Bulletin of the Mineral

Research and Exploration

G. Shanmugam

Fossil fuels, climate change, and the vital role of CO2 plays in thriving people and plants on planet earth

ABSTRACT

A rigorous examination of empirical data confirms the fact that there is no threat from CO2 to People. Fossil Fuels (i.e., Oil, Natural Gas, and Coal) are the underpinning of modern living in the 21st century and that CO2 is essential for the thriving of both People and Plants. The geologic record shows that the Earth’s climate has always been changing naturally during the past 600 million years in terms CO2 and temperature, without CO2 emissions from Fossil Fuels by humans. A plot of CO2 vs. Temperature for the last 600 million years shows basically no correlation for most of this time (Berner, 2004; Scotese et al., 2021). If the Net-Zero CO2 policy were to be implemented in 2050, large numbers of people would die and the modern human civilization would come to a sudden halt, and humans left alive would have to revert back to the lifestyles of the Neanderthals. A climate-change model for 200 years (1900-2100) is proposed based on four basic parameters, namely, CO2, Temperature, Population, and GDP (gross domestic product) per capita. In this model, calculations based on the Max Planck’s Curve by Van Wijngaarden and Happer (2020), an increase in Temperature by 2100 would be trivial even if CO2 is nearly doubled in value to 800 ppm. The CO2 in the atmosphere helps not only to modulate the Earth’s Temperature suitable for human survival, but also to enhance Global Greening.

1. Introduction

In the most recent IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), Lee et al. (2023) have made it clear that Global Warming caused by emission of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) from Fossil Fuels is a threat to humanity. They also offer various solutions. However, available empirical data suggests that there is no threat from CO2 to People. More importantly, the data confirm that CO2 is the underpinning element for the thriving of People and Plants on this Planet Earth. In the following review with copious number of 41 images and 4 tables of datasets, I attempt to provide conceptual clarity to the muddled issues surrounding Climate Change. In particular, I have explained this complex issue in simple terms with students in mind. And I cover a range of domains that include atmospheric sciences, geological sciences, petroleum sciences, oceanography, meteorology, economics, politics, scientific bias, and governance with 26 diverse topics, which have resulted in this tome.

Download the full article using the link: Shanmugam 2024 MTA published Fossil Fuels