Pupils capture carbon dioxide in a bottle to send to world leaders at COP26

Support us and go ad-free

Science students have captured carbon dioxide in a bottle in a bid to raise awareness of climate change. This is ahead of next month’s COP26 UN climate change conference in Glasgow. Pupils at Stamford Welland Academy in Lincolnshire have invited COP26 President Alok Sharma to receive the bottle, in the hope that it can sit on his table throughout the conference.

The experiment, using everyday objects including drain cleaner, was engineered to show one of the ways that carbon dioxide can be recaptured directly from the air.

The pupils hope the bottle will be on Alok Sharma’s table throughout the Cop26 talks (Stamford Welland Academy/PA)

A realistic solution

Ruby, 15, said:

Our generation is often accused of jumping on the save-the-planet bandwagon whilst not having realistic solutions to the problem.

But we probably know more science than most of our parents.

Read on...

Support us and go ad-free

The pupils found that a solution of sodium hydroxide absorbed carbon dioxide, powering their carbon capture process using solar pumps.

ENVIRONMENT Climate
(PA Graphics)

Scientists believe that in order to meaningfully impact climate change, five to 10 billion tonnes of CO2 would need to be pulled out of the atmosphere every year over the next few decades – with the pupils’ tool one way to do so.

Professor Peter Styring, a leading researcher in carbon capture and a delegate at COP26, said:

Whilst carbon capture technology alone is not going to save us from the effects of climate change, it must be in the mix for reaching our carbon-zero target in the decades ahead.

The school’s head of science John Hickman said he is “thrilled” the pupils embraced the experiment, and that their efforts may be seen at COP26.

Support us and go ad-free

We know everyone is suffering under the Tories - but the Canary is a vital weapon in our fight back, and we need your support

The Canary Workers’ Co-op knows life is hard. The Tories are waging a class war against us we’re all having to fight. But like trade unions and community organising, truly independent working-class media is a vital weapon in our armoury.

The Canary doesn’t have the budget of the corporate media. In fact, our income is over 1,000 times less than the Guardian’s. What we do have is a radical agenda that disrupts power and amplifies marginalised communities. But we can only do this with our readers’ support.

So please, help us continue to spread messages of resistance and hope. Even the smallest donation would mean the world to us.

Support us