Al Gore calls on world to burn less wood and fuel to curb 'black carbon'

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/apr/28/black-carbon-emissions

Al Gore calls on world to burn less wood and fuel to curb 'black carbon'

Soot from engines, forest fires and partly burned fuel is collecting in Arctic and causing north pole to warm at alarming rate

John Vidal in Tromso
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 28 April 2009 17.48 BST

The world must burn less diesel and wood, Nobel peace prize-winner Al Gore said yesterday, as the soot produced is accelerating the melting of ice in polar and mountainous regions.

Gore, backed by government ministers and scientists, said that the soot, also known as "black carbon", from engines, forest fires and partially burned fuel was collecting in the Arctic where it was creating a haze of pollution that absorbs sunlight and warms the air. It was also being deposited on snow, darkening its surface and reducing the snow's ability to reflect sunlight back into space.

"The principle (climate change) problem is carbon dioxide, but a new understanding is emerging of soot," said Gore. "Black carbon is settling in the Himalayas. The air pollution levels in the upper Himalayas are now similar to those in Los Angeles."

The impact of the soot is as significant as it is surprising — it was not mentioned as a warming factor in the UN's major 2007 report on climate change. A study this month indicated that soot from industry, cars, farming and wood fuel burning has been responsible for half the total temperature increases in the Arctic between 1890 to 2007. Temperatures there are rising twice as fast as anywhere else on the planet, making it the region worst affected by climate change.

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[panader0]

1. But Al, a wood stove is all I have for heat.

My electricity is generated from a coal burning plant 80 miles away.

[virginia mountainman]

2. I have been burning wood as a primary heat source in my home for YEARS..

Wood, that I only cut, out of dead or downed timber in the woods.

With energy prices going crazy, the more I like the idea of burning wood, a heating fuel, that will grow back.

I fully intend to continue.

[Fotoware58]

3. Conflicts

Gore sends out conflicting messages about wood and trees. While he says to stop burning wood, he is also against harvesting smaller trees and wood waste from National Forests to be used as "renewable" biomass. Letting summer wildfires burn is NOT good for the environment, folks! Unfortunately, that is the status quo in our National Forests. These Let-Burn fires kill old growth, silt up streams and rivers and destroy wildlife habitat while not resulting in fuels reductions. Wildfires are MUCH more costly than just the suppression costs. Ecosystem losses are much costlier than just the expenses of putting these highly preventable fires out. More often than not, remote Let-Burn fires eventually threaten people's houses and property, their health, their businesses and their quality of life.

Let-Burn fires also are planned for and allowed without scientific analysis and public input. Where is the EPA? Aren't they supposed to protect our health, under the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts??

[GliderGuider]

4. Uh, Al...

As the energy crisis starts to really bite, the energy sources in use are going to keep getting dirtier. As NG supplies deplete countries are already turning to coal to keep the lights on.

Clap harder, Al.

[eppur_se_muova]

5. Don't catalytic stoves produce less soot? nt

[OKIsItJustMe]

6. It makes a difference how the wood is burned

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/home/2009/04/black-carbon-soot-cardon-dioxide-emissions-wood-stove-changeout-campaign-solar-stove.html

[angryfirelord]

7. Hey Al,

Put up or shut up. How about changing your own lifestyle and start investing in renewable technologies instead of trying to dictate ours? Buying carbon credits from a company you own doesn't make you greener than the rest of us.