The various approaches that have been suggested for reducing the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration - CO2 capture or the replacement of fossil-fuel combustion by wind, tidal, solar, or nuclear energy - would seem to have little overlap with the interests of physical organic chemists. However, there is at least one area - the use of solar energy for the generation of transportable fuels - where physical organic chemistry could have a lot to contribute. The speaker will discuss one approach to illustrate the point.