Webinar Series: Assessing Carbon Dioxide Removal

On Tuesday, April 17, the Forum for Climate Engineering Assessment will launch a new webinar series, "Assessing Carbon Dioxide Removal.” 

Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)/Negative Emissions Technologies (NETs) approaches constitute existing and proposed technologies that would pull carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from the air, for long-term storage or beneficial use. In the wake of the IPCC’s 5th Assessment Report, in which most of the integrated assessment models that hold temperatures to below 2C contemplate large-scale use of such technologies, and the Paris Agreement’s call for balancing emissions and sinks, these technologies are increasingly part of the climate response conversation. 

We know that no single or group of proposed CDR technologies can act as a panacea or "solve" climate change. At the same time, we also now know that preventing dangerous climate change impacts may require some form of carbon removal to supplement traditional mitigation actions. However, the terrain of this emerging field is fraught with uncertainties in terms of the ultimate potential in terms of carbon removal, as well as the potential risks associated with large-scale deployment of many of these approaches.

We need to know more to set the assessment agenda.  

Twice a month through July, the Assessing CDR/NETs webinar series will bring together experts to examine particular CDR/NETs technologies. FCEA staff and guest speakers will explain and contextualize what we know about CDR/NETS options, as well as the research necessary to thoroughly assess the technical, legal, and social considerations of CDR technologies as a potential element of a climate response portfolio.  

The series will launch with an overview of the carbon removal conversation, moderated by Dr. Simon Nicholson, FCEA Co-Executive Director. Our panelists will be Dr. Katharine Mach, Senior Research Scientist and Director of Stanford Environment Assessment Facility, Stanford University, Dr. Oliver Geden, Head of Research Division, German Institute for International and Security Affairs, and Dr. Wil Burns, FCEA Co-Executive Director.

The webinar will run from 12:30 PM ET to 1:30 ET on Tuesday, April 17. Please register here.

Future webinars will discuss the potential role of enhanced soil carbon sequestration, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, direct air capture, and other technologies and their associated economic, social, and political implications.