Stepping on the Gas to a Circular Economy: Accelerating Development of Carbon-Negative Chemical Production from Gas Fermentation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Fackler ◽  
Björn D. Heijstra ◽  
Blake J. Rasor ◽  
Hunter Brown ◽  
Jacob Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Chemical Production ◽  
Gas Fermentation ◽  
Product Flexibility ◽  
Key Enabling Technologies

Owing to rising levels of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere and oceans, climate change poses significant environmental, economic, and social challenges globally. Technologies that enable carbon capture and conversion of greenhouse gases into useful products will help mitigate climate change by enabling a new circular carbon economy. Gas fermentation using carbon-fixing microorganisms offers an economically viable and scalable solution with unique feedstock and product flexibility that has been commercialized recently. We review the state of the art of gas fermentation and discuss opportunities to accelerate future development and rollout. We discuss the current commercial process for conversion of waste gases to ethanol, including the underlying biology, challenges in process scale-up, and progress on genetic tool development and metabolic engineering to expand the product spectrum. We emphasize key enabling technologies to accelerate strain development for acetogens and other nonmodel organisms. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Volume 12 is June 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

scholarly journals Drivers of changes in stratospheric and tropospheric ozone between year 2000 and 2100

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 2727-2746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antara Banerjee ◽  
Amanda C. Maycock ◽  
Alexander T. Archibald ◽  
N. Luke Abraham ◽  
Paul Telford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Tropospheric Ozone ◽  
Climate Forcing ◽  
Atmospheric Response ◽  
Chemical Production ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Ozone Precursor ◽  
Ozone Depleting Substances ◽  
Year 2000

Abstract. A stratosphere-resolving configuration of the Met Office's Unified Model (UM) with the United Kingdom Chemistry and Aerosols (UKCA) scheme is used to investigate the atmospheric response to changes in (a) greenhouse gases and climate, (b) ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) and (c) non-methane ozone precursor emissions. A suite of time-slice experiments show the separate, as well as pairwise, impacts of these perturbations between the years 2000 and 2100. Sensitivity to uncertainties in future greenhouse gases and aerosols is explored through the use of the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. The results highlight an important role for the stratosphere in determining the annual mean tropospheric ozone response, primarily through stratosphere–troposphere exchange (STE) of ozone. Under both climate change and reductions in ODSs, increases in STE offset decreases in net chemical production and act to increase the tropospheric ozone burden. This opposes the effects of projected decreases in ozone precursors through measures to improve air quality, which act to reduce the ozone burden. The global tropospheric lifetime of ozone (τO3) does not change significantly under climate change at RCP4.5, but it decreases at RCP8.5. This opposes the increases in τO3 simulated under reductions in ODSs and ozone precursor emissions. The additivity of the changes in ozone is examined by comparing the sum of the responses in the single-forcing experiments to those from equivalent combined-forcing experiments. Whilst the ozone responses to most forcing combinations are found to be approximately additive, non-additive changes are found in both the stratosphere and troposphere when a large climate forcing (RCP8.5) is combined with the effects of ODSs.

scholarly journals Investigation of Biomass Efficiency Assessment Methods of Open Green Areas for Sustainable Cities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmetali AK ◽  
◽  
Aslı GÜNEŞ GÖLBEY ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Carbon Capture And Storage ◽  
Biomass Productivity ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Green Areas ◽  
And Storage

One of the most important environmental problems in today's world is climate change caused by greenhouse gases. Due to the increase in CO2 emissions from greenhouse gases, climate change is increasing and moving towards the point of no return. In this process, many ideas have been developed to combat climate change. One of these ideas is that cities should be sustainable. In order for cities to be sustainable, activities such as expanding the use of renewable energy resources in cities, increasing green and environmentally friendly transportation, improving air quality, and minimizing carbon emissions should be carried out. In this context, open green areas have important effects in terms of improving air quality, reducing the heat island effect in cities and especially keeping carbon emissions to a minimum. Thus, the efficiency and productivity of carbon capture and storage of green areas come to the fore. There are several methods to measure the carbon capture and storage efficiency of green areas and to evaluate their efficiency. In this study, the methods used in determining open green areas in cities and evaluating biomass productivity in these areas will be examined.

