts disagree with its conclusions it will then offer them to you.

From Mark Z. Jacobson (Stanford climate engineer, 2019 paper); Sekera & Lichtenberger (2023 review, cited widely):

DAC’s energy demands (often natural gas) could emit more CO₂/air pollutants than captured, increasing respiratory risks. Chlorine byproducts from solvents might pose disposal hazards at scale.

https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2023/01/19/direct-air-capture-climate-scam/

From Frontiers in Energy Research (2024 review):

CO₂ injection could fracture rock layers or reactivate faults, creating pathways for leaks into groundwater or soil, mobilizing heavy metals and acidifying aquifers (pH drop by 10,000x). Even small leaks could harm ecosystems near storage sites. https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2023/01/19/direct-air-capture-climate-scam/

From Food & Water Watch (2023 report):

High-pressure injection might trigger quakes, fracturing seals and risking leaks or community safety. https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2023/01/19/direct-air-capture-climate-scam/

From World Resources Institute (WRI, 2023–2025 reports); Oxford Energy Institute (2023 paper):

EPA rules focus on water pollution but ignore induced seismicity or chronic low-level CO₂ leaks raising indoor levels (asphyxiation risk >40,000 ppm). https://www.wri.org/technical-perspectives/regulating-DAC-CCS-safety

For a quick overview of the critique, read: Direct Air Capture: 5 Things You Need to Know About This Climate Scam (2023):

Direct air capture promises to suck carbon from the sky. But its proponents — including Big Oil — are hiding some dirty downsides. Here are five.

1. DAC Wastes Tons of Cash on a Few Drops in the Bucket
2. AC Emits More Than It Captures
3. Carbon Capture Relies on Toxic Solvents
4. “Long-Term Storage Solutions” are Super Risky
5. DAC Projects Subsidize and Power More Drilling

Full text at: https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2023/01/19/direct-air-capture-climate-scam/