The Crisis and the Hope: Is "Polluted Water" the Main Culprit ofGlobal Warming? – Aiming for Carbon Credits for Clean Water
Introduction: The Overlooked "Water Warming Risk"
When we think of measures against global warming, we often visualize carbon dioxide CO2 from factory or vehicle emissions, or from deforestation.
However, are you aware that polluted water—an environment close to us—is actually one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions on Earth?
We must protect more than just forests. A new economic incentive to safeguard our "Water Treasures"—rivers, lakes, and the vast oceans—is now urgently needed.
1. The Mechanism: How Polluted Water Emits Large Amounts of Methane Gas
The greatest threat posed by water pollution is that it becomes a massive source of methane CH4, a potent greenhouse gas.
When domestic and industrial wastewater flows into rivers and lakes, exceeding their natural decomposition capacity, it accumulates as sludge (or muck) at the bottom.
Polluted water is the biggest source of GHG
In these sludge-laden environments, oxygen becomes depleted, creating an anaerobic (oxygen-free) condition.
During the decomposition of organic matter in this anaerobic state, methane gas, which has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) over 25 times that of CO2, is generated in large quantities and released into the atmosphere.
In short, when the wastewater we discharge daily flows untreated into the natural environment, it doesn't just pollute the water; it directly accelerates global warming.
2. The Key to Saving the Planet: Restoring the Self-Purification of Aquatic Environments Through "Aerobic Conditions"
Nanobubbles restore the self-purifying properties of the water environment.
The key to breaking this negative cycle is to return the aquatic environment to an aerobic state (oxygen-rich).
When there is sufficient oxygen in the water, organic matter is decomposed by microorganisms, turning into stable substances such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
Furthermore, aquatic plants like water grasses and algae, along with a healthy ecosystem, stabilize organic matter and CO2, helping to suppress greenhouse gas emissions.
Unlike polluted water, clean water has the potential to function as the Earth's lungs.
3. The Ocean Crisis: The Collapse of the Emission Source and Sink Balance
The ocean, covering 70% of our planet's surface, is the world's largest absorber of greenhouse gases.
The ocean functions as a giant "carbon pump," absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide CO2 and transporting a portion of it to the deep sea.
In this carbon cycle, the ocean holds immense potential.
Human activities release approximately 7 billion tons of CO2 annually.
In the natural cycle, the ocean releases approximately 90 billion tons of CO2 to the atmosphere annually, while simultaneously absorbing approximately 92 billion tons of CO2.
As a net result of this natural exchange, the ocean absorbs approximately 2 billion tons of CO2 annually, maintaining the oceanic carbon cycle.
This means that the ocean not only maintains its natural equilibrium but also absorbs CO2 equivalent to approximately one-third of human-caused emissions (7 billion tons), demonstrating its huge potential to significantly mitigate the progress of global warming.
However, the volume of pollutants we discharge today exceeds the ocean's natural purification capacity, and coastal pollution is accelerating. The deterioration of water quality due to pollution diminishes the ocean's biomass (such as phytoplankton), thereby weakening its CO2 absorption capacity.
Polluted water is causing us to lose our greatest resource for global warming countermeasures. This threat is extremely serious for climate change action on a global scale.
4. Hope for the Future: Nanobubble Technology and "Carbon Credits for Clean Water"
To break this critical situation, we need economic incentives for water quality improvement. Just as forest conservation is valued through carbon credits, efforts to improve water quality must also be rewarded. We aim to realize this "Incentive System for Clean Water" by utilizing our proprietary Nanobubble Technology.
he Power of Nanobubbles:
Nanobubbles are ultrafine oxygen bubbles that effectively supply oxygen to the aquatic environment. This promotes the decomposition of bottom sediment (sludge) and suppresses methane gas generation.
Visualizing the Impact:
We are building a system to scientifically and quantitatively measure and record the effects of this technology: the increase in Dissolved Oxygen (DO) concentration, the reduction in sludge volume, and the methane gas emission suppression effect.
By establishing a mechanism to certify this "visualized" contribution to water quality improvement as a "Water Quality Improvement Credit," and collaborating with businesses and local governments, we will embed the "Incentive for Clean Water" throughout society.
Let us create a "new economic sphere" where efforts in water quality improvement lead to profit, transforming polluted water from a source of greenhouse gas emissions into a source of hope for planetary purification.
