Children's Health Defense Nebraska

RFK, Junior and Carbon Capture

Robert F. Kennedy, Junior, has endorsed Trump and now, a lot of Republicans are wondering, just what is he offering? His organization, Children’s Health Defense has a Nebraska chapter (https://ne.childrenshealthdefense.org) and they have a list of reasonable concerns (https://ne.childrenshealthdefense.org/home-page/chd-ne-provides-legislative-bill-resource-page/).

However, I know of the organization from their opposition to COVID vaccines. Some are going to roll their eyes, but listen up. Yes, vaccines can work, but for respiratory viruses, they are largely useless because such types of viruses rapidly change and vaccines are not free of negative consequences. Yet, the COVID vaccine has hardly been tested and has had substantial negative impacts. The Children’s Health Defense has done a video on this topic (https://vaxxed3.childrenshealthdefense.org/vaxxed-3-movie/). The adverse impacts of the Pandemic has shifted our politics and how government acts. This should be of no surprise.

But below is now what most recently drew my attention to this organization. It was a mailing about medical privacy from a supporter of the Nebraska chapter of the Children’s Health Defense. Here are a few cuts from their brochure.

But the amount of issues does not end there. Today, Kennedy released a video about carbon capture, how dangerous it is, and how Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act is funding such processes. Take a look:

So I asked my artificial friend (AI), Perlexity, and received this revealing result (https://www.perplexity.ai/search/how-dangers-is-carbon-capture-eFKPzmVqSk6Epz9IiNEekA#0):

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology presents several potential dangers and risks that need to be carefully considered:

## Safety Concerns

**Leakage Risks**

One of the primary concerns with CCS is the potential for CO2 leakage from storage sites or during transport[1][2]. Leaks could occur through:

- Fractures or faults in rock formations

- Poorly sealed old oil and gas wells

- Corrosion of well casings and seals

Large CO2 leaks can be extremely dangerous, as concentrated CO2 can suffocate humans and animals[1]. Even smaller leaks could contaminate groundwater or contribute to climate change if the CO2 escapes to the atmosphere.

**Pipeline Hazards**

Transporting captured CO2 via pipelines also carries risks[2]:

- Pipeline ruptures or leaks could release hazardous concentrations of CO2

- Compressed CO2 often contains impurities like volatile organic compounds and mercury, increasing health and environmental risks

**Induced Seismicity**

The injection of large volumes of CO2 underground can potentially trigger earthquakes or tremors[3].

## Environmental Concerns

**Prolonging Fossil Fuel Use**

Critics argue that CCS enables continued reliance on fossil fuels rather than transitioning to renewable energy[2][4]. This could ultimately lead to more cumulative emissions.

**Energy Intensity**

The CCS process itself requires significant energy, potentially increasing overall emissions if that energy comes from fossil fuel sources[1].

**Ecosystem Impacts**

Large-scale CCS deployment could have unforeseen impacts on underground ecosystems and geology[3].

## Effectiveness Concerns

**Capture Efficiency**

Most current CCS projects capture only a fraction of total emissions from facilities[2].

**Long-Term Storage Uncertainty**

There are questions about how permanently CO2 can be stored underground over geological timescales[2].

**Scalability Challenges**

Scaling up CCS to make a meaningful climate impact faces economic and technical hurdles[4].

While CCS technology holds promise for reducing carbon emissions, these potential dangers highlight the need for rigorous safety protocols, monitoring systems, and further research to address risks and uncertainties. Balancing CCS deployment with a transition to renewable energy sources will be crucial for effectively mitigating climate change.

Citations:

[1] https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2023/09/06/carbon-storage-bad-idea/

[2] https://www.ciel.org/issue/carbon-capture-and-storage/

[3] https://projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/horizon-magazine/storing-co2-underground-can-curb-carbon-emissions-it-safe

[4] https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/07/08/1027908/carbon-removal-hype-is-a-dangerous-distraction-climate-change/

[5] https://netl.doe.gov/carbon-management/carbon-storage/faqs/permanence-safety

[6] https://nonprofitquarterly.org/the-risks-of-carbon-capture/

[7] https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/comment-carbon-capture-storage-is-dangerous-distraction-its-time-imagine-world-2023-12-11/