Summary

In "Up in the Air," Chapter 1, Kolbert signs on to have her carbon emissions scrubbed from the air by a company called Climeworks (143). Climeworks’ work is to "turn carbon dioxide emissions into stone" (143). A year after subscribing, Kolbert travels to Climeworks' operation in southern Iceland. The plant is called Hellisheiði Power Station. Kolbert meets the manager Edda Aradóttir. Aradóttir explains the carbon dioxide conversion process. Climeworks' equipment is essentially speeding up nature, as all carbon dioxide will "eventually turn to stone, via a natural process known as chemical weathering" (146).

There is, Kolbert explains, some debate as to when "people began altering the atmosphere" (147). Some say it began with early agriculture and large scale chopping and burning of forests. Others attribute its start to James Watt's steam engine. The trouble with combatting the emissions issue is equity. Less...