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Re-Run: The Economics of the Energy Transition

Columbia Energy Exchange

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Comparing the Cost of Carbon Capture to Shutting Down the Economy

The cost of carbon capture technologies varies significantly, with certain methods priced at around $10 per ton and more challenging sectors reaching up to $100 per ton. Advanced techniques like direct air capture remain costly at hundreds of dollars per ton due to their technological immaturity. In contrast, shutting down the economy to achieve emissions reductions would incur an estimated cost of $2,000 per ton of CO2, derived from a hypothetical global GDP of $80 trillion and global emissions of 40 billion tons. This stark comparison highlights that opting for radical economic measures, such as de-growth, may not be the most viable solution for addressing climate change when more cost-effective methods exist within evolving energy systems.

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