Large Schemes vs Small Schemes

 Carbon capture will be an essential part of limiting the extent of global warming.

Large schemes involving coal power plants, etc. are impressive to discuss, expensive, slow to get off the ground and, in the end, essential.

Carbon tax to reduce consumption is also going to play a part in reducing the increase of the problem.  It won't reverse anything.

Schemes that are under the control of the individual will, I believe, be more effective in capturing carbon than the larger, more impressive, projects.

It was the individual (probably the guy's girl friend complaining) that stopped men smoking and thereby reduced overall consumption.  National preaching the benefits of stopping did little.

Right or wrong, it was the individual that stopped the construction of more nuclear power generation facilities.

It was individuals that demanded clean up of rivers long after governments knew of the problem.

Individuals will have to become involved in capturing carbon.

We (as individuals) buy fuel by the gallon, we use electricity by the watt.  As individuals we reduced electrical consumption by buying more efficient lights long before the government mandated it.  As individuals we are migrating to smaller, more efficient, cars.

If, as an individual, I have no part in the solution then I also have no part in the problem. (I do, of course, but if one is unable to help solve a problem they tend to just accept it.)

What current activities exist where the individual can take specific actions to capture carbon and, almost immediately, see the results?

Recycling is not carbon capture and planting trees is short term since they only last a few hundred years and then decay into CO2 and methane and your grandkids are back to where you started.

Reducing consumption is not carbon capture.

Also, recycling and planting trees, etc. is not something that shows immediate results.  I plant a tree, walk away, and I am done.  Now global warming is somebody else's job.

Are there any specific actions individuals can easily take to capture (sequester?) carbon?  They must be cheap, easy to accomplish, and show immediate, tangible, results.  The size of the result probably does not matter (like changing one light bulb) but you have to be able to hold it in your hand or see it with your eyes.

I welcome any comments anybody may have on this subject.

Bill