Storage of Carbon Dioxide in Saline Aquifers: Physicochemical Processes, Key Constraints, and Scale-Up Potential

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip S. Ringrose ◽  
Anne-Kari Furre ◽  
Stuart M.V. Gilfillan ◽  
Samuel Krevor ◽  
Martin Landrø ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scale Up ◽  
Petroleum Industry ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Saline Aquifers ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Injection Wells ◽  
Physicochemical Processes

CO2 storage in saline aquifers offers a realistic means of achieving globally significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions at the scale of billions of tonnes per year. We review insights into the processes involved using well-documented industrial-scale projects, supported by a range of laboratory analyses, field studies, and flow simulations. The main topics we address are ( a) the significant physicochemical processes, ( b) the factors limiting CO2 storage capacity, and ( c) the requirements for global scale-up. Although CO2 capture and storage (CCS) technology can be considered mature and proven, it requires significant and rapid scale-up to meet the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement. The projected growth in the number of CO2 injection wells required is significantly lower than the historic petroleum industry drill rates, indicating that decarbonization via CCS is a highly credible and affordable ambition for modern human society. Several technology developments are needed to reduce deployment costs and to stimulate widespread adoption of this technology, and these should focus on demonstration of long-term retention and safety of CO2 storage and development of smart ways of handling injection wells and pressure, cost-effective monitoring solutions, and deployment of CCS hubs with associated infrastructure. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Volume 12 is June 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

scholarly journals Extreme Weather and Climate Change: Population Health and Health System Implications

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristie L. Ebi ◽  
Jennifer Vanos ◽  
Jane W. Baldwin ◽  
Jesse E. Bell ◽  
David M. Hondula ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Health System ◽  
Extreme Events ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Weather And Climate ◽  
Resilient Infrastructure

Extreme weather and climate events, such as heat waves, cyclones, and floods, are an expression of climate variability. These events and events influenced by climate change, such as wildfires, continue to cause significant human morbidity and mortality and adversely affect mental health and well-being. Although adverse health impacts from extreme events declined over the past few decades, climate change and more people moving into harm's way could alter this trend. Long-term changes to Earth's energy balance are increasing the frequency and intensity of many extreme events and the probability of compound events, with trends projected to accelerate under certain greenhouse gas emissions scenarios. While most of these events cannot be completely avoided, many of the health risks could be prevented through building climate-resilient health systems with improved risk reduction, preparation, response, and recovery. Conducting vulnerability and adaptation assessments and developing health system adaptation plans can identify priority actions to effectively reduce risks, such as disaster risk management and more resilient infrastructure. The risks are urgent, so action is needed now. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 42 is April 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

scholarly journals Climate Change, Disinformation, and How to Combat It

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Lewandowsky
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Public Acceptance ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Free Markets ◽  
Political Implications ◽  
Multiple Levels

Climate change presents a challenge at multiple levels: It challenges our cognitive abilities because the effect of the accumulation of emissions is difficult to understand. Climate change also challenges many people's worldview because any climate mitigation regime will have economic and political implications that are incompatible with libertarian ideals of unregulated free markets. These political implications have created an environment of rhetorical adversity in which disinformation abounds, thus compounding the challenges for climate communicators. The existing literature on how to communicate climate change and dispel misinformation converges on several conclusions: First, providing information about climate change, in particular explanations of why it occurs, can enhance people's acceptance of science. Second, highlighting the scientific consensus can be an effective means to counter misinformation and raise public acceptance. Third, culturally aligned messages and messengers are more likely to be successful. Finally, climate misinformation is best defanged, through a process known as inoculation, before it is encountered, although debunking techniques can also be successful. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 42 is April 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

scholarly journals Vicious Circles: Violence, Vulnerability, and Climate Change

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Halvard Buhaug ◽  
Nina von Uexkull
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Economic Prosperity ◽  
Vulnerability To Climate Change ◽  
Humanitarian Crises ◽  
Climatic Drivers ◽  
Conflict Risk

Climate change threatens core dimensions of human security, including economic prosperity, food availability, and societal stability. In recent years, war-torn regions such as Afghanistan and Yemen have harbored severe humanitarian crises, compounded by climate-related hazards. These cases epitomize the powerful but presently incompletely appreciated links between vulnerability, conflict, and climate-related impacts. In this article, we develop a unified conceptual model of these phenomena by connecting three fields of research that traditionally have had little interaction: ( a) determinants of social vulnerability to climate change, ( b) climatic drivers of armed conflict risk, and ( c) societal impacts of armed conflict. In doing so, we demonstrate how many of the conditions that shape vulnerability to climate change also increase the likelihood of climate–conflict interactions and, furthermore, that impacts from armed conflict aggravate these conditions. The end result may be a vicious circle locking affected societies in a trap of violence, vulnerability, and climate change impacts. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Volume 46 is October 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

scholarly journals Climate change mitigation potential of carbon capture and utilization in the chemical industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (23) ◽  
pp. 11187-11194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arne Kätelhön ◽  
Raoul Meys ◽  
Sarah Deutz ◽  
Sangwon Suh ◽  
André Bardow
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Climate Change Mitigation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Oil Consumption ◽  
Chemical Production ◽  
Carbon Capture And Utilization ◽  
Change Mitigation

