Carbon dioxide capture and use could become big business
The University of California, Los Angeles reports on the findings of their study with the University of Oxford and five other institutions in “Carbon dioxide capture and use could become big business.” In an effort to drastically reduce carbon emissions, this coalition of institutions researched methods in capturing carbon and converting it for commercial purposes. Researches evaluated 10 different potential uses of this captured carbon dioxide, “including in fuels and chemicals, plastics, building materials, soil management and forestry.”
They found that on average, between all forms of utilization, they could put to use half a gigatonne of carbon per year. That is 550 million U.S. tons. of carbon that doesn’t contribute to the over-polluted atmosphere. However, researchers also found that they could remove 10 gigatonnes (about 11 billion U.S. tons.) at the best case. Despite the atmospheric benefits of this best scenario, at a steep price of $100 per tonne of carbon dioxide, this best scenario really depends on the priorities of elected officials.
Co-author of the report and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, Emily Carter stated, “The analysis we presented makes clear that carbon dioxide utilization can be part of the solution to combat climate change, but only if those with the power to make decisions at every level of government and finance commit to changing policies and providing market incentives across multiple sectors. The urgency is huge and we have little time left to effect change.”
To read The University of California, Los Angeles‘s article in PHYS.ORG, click here: “Carbon dioxide capture and use could become big business.”
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