Can We Cool the Planet? | Full Documentary I NOVA | PBS

Scientists look to geoengineering and other methods to cool the planet.

As global temperatures continue to rise, scientists are wondering if we need solutions that go beyond reducing emissions. From sucking carbon straight out of the air, to geoengineering our atmosphere to physically block out sunlight, to planting more than a trillion trees, the options may seem futuristic or tough to implement. But as time runs out on conventional solutions to climate change, scientists are asking the hard questions: Can new, sometimes controversial, solutions really work? And at what cost?

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
05:02 The Impact of Carbon Dioxide on the Atmosphere
12:15 Removing CO2 from the Atmosphere: Where Does it Go?
19:16 Innovations Made from Recycled Carbon Dioxide
24:33 How Carbon Dioxide Emissions Can Be Reduced to Net Zero?
34:41 Impacts of Solar Geoengineering
38:00 Can Trees Help Decrease CO2 in the Atmosphere?
46:05 Can Grasslands Help Decrease CO2 in the Atmosphere?
48:49 Conclusion

A NOVA Production by Mangrove Media LLC for GBH Boston in association with ARTE France.

© 2020 WGBH Educational Foundation

All rights reserved

This program was produced by GBH, which is solely responsible for its content. Some funders of NOVA also fund basic science research. Experts featured in this film may have received support from funders of this program.

Funding for NOVA is provided by Draper, the David H. Koch Fund for Science, the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

FOLLOW US:

NOVA

PBS

[jwob]

Trees are way ahead of all the sophisticated stuff that we created to solve this problem. I’m obsessed with nature.

[LostInTheMotion]

I find it insane how no one talks about the magnitude of the rain forests throughout the world that corporations cut down. Those trees removed the CO2 and cooled the planet. When I was a kid this was a huge concern. Now in today's world the corporations have deflected the fault to each individual on this planet. Each tree that was cut down prevented how much CO2 from being removed from the atmosphere? How many trees did it take to change the natural weather patterns that kept us cool? The corporations need to restore what they destroyed before pointing the finger at me. As a consumer I purchase what corporations provide for me to purchase. The bottom line is they need to start at the corporate level before handing me the problem. Until that happens nothing will change.
Some problems
Plastics
Trees
Bi product waste
Factory emissions
Corporation CO2 footprint first!

[GraceOliviafy]

I think investors should always put their cash to work, especially In 2024, we'll start to see more market diversification. I'm hoping to invest about $350k of my savings in stocks against next year. Hope to make millions in 2024

[ashy]

In Finland 3 trees have to be planted after every cut out tree. It is a law since like 50 years. Lately, forrest growth is 30% higher than expected. The laser scanners shown here are used to estimate the sice of tree "population". 75% of the country is covered by Forrest now. But in the 70s it was less than half of that. So it can be done and is beneficial for sure. As motivation, half of the forests are owned privately (by individual people). Also, most crops are grown for feeding animals. Reduce the animals eaten and you get less need for agriculturally used land. Don't say people should go vegan but many eats big chunk of meet at every meal. If it would be just once a day, already a big shift could be made...

[bowen]

I live in Hawaii, and when the sun comes out it gets scorching. I have white canopies and greenhouse style structures all covered in white reflective films and tarps. Stopping the heating of the ground surface and reflecting the heat back up into the atmosphere helps stop the containment of the heat at my place, and can help for the whole planet. But truly, trees and other plants are the best solution. As others have stated, we do need to think on the level of more than just planting monocultures of single species of trees and other plants. I know that is redundant, but it's for those who don't understand what monoculture means, even if most people who read the comments here are well informed enough to know already.

[vvcv__]

Why not grow mini forests by placing trees/plants/grass, on the top of buildings, in every city? Perhaps even developed a roof, that could serve as mini grass gardens, on people's houses, apartments, condos, etc. I'm sure such a garden could also help keep out the heat during summer, and keep in heat during winter, and thus, lowering the Co2 twofold. If the land is 'taken' by other resources, maybe it's time to start utilizing the vast strata of human cities and its architecture.

[avotreemansanders]

Trees win this challenge hands down, including their ability to produce oxygen and food while their root systems adds to sequestration, and providing sustainable raw building materials. I love trees!

[bkhustler]

I definitely believe (self-sustaining) technology / behavior and more trees can help.

[nostradamus]

As long as we have an economy built and premised on growth now and growth into the futur nothing is ever going to be done about climate change, nothing.

[jesseparaguya]

Humans should take note of all these information on how to limit CO2 emissions. Planting more trees should be taken seriously. Easy enough to do and the schools should make this a project as one of the kids more important activity.

[jimmyfishburn]

I jumped in with my comments before the program was over. Makes me happy that others see what I see in trees and plants. We have rich people buying up our land, stripping it clear, and letting it just sit. Not just a few acres but thousands of acres sitting dormant and bare, or lined up with hundreds of homes so close together that is is almost impossible to walk between. On my property, I planted small pine trees that are now larger. I stopped land erosion and increased oxygen content. Deer and turkey along with birds have a new home too. I live on the boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in East Tennessee which is called a Rain Forest. It is self sustaining and has its on echo system. Thus the term Smoky which is actually a mist and very beautiful.

[prajnachan]

I appreciate this program of Nova so much.
It is at once terrifying and hopeful.
Human genius appears to be able to solve the problem of climate change. And Nature herself undoubtedly has the solutions (!)
I won't be here for the changes to come, but I pray for the new generations to have a safe planet to live on.
Thank you PBS 🎉 🕉

[noble]

is it just me or is reducing sunlight bad? what would happen to our plants? all natural processes of co2 remove is entirely solar based right?

[TheOuskie]

converting carbon emissions into building blocks sounds like it going to take a lot more energy making more of a carbon footprint

[petergomez]

Let’s not forget the record deforestation we had this year .
The fires in the Amazon region in 2019 were unprecedented in their destruction. Thousands of fires had burned more than 7, 600 square kilometres by October that year. In 2020, things are no better and, in all likelihood, may be worse.

[thevoid]

3:07, they talk about the world needing to emit zero emissions. That technology already exists. It's called nuclear power.

[silarpac]

None of these alternatives to clean energy and stopping the production and use of fossil fuels has any realistic potential. This is mostly greenwashing from the fossil fuel industry. What I would like to see is who are the organizations funding all of the "carbon capture" and geo-engineering projects. That would be an interesting list.

[relaxingmusic]

"Algae can consume more carbon dioxide than trees because it can cover more surface area, grow faster, and be more easily controlled by bioreactors, given its relative size"

[derrillyager]

Plant more trees everywhere we can.
We have to do more than stop using
Coal and petroleum because the perma frost at the poles is melting
and methane is being released. Trees are the best storage units
over 50+ years. Methane is worse
than CO2 so we must do all we can
to reach a balance.

[garnettewilliams]

This is so informative we need to put this in school to help the next generation more informed so they can carry on this good work