Chemical production is set to become the single largest driver of global oil consumption by 2030. To reduce oil consumption and resulting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, carbon dioxide can be captured from stacks or air and utilized as alternative carbon source for chemicals. Here, we show that carbon capture and utilization (CCU) has the technical potential to decouple chemical production from fossil resources, reducing annual GHG emissions by up to 3.5 Gt CO2-eq in 2030. Exploiting this potential, however, requires more than 18.1 PWh of low-carbon electricity, corresponding to 55% of the projected global electricity production in 2030. Most large-scale CCU technologies are found to be less efficient in reducing GHG emissions per unit low-carbon electricity when benchmarked to power-to-X efficiencies reported for other large-scale applications including electro-mobility (e-mobility) and heat pumps. Once and where these other demands are satisfied, CCU in the chemical industry could efficiently contribute to climate change mitigation.

scholarly journals At the Water's Edge: Coastal Settlement, Transformative Adaptation, and Well-Being in an Era of Dynamic Climate Risk

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
William Solecki ◽  
Erin Friedman
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Change ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Science Literature ◽  
Climate Risks ◽  
Climate Resilience ◽  
Transformative Adaptation

With accelerating climate change, US coastal communities are experiencing increased flood risk intensity, resulting from accelerated sea level rise and stronger storms. These conditions place pressure on municipalities and local residents to consider a range of new disaster risk reduction programs, climate resilience initiatives, and in some cases transformative adaptation strategies (e.g., managed retreat and relocation from highly vulnerable, low-elevation locations). Researchers have increasingly understood that these climate risks and adaptation actions have significant impacts on the quality of life, well-being, and mental health of urban coastal residents. We explore these relationships and define conditions under which adaptation practices will affect communities and residents. Specifically, we assess climate and environmental stressors, community change, and well-being by utilizing the growing climate change literature and the parallel social science literature on risk and hazards, environmental psychology, and urban geography work, heretofore not widely integrated into work on climate adaptation. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 42 is April 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

scholarly journals Domestic Pressure and International Climate Cooperation

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Tavoni ◽  
Ralph Winkler
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Environmental Agreements ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
International Policy ◽  
International Climate Policy ◽  
Important Challenge ◽  
International Climate ◽  
Shed Light

In the wake of 25 United Nations Climate Change Conferences of the Parties (and counting), international cooperation on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions to avoid substantial and potentially irreversible climate change remains an important challenge. The limited impact of the Kyoto Protocol on curbing emissions, and the gap between the ambitions of its successor and the Paris Agreement's lack of sanctioning mechanisms for addressing noncompliance, demonstrates both the difficulties in negotiating ambitious environmental agreements and the reluctance of countries to comply with their agreed emission targets once they have joined the treaty. Therefore, a better understanding of the obstacles and opportunities that the interactions between domestic and international policy pose for the design of successful international climate cooperation is of utmost importance. To shed light on the roots of the stalemate (and suggest possible ways out), this article reviews and draws lessons from a growing theoretical, experimental, and empirical literature that accounts for the hierarchical interplay between domestic political pressure and international climate policy. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Resource Economics, Volume 13 is October 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

scholarly journals Climate Change, Food Supply, and Dietary Guidelines

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin W. Binns ◽  
Mi Kyung Lee ◽  
Bruce Maycock ◽  
Liv Elin Torheim ◽  
Keiko Nanishi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals

Food production is affected by climate change, and, in turn, food production is responsible for 20–30% of greenhouse gases. The food system must increase output as the population increases and must meet nutrition and health needs while simultaneously assisting in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Good nutrition is important for combatting infection, reducing child mortality, and controlling obesity and chronic disease throughout the life course. Dietary guidelines provide advice for a healthy diet, and the main principles are now well established and compatible with sustainable development. Climate change will have a significant effect on food supply; however, with political commitment and substantial investment, projected improvements will be sufficient to provide food for the healthy diets needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Some changes will need to be made to food production, nutrient content will need monitoring, and more equitable distribution is required to meet the dietary guidelines. Increased breastfeeding rates will improve infant and adult health while helping to greenhouse gases. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 42 is April 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

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