GGR Directorate CO2RE Hub
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Smith School of Enterprise and the Env
Abstract
Observed, Strategic, sustained action is now needed to avoid further negative consequences of climate change and to build a greener, cleaner and fairer future. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change the rise in global temperature is largely driven by total carbon dioxide emissions over time. In order to avoid further global warming, international Governments agreed to work towards a balance between emissions and greenhouse gas removal (GGR), known 'net zero', in the Paris Agreement. In June 2019 the UK committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050, making it the first G7 country to legislate such a target.
Transitioning to net zero means that we will have to remove as many emissions as we produce. Much of the focus of climate action to date has been on reducing emissions, for example through renewable power and electric vehicles. However, pathways to net zero require not just cutting fossil fuel emissions but also turning the land into a net carbon sink and scaling up new technologies to remove and store greenhouse gases. This will require new legislation to pave the way for investment in new infrastructure and businesses expected to be worth billions of pounds a year within 30 years.
This challenge has far-reaching implications for technology, business models, social practices and policy. GGR has been much less studied, developed and incentivised than actions to cut emissions. The proposed CO2RE Hub brings together leading UK academics with a wide range of expertise to co-ordinate a suite of GGR demonstration projects to accelerate progress in this area. In particular the Hub will study how we can (1) reduce technology costs so that GGR becomes economically viable; (2) ensure industry adopts the concept of net zero in a way that will maintain and create jobs; (3) put in place sensible policy incentives; (4) make sure there is social license for GGR (unlike fracking or nuclear); (5) set up regulatory oversight of environmental sustainability and risks of GGR; (6) understand what is required to achieve GGR at large scale and (7) guarantee there are the skills and knowledge required for all this to happen.
Building on extensive existing links to stakeholders in business, Government and NGOs, the Hub will work extensively with everyone involved in regulating and delivering GGR to ensure our research provides solutions to strategic priorities. We will also encourage the teams working on demonstrator technologies to think responsibly about the risks, benefits and public perceptions of their work and consider the full environmental, social and economic implications of implementation from the outset.
CO2RE will seek to bring the GGR community in the UK as a whole closer together, functioning as a gateway to UK inter-disciplinary research expertise on GGR. We will inform, and stay informed, about the latest developments nationally and internationally, and reach out to engage the wider public. In doing so we will be able to respond to a rapidly evolving landscape recognising that technical and social change are not separate, but happen together. To accelerate and achieve meaningful change, we will be guided by consultation with key decision-makers and the general public, and set up a £1m flexible fund to respond to priorities that emerge with the help of the wider UK academic community. Ultimately we will help the UK and the world understand how GGR can be scaled up responsibly as part of climate action to meet the ambition of net zero.
Transitioning to net zero means that we will have to remove as many emissions as we produce. Much of the focus of climate action to date has been on reducing emissions, for example through renewable power and electric vehicles. However, pathways to net zero require not just cutting fossil fuel emissions but also turning the land into a net carbon sink and scaling up new technologies to remove and store greenhouse gases. This will require new legislation to pave the way for investment in new infrastructure and businesses expected to be worth billions of pounds a year within 30 years.
This challenge has far-reaching implications for technology, business models, social practices and policy. GGR has been much less studied, developed and incentivised than actions to cut emissions. The proposed CO2RE Hub brings together leading UK academics with a wide range of expertise to co-ordinate a suite of GGR demonstration projects to accelerate progress in this area. In particular the Hub will study how we can (1) reduce technology costs so that GGR becomes economically viable; (2) ensure industry adopts the concept of net zero in a way that will maintain and create jobs; (3) put in place sensible policy incentives; (4) make sure there is social license for GGR (unlike fracking or nuclear); (5) set up regulatory oversight of environmental sustainability and risks of GGR; (6) understand what is required to achieve GGR at large scale and (7) guarantee there are the skills and knowledge required for all this to happen.
Building on extensive existing links to stakeholders in business, Government and NGOs, the Hub will work extensively with everyone involved in regulating and delivering GGR to ensure our research provides solutions to strategic priorities. We will also encourage the teams working on demonstrator technologies to think responsibly about the risks, benefits and public perceptions of their work and consider the full environmental, social and economic implications of implementation from the outset.
CO2RE will seek to bring the GGR community in the UK as a whole closer together, functioning as a gateway to UK inter-disciplinary research expertise on GGR. We will inform, and stay informed, about the latest developments nationally and internationally, and reach out to engage the wider public. In doing so we will be able to respond to a rapidly evolving landscape recognising that technical and social change are not separate, but happen together. To accelerate and achieve meaningful change, we will be guided by consultation with key decision-makers and the general public, and set up a £1m flexible fund to respond to priorities that emerge with the help of the wider UK academic community. Ultimately we will help the UK and the world understand how GGR can be scaled up responsibly as part of climate action to meet the ambition of net zero.
Organisations
- University of Oxford (Lead Research Organisation)
- Progressive Energy (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Energy Systems Catapult (Project Partner)
- BP (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- World Wide Fund for Nature (Project Partner)
- Drax (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Carbon Trust (Project Partner)
- Heathrow Aiport Ltd (Project Partner)
- Capitals Coalition (Project Partner)
- The Nature Conservancy (Project Partner)
- Boston Consulting Group (Project Partner)
- Climeworks AG (Project Partner)
- London School of Economics and Political Science (Project Partner)
- HSBC Holdings (Project Partner)
- Rolls-Royce (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- The Climate Change Organisation (Project Partner)
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (Project Partner)
- Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (Project Partner)
- Aldersgate Group (Project Partner)
- Natural England (Project Partner)
- Carbon180 (Project Partner)
- Carbon Engineering (Canada) (Project Partner)
- Soil Association (Project Partner)
- Origen Power Ltd (Project Partner)
- Sustainable Aviation (Project Partner)
- Her Majesty's Treasury (Project Partner)
- Climate Works Foundation (Project Partner)
- The Climate Change Committe (Project Partner)
- Cambridgeshire County Council (Project Partner)
- Airbus (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- CCm Technologies (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- National Farmers Union (Project Partner)
- International Airlines Group (Project Partner)
- Microsoft (United States) (Project Partner)
- Environment Agency (Project Partner)
- Vivid Economics (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Engie (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Shell (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- ClientEarth (Project Partner)
- National Infrastructure Commission (Project Partner)
Publications
Chiquier S
(2022)
CO 2 removal and 1.5 °C: what, when, where, and how?
in Energy Advances
Powis C
(2023)
Quantifying global carbon dioxide removal deployment
in Environmental Research Letters
Hickey C
(2023)
A review of commercialisation mechanisms for carbon dioxide removal
in Frontiers in Climate
Hall S
(2021)
Permission to Say "Capitalism": Principles for Critical Social Science Engagement With GGR Research
in Frontiers in Climate
Bellamy R
(2021)
Editorial: Governing Carbon Dioxide Removal
in Frontiers in Climate
Bellamy R
(2022)
Mapping public appraisals of carbon dioxide removal
in Global Environmental Change
Jenkins S
(2021)
Upstream decarbonization through a carbon takeback obligation: An affordable backstop climate policy
in Joule
Ghaleigh N
(2023)
Déjà vu All Over Again: Carbon Dioxide Removals (CDR) and Legal Liability
in Journal of Environmental Law
Štrubelj L
(2022)
Waste, Fertilising Product, or Something Else? EU Regulation of Biochar
in Journal of Environmental Law
Bednar J
(2021)
Operationalizing the net-negative carbon economy.
in Nature
| Description | Cited in Developing the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1067... |
| Description | Cited in policy consultation: Business model for power bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (Power BECCS) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1097... |
| Description | Cited in the Environmental Audit Committee Chair's Letter Seeking Clarification on NETs from the Secretary of State for BEIS |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/9463/documents/161610/default/ |
| Description | Contributed to Mission Innovation's Carbon Dioxide Removal Technology Roadmap |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://explore.mission-innovation.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Carbon-Dioxide-Removal-Mission-Roa... |
| Description | Contribution to UK Parliament POSTnote: Biomass for UK energy |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/POST-PN-0690/POST-PN-0690.pdf |
| Description | Elected member of the Uk Climate Change Committee - sitting on the Adaptation Committee |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Inputs into the CCC's reports of progress government is or is not making in meeting its climate change goals; influence over the NAP3 |
| Description | GGR-D programme included in UK government's Net Zero Strategy |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-strategy |
| Description | Provided written evidence for an indpendent review of the UK government's approach to delivering Net Zero Targets |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1128... |
| Description | Response to EFRA's call for evidence on Soil Health |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/work/7139/soil-health/ |
| Description | State of CDR report cited in parliamentary questions to Dutch Minister for Climate and Energy |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| URL | https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/kamervragen/detail?id=2023Z02087&did=2023D04980 |
| Description | Statement for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee call for evidence on how to improve soil health in the UK. |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| URL | https://www.agile-initiative.ox.ac.uk/news/agile-researchers-submit-evidence-for-parliamentary-inqui... |
| Description | Steve Smith cited in BECCS DONE WELL Conditions for Success for Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://www.forumforthefuture.org/new-report-outlines-conditions-for-success-for-bioenergy-with-carb... |
| Description | contribution to call for evidence |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/40432/pdf/ |
| Description | invitation to give oral evidence to parliamentary committee |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/3dc46d88-fb7c-4404-b203-b56daec51725 |
| Description | Alyssa Gilbert served on the Green Alliance conference: Landscape 2050's panel session: How can we remove and store carbon without harming land and nature? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | CO2RE's engagement lead, Alyssa Gilbert, served on an expert panel that discussed how the UK's land use and management will have to adapt to contemporary climate challenges and the actions required for nature. The main aim was to consider how greenhouse gas removal technologies/approaches can be deployed sustainably, taking into full account the interests and exigencies of local communities that will shoulder the impact of these changes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIRCIJ132Jk |
| Description | Beta Testing: CO2RE Principles for Credible Removal Workshop - BEIS Phase II Demos |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 18 individuals working on different Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR) technologies/approaches, including BECCS (Severn Wye, ABSL, Ince Power), Biochar (Kew Technology, Ricardo), and DAC (Rolls Royce, Mission Zero), attended the event to beta-test, provide feedback on, and help co-develop CO2RE's principles for credible GGR framework and evaluation criteria as they are developing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Beta Testing: CO2RE Principles for Credible Removal Workshop - Environmental NGOs |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | 15 individuals from various environmental NGOs, including Greenpeace, Green Alliance, NFU, ClientEarth, Soil Association, attended the event to beta-test, provide feedback on, and help co-develop CO2RE's principles for credible GGR framework and evaluation criteria as they are developing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Beta Testing: CO2RE Principles for Credible Removal Workshop - Investors |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | 16 individuals representing various investors, including Legal and General, Puro Earth, Just Climate, Heathrow, and Counteract, attended the event to beta-test, provide feedback on, and help co-develop CO2RE's principles for credible GGR framework and evaluation criteria as they are developing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Beta Testing: CO2RE Principles for Credible Removal Workshop - with GGR-D programme demonstrators |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Individuals from across the GGR-D programme attended the event to beta-test, provide feedback on, and help co-develop CO2RE's principles for credible GGR framework and evaluation criteria as they are developing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | CO2RE Hub Oxford in-person workshop - project partners, Hub and Demos |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 14 Oct in person workshop to introduce project partners to CO2RE, obtain input/stakeholder perspectives on workpackages (world café), Q&A, networking. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://co2re.org/events/co2re-hub-stakeholder-workshop-co-creating-solutions-led-ggr-research/ |
| Description | CO2RE Hub Stakeholder Workshop 1 - Investors and legal experts |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 16 Sep 2021 online workshop to introduce project partners to CO2RE and obtain feedback on evaluation framework. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | CO2RE Hub Stakeholder Workshop 2 - Regulators and policymakers with civil society organisations |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | 28 Sep 2021 workshop to introduce project partners to CO2RE and obtain feedback on evaluation framework. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | CO2RE Hub Stakeholder Workshop 4 - Hard to decarbonise sectors and consumers of technical offsets |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | 29 Sep 2021 workshop to introduce project partners to CO2RE and obtain feedback on evaluation framework. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | CO2RE Panel: Exploring mechanisms of risk and uncertainty diversification for actors operating in the nascent GGR sector |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This CO2RE event explored a central question: how does the market deal with the variety of GGR approaches, each with different degrees of permanence (the length of time removed carbon is stored out of the atmosphere) and reversal risk (the risk that the stored carbon is released)? Three experts debated three possible approaches proposed in a recent Bellona paper, providing perspectives from civil society, the insurance sector, and GGR project developers. The panellists and their approaches were as follows: • Separate the markets for different GGRs - Adam Whitmore, Bellona UK • Use exchange rates - Natalia Dorfman, co-founder Kita • Have an obligation to deliver permanence (and replace reversals) - Chris Manson-Whitton, Progressive Energy 65 people attended the event, online and in-person. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://youtu.be/IlQleRa2wqE |
| Description | CO2RE Panel: The Role of Government and Private Sector in establishing the GGR sector |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This expert panel discussed the optimal balance required between the role of the government and the private sector in helping establish, scale, and deliver on the ambitious developmental goals of the nascent Greenhouse Gas Removals sector. Panellists included: - Mariana Mazzucato, Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value and founding director of the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, UCL - James Richardson, Chief Economist, National Infrastructure Commission - Sarmad Qureshi, Chief Business Officer and Co-Founder, CO2CO - Paul Ekins, Professor of Resources and Environment Policy, Bartlett School Env, Energy & Resources, UCL and Co-lead on Portfolio of Policy Options, CO2RE (Chair) The aim of the event was to give participants and different stakeholders (i.e. academics, researchers, students, NGOs, innovators, corporations) an opportