[Grandpa's Grumbles] Part 2: Is Grandpa's 'Blind Spot of the Climate Change Issue' Too Difficult!?

(Grandma) Even if you write something good, Grandpa, it's too difficult. If you write something a bit complicated, I don't feel like reading it.

(Grandpa) Is it really that difficult?

(Grandchild) Mom also said that Grandpa's stuff is difficult.

That is why I have tried to explain the key points of the "Blind Spot of the Climate Change Issue" series, which has been criticized as being "too difficult, too difficult," by breaking down the concept of the "Remaining Carbon Budget" (Part 1) and the story of the "Carbon Cycle" (Part 2) as clearly as possible.

This time, it is the second part, the story of the "Carbon Cycle."
This is the note👇 that Grandpa was criticized for.

What I introduced in this note👆 is the carbon cycle.

This is a diagram of the carbon cycle introduced in the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report, but since Grandma says she doesn't understand it at all, I will break it down and explain it.

Carbon exists on Earth, including in the atmosphere, as follows:

Carbon in the ocean: 38.0 trillion tons
In the ground/plants: 2.3 trillion tons
In fossil fuels: 3.5 trillion tons
In the atmosphere: 0.8 trillion tons
Total: 44.6 trillion tons ... 163.5 trillion tons in CO2 equivalent

This much carbon exists on Earth, and it is circulating.

Since the Industrial Revolution, we have achieved economic development by burning fossil fuels to obtain electricity and power, but because of that, carbon emissions into the atmosphere have continued to increase in the carbon cycle.

As a result, this was a diagram to explain the idea that it leads to an increase in carbon dioxide concentration like a hockey stick👇 when graphed.

We are releasing 6.4 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere annually through human activities, while the ground and plants absorb -1.0 billion tons, and the ocean absorbs -2.2 billion tons.

As a result, we are releasing and accumulating a net 3.2 billion tons into the atmosphere.

6.4 - 1.0 - 2.2 = 3.2 billion tons of increased carbon emissions

This is the carbon cycle on Earth in the 1990s, so now that China has developed, carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels have increased from 6.4 billion tons to about 9 billion tons.

A trend has emerged to reduce these 9 billion tons (33.5 billion tons in CO2 equivalent) of carbon emissions by making renewable energy the main power source.

However, the increase in carbon emitted into the atmosphere due to deforestation is a blind spot and is not receiving attention. "It's not good that the world isn't paying attention to this," is what Grandpa appealed in his note, "The Blind Spot of the Climate Change Issue."

(Grandpa) Do you know how many trees are growing on Earth?

(Grandchild) I don't know.

(Grandpa)3.04 trillion is the number. Grandma, you know, right? It was written in Grandpa's note.

(Grandma) I don't remember. Today's one is also difficult, as expected!

(Grandpa) Eh, that can't be true (Grumbling conclusion)

Thank you for reading until the end.

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