Global Warming: What Can You Do?
Most people now accept that global warming is real and that government action is required. Carbon trading schemes are often presented as the main solution, but a trading scheme only works if there is something real and measurable to trade. The critical question is simple: who creates the carbon credits that are meant to offset emissions?
The answer cannot be limited to large industry alone. Carbon capture must involve ordinary households, schools, councils, community groups, and farmers. If carbon capture is to occur at scale, the benefits must flow to the many people willing to adjust how they grow plants and manage land. Good intentions are not enough. Broad participation requires practical incentives.
A Practical Step: Write to Your Leaders
I wrote to Penny Wong, the Minister responsible for global warming and water at the time, because policy will ultimately decide whether local carbon capture succeeds or fails. If government provides a structure that recognises and rewards local carbon capture, people will respond. Without this support, local action will remain fragmented and limited.
The message to government is clear. Many people support strong climate action and are willing to participate in a “retail” carbon capture scheme that operates at household and community level. Writing to local members of parliament is one of the simplest ways to make this position known.
The Letter and Contact Details
Colin Austin
www.waterright.com.au
55, Kookaburra Park Eco Village
colinaustin@bigpond.com
Gin Gin Tel 07 4157 2278
Queensland 4671 mob 041 5851542
Thursday, July 03, 2008
The Rt Hon Penny Wong
Minister for Global Warming and Water
Adelaide SA 5000
Dear Minister,
I appreciate the political difficulty of introducing a carbon trading scheme when many people may be financially disadvantaged. I have attached a technical brief describing a system of localised carbon capture that would allow individuals and organisations to offset these impacts by earning income through carbon capture. In addition to its direct environmental benefits, this approach could make it easier for government to introduce a broad and effective trading scheme.
You sincerely,
Colin Austin
Are We Missing the Bigger Carbon Cycle?
Man-made emissions are only a small part of the total carbon cycle. While reducing emissions is essential, the much larger carbon flows are dominated by natural systems. Carbon is constantly moving into and out of the atmosphere. A successful strategy must therefore influence this larger cycle, not just focus on reducing our relatively small contribution.
This is particularly important given the growth of emissions in rapidly developing economies. Even large reductions in developed countries can be offset by growth elsewhere. Capturing carbon at scale, through land and soil systems, provides an additional and necessary pathway.
Plants Absorb Carbon, but Most of It Returns Quickly
Plants absorb enormous amounts of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, converting it into complex organic compounds. At first glance, this should reduce atmospheric carbon levels. In practice, most of that carbon is quickly returned to the atmosphere.
Organic material left on the soil surface is exposed to sunlight and oxygen. Ultraviolet radiation and oxidation rapidly break down these materials, releasing carbon dioxide back into the air. Only a small fraction remains for any length of time.
Slowing the Return of Carbon to the Atmosphere
The realistic goal is not permanent storage of carbon, but slowing its return to the atmosphere. If carbon is held in soil longer than it takes new carbon to be absorbed, the total amount stored increases over time. This shift in balance is enough to make a meaningful difference.
Carbon can be retained more effectively when organic material is incorporated below the soil surface, where it is protected from sunlight and processed by soil organisms under moist conditions.
The Role of Soil Biology
Below ground, bacteria and fungi break down organic matter more slowly and efficiently. In doing so, they stabilise carbon within the soil. This process also improves soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability, making food production more resilient.
Systems such as wicking beds support this biology by maintaining consistent moisture levels and integrating plant residues into the soil rather than leaving them exposed on the surface.
Wicking Beds and Community Carbon Capture
Wicking beds provide a practical way for individuals and communities to participate in carbon capture. These systems reduce water use, improve plant growth, and help retain carbon in soil. They can be incorporated into a carbon trading framework that rewards participation rather than penalising consumption alone.
Participation could be made simple through basic reporting systems and direct payments, encouraging widespread adoption without unnecessary complexity.
Benefits for Climate and Food Security
Capturing carbon in soil delivers dual benefits. It helps stabilise climate by slowing carbon return to the atmosphere, and it improves food production by strengthening soil health. These outcomes are inseparable. Resilient soils are essential for resilient communities.
The Need for Practical Incentives
Farmers and individuals operate under economic pressure. Expecting them to absorb carbon without reward is unrealistic. Governments must create incentives that recognise soil carbon as a public good, whether through trading schemes, tax incentives, or direct support.
Compared to many industrial carbon capture schemes, soil-based approaches are low cost and provide immediate co-benefits for food, water, and land management.
Moving Forward
The technology to capture carbon in soil already exists. What is missing is the policy framework to encourage widespread adoption. By recognising farms and gardens as community assets for climate and food security, governments can unlock one of the most practical tools available for addressing global warming today.
Download ‘Global Warming and Soil Carbon’ (full PDF)
