Ignition

IGNITION

 

Climate change is the defining challenge of our time. It occurs due to greenhouse gases (GHG) like carbon dioxide (CO₂), which trap the sun’s heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, similar to a greenhouse. In 2023, the global average temperature was 1.45 °C above the pre-industrial baseline (World Meteorological Organisation, 2024). Pre-industrial CO₂ levels were around 280 parts per million (ppm); today, we stand near 420 ppm (Mulhern, 2024). 

 

Climate change is responsible for rising sea levels and tropical storms that displace                                                        coastal communities. Conversely, inland areas face droughts, flooding, and heat waves that worsen inequalities and food insecurities, particularly in underdeveloped nations. Climate change disproportionately affects low-income rural populations, worsening socioeconomic disparities. 

 

In addition, climate change and its consequences affect sensitive ecosystems through varying temperatures, rainfall, and ocean acidity. Environmental fluctuations disrupt food chains, threaten species, and endanger all life on Earth. 

 

CO₂ accounts for about 76% of total greenhouse gas emissions (Centre for Climate and Energy Solutions, 2022) and is produced by burning fossil fuels, like coal and oil, finite energy sources. Rapidly depleting fossil fuels is causing international tension, and extracting coal and oil from the ground contributes to environmental degradation.

 

Energy production, which accounts for 73.2% of GHG emissions (Ritchie et al., 2024), is undoubtedly at the heart of climate change. Fortunately, advancements in science, technology, and engineering (STEM) enabled clean, renewable energy to pass 30% of the world's electricity supply (The Guardian, 2024). Solar energy, obtained from sunlight, has advanced rapidly in recent years. The Xinjiang solar farm in China produces enough energy to power Luxembourg!

 

Despite developments in renewable energy, the unreliability of weather-dependent sources like wind and solar, limitations in energy storage, and environmental costs of large dams demand innovation. It has become apparent that renewable energy sources are not enough to fully address climate change and remain viable in the long term. The world needs a clean, dependable, and scalable energy source to replace fossil fuels. STEM has the solution: nuclear fusion. 

 

Nuclear fusion is the process by which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a single heavier nuclei and release massive amounts of energy (International Atomic Energy Agency, 2023). Atomic nuclei are the charged cores of atoms, the constituents of matter, and fusion uses two types of hydrogen to make helium. Nuclear fusion is the engine of stars. 

 

Nuclear fusion is a clean process that produces no GHG and has an abundant fuel source that is inexpensively extracted from seawater and lithium, meaning there won’t be geopolitical conflict regarding these resources. Unlike nuclear fission, where nuclei split, it produces low-level radioactive waste and does not entail mining, making it a much more environmentally friendly alternative. Additionally, nuclear fusion can occur irrespective of geography or weather conditions, as opposed to solar and wind, making it a suitable solution for disadvantaged countries that cannot implement renewable energy sources. 

 

Fusion could generate four million times more energy than burning fossil fuels. Theoretically, a few grams of fuel could produce enough for an individual to live 60 years in a developed country (International Atomic Energy Agency, 2023). Scientists have marvelled at the potential to provide virtually limitless energy at no environmental costs, which begs the question, Why haven’t we done it? 

 

Nuclear fusion powers stars and can only occur due to immense pressure and temperatures in their cores. On Earth, we require temperatures of 100 million °C to overcome the repulsion between charged nuclei and fuse them, which ignites the nuclear reaction. 

 

Once heated, the fuel becomes ultra-hot plasma, contained using magnets or lasers, which require incredible precision and energy input. Maintaining the conditions for continued fusion becomes challenging once operating temperatures are reached, necessitating innovative and durable materials. As a result, a significant amount of energy is spent heating the reactor and maintaining its stability. For it to be viable, nuclear fusion must release more energy than it takes to start—this is ignition. 

 

Although it presents an unprecedented engineering challenge, there have been significant advancements in fusion technology. In 2022, the National Ignition Facility achieved ignition, and released more energy than it used, marking a significant milestone in nuclear fusion’s development (National Ignition Facility & Photon Science, n.d.). 

 

Nuclear fusion and renewable energy have the potential to produce clean energy, combat climate change, and provide humanity with virtually limitless energy. Boundless energy could drive economic growth in underdeveloped countries, enable technological advancements, and eliminate energy scarcity. Moreover, limitless energy could provide clean water, food, and transportation for disadvantaged populations, helping to resolve global inequalities. 

 

To ensure equitable energy distribution, governments must collaborate to create policies promoting energy equality. Developed nations should assist in establishing technology and reliable energy grids in developing countries. They must also promote economic policies regarding private energy supply, monopolies, and patents.

 

Climate change is an incredibly dynamic issue. CO₂ emissions from energy production are the primary contributor, thus, the transition to clean and renewable energy production is vital. Although STEM solutions like solar, wind, and hydroelectric energy are viable alternatives, it is evident that nuclear fusion is the promising solution that the world needs. 

 

International superpowers must address climate change by funding research to drive technological advancements, administering policies, and encouraging public engagement with STEM. Climate change is a global challenge, urging immediate STEM solutions.

 

Bibliography

Climate change indicators reached record levels in 2023: WMO (2024) World Meteorological Organization. Available at: https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/climate-change-indicators-reached-record-levels-2023-wmo (Accessed: 08 November 2024). 

Mulhern, O. (2024) A graphical history of atmospheric CO2 levels over time, Earth.Org. Available at: https://earth.org/data_visualization/a-brief-history-of-co2/ (Accessed: 08 November 2024). 

Global emissions (2022) Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. Available at: https://www.c2es.org/content/international-emissions/ (Accessed: 10 November 2024). 

Ritchie, H. and Roser, M. (2024) Sector by sector: Where do global greenhouse gas emissions come from?, Our World in Data. Available at: https://ourworldindata.org/ghg-emissions-by-sector (Accessed: 12 November 2024). 

Renewable energy passes 30% of world’s electricity supply (2024) The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/may/08/renewable-energy-passes-30-of-worlds-electricity-supply (Accessed: 12 November 2024). 

What is nuclear fusion? (2023) IAEA. Available at: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-is-nuclear-fusion (Accessed: 14 November 2024). 

Fusion and ignition (no date) National Ignition Facility & Photon Science. Available at: https://lasers.llnl.gov/science/ignition (Accessed: 18 November 2024).