Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Letters Editor
Calgary Herald
P.O. Box 2400
Station M
Calgary Alberta T2P 0W8
Science based carbon management
Dear Editor:
It was nice to see two sensible letters on Kyoto in today’s Herald. Both urged we not rush forward with the Kyoto accord.
Alan Johnson pointed out we are adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and that the “energy industry is well aware it must learn to put used carbon back into the earth”. (“Kyoto kibosh”, 04/06/22, A12) Alyssa Marshall indicated that “Science will find a better way to reduce greenhouse gases, and, when it does, we should look into it.” (“Jobs first”, 04/06/22, A12)
Science may be on the brink of a better way. A developing synthesis of science concepts applies human ingenuity to take advantage of nature’s methods of making soil.
The technique is based on making greater use of charcoal from plant material to improve earth’s soil. Carbon dioxide from burning fuels is released to the atmosphere. It is removed by growing plants. Some of the plant material is converted to charcoal based fertilizer to establish a long-lasting store of carbon in the soil.
Access to more information can be found at; http://www.computare.org/commentary.htm. Computare is a small name think tank focusing on greenhouse gas management. It is located in Lethbridge, Alberta.
Duane Pendergast
Principal Engineer