Phytotechnology and Photosynthesis - Environmental Biotechnology: Theory and Application - page 166

of satellite observation and most particularly the recent use of the Moderate
Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA's Aqua vehicle
(Kwiatkowska and McClain, 2009).
In the century since its effectiveness as a means of trapping heat in the atmo-
sphere was first demonstrated by the Swedish scientist, Svante Arrhenius, the
importance of reducing the global carbon dioxide emissions has come to be
widely appreciated. The increasing quantities of coal, oil and gas that are burnt for
energy has led to CO 2 emissions worldwide becoming more than 10 times higher
than they were in 1900 and there is around 40% more CO 2 in the air, currently
387 ppm according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
than before the Industrial Revolution. Carbon dioxide has been implicated in over
80% of global warming and according to atmospheric monitoring and analysis
of samples of the Antarctic ice, the world today has higher levels of greenhouse
gases than at any time in the past 650 000 years. The UN Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change has warned that immediate action is required to pre-
vent further atmospheric increases above today's level. In the absence of swift
and effective measures to control the situation, by 2100 they predict that carbon
dioxide concentrations will rise to 550 ppm on the basis of the lowest emission
model, or over 830 ppm in the highest. Even in the aftermath of the 2009 UN
Copenhagen summit and the so-called 'climate-gate' controversy, such figures
are hard to ignore.
In 1990, over 95% of the Western industrialised nations' emissions resulted
from burning fossil fuels for energy, with the 25% of the world's population who
live in these countries consuming nearly 80% of the energy produced globally.
Unsurprisingly, energy industries account for the greatest share (36%) of carbon
dioxide emissions, a large 1000 MW coal-fired power station releases something
in the region of 5 1 / 2 million tonnes of CO 2 annually. Clearly, the current focus on
reducing fossil fuel usage, and on minimising the emissions of carbon dioxide to
the atmosphere, is important. In one sense, the most straightforward solution
to the problem is simply to stop using fossil fuels altogether. However, this is a
rather simplistic view and just too impractical. While great advances have been
made in the field of renewable energy, a wholesale substitution for gas, coal
and oil is not possible at this time if energy usage is to continue at an unabated
rate. The potential role of existing non-fossil fuel technology to bridge the gap
between the current status quo and a future time, when renewables meet the
needs of mankind, is a vital one. However, it remains ridiculous to pretend that
this can be achieved overnight, unless the 'global village' really is to consist of
just so many mud huts.
In many respects, here is another case where, if we cannot do the most good,
then perhaps we must settle for doing the least harm and the application of
phytotechnology stands as one very promising means by which to achieve this
goal. The natural contribution of algal photosynthesis to carbon sequestration has
already been alluded to and the use of these organisms in an engineered system
to reduce CO 2 releases, simply capitalises on this same inherent potential in an
unaltered way.