The World as You’ll Know It: The Great Rebuild

Can We Pull Carbon Out of the Air?

Aug 13, 2024

Exploring the urgent need for innovative technologies to combat climate change, experts discuss direct air capture (DAC) as a pivotal solution. They delve into the technology's evolution, from early skepticism rooted in the oil industry to recent advancements. Challenges abound, including high energy demands and financial hurdles, yet community involvement is crucial for progress. The conversation also highlights the importance of economic incentives and the potential for a transformative shift towards carbon-free energy solutions.

25:37

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Quick takeaways

Direct air capture (DAC) is crucial for achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 but faces significant technological and financial challenges.

Effective carbon storage methods exist, but the successful large-scale implementation of DAC requires supportive economic and regulatory frameworks.

Deep dives

The Importance of Direct Air Capture

Direct air capture (DAC) is seen as a critical technology in the fight against climate change, pulling carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to offset ongoing emissions. This method aims to help achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, as outlined by the Paris Climate Agreement, while addressing the reality that fossil fuels may still be used beyond that point. The current technologies for DAC face significant hurdles, including the need for substantial energy to operate and the requirement for safe transportation and storage of the captured carbon. Despite early successful prototypes, commercial implementation of DAC is limited, highlighting both the potential and the challenges that remain in large-scale deployment.

Intro

2min

The Journey of Carbon Removal Technology and Its Urgent Need

5min

Innovations in Carbon Capture

4min

Challenges of Direct Air Capture Technology

8min

The Economic Incentive for Carbon Removal and Energy Transitions

6min

The Paris Climate Agreement says we need to reach “net zero” carbon emissions by 2050. That means for every new carbon molecule we put in the air, we have to take one out. Even the most optimistic forecasts still anticipate burning fossil fuels well past that date. So how do we balance the carbon books? Enter direct air capture, or DAC — a mechanical process that sucks carbon out of the atmosphere — which many believe will be crucial to controlling climate change. Right now the technology is extremely expensive, energy intensive, and has never been deployed at the scale necessary to make a difference. Host Arielle Duhaime-Ross speaks with the Dr. Klaus Lackner, known as the “godfather of carbon removal”; Dr. Susan Hovorka, a professor of geology who has been burying carbon underground for decades; and Dr. Emily Grubert, associate professor of sustainable energy policy at Notre Dame.

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