Carbon dioxide and nuclear waste locked up for eternity at depth as a copy from nature

Abstract. The subsurface provides society with many different geo-resources. In addition to the traditional raw materials of coal, oil, and natural gas or drinking water, underground geology has to be used more in future to accomplish climate and energy policy goals as part of the implementation of the energy transition. The prevailing view in the scientific community is that large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and highly radioactive waste must be disposed of safely – kept away from the biosphere, the human habitat, for geological time periods. In that regard, studies on natural processes that extend over thousands of years help to assess the long-term behaviour of deep geological repositories. Experiments cannot be carried out for such a long time period. However, processes similar to those in the Earth's history can be detected at depth. With regard to the long-term safety of CO2 storage and nuclear waste disposal, observations in nature can therefore support the evaluation of experiments and theoretical calculations via so-called analogues and hence provide a comprehensive and reliable picture of the situation and allow prognosis on the long-term. Drawing inspiration from nature and applying rigorous scientific investigation ensure that the legacy of industrial emissions and nuclear waste does not compromise the future of our environment and society. From a purely scientific point of view, CO2 storage and final disposal of highly radioactive waste are feasible.