Carbon Dioxide Removal Approaches: Their Potential Role in Addressing Climate Change
Wednesday, October 9, 4:30 pm
Lantern, Roux Center for the Environment
Wil Burns, Co-Director and Professor of Research, Institute for Carbon Removal Law & Policy, American University
In recent years, there has been mounting evidence that temperature increases of 1.5–2°C above preindustrial levels could have extremely serious impacts on global ecosystems and human institutions, especially in vulnerable developing countries. There has also been growing concern that feckless climate policy responses may ensure that the globe exceeds critical climatic thresholds during this century, or that we could pass critical “tipping points” that precipitate abrupt, and nonlinear, climatic change on the earth. This has created a powerful impetus for research on, and potential deployment of, so-called “carbon dioxide removal” or “negative emissions technologies.“ While the initial focus was on the potential for bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), serious questions related to cost and sustainability has led to consideration of a much broader potential array of options. The purpose of this presentation will be to provide an overview of CDR/NETs options, including potential risks and benefits, as well as to briefly discuss governance considerations at the international level. (Laura Henry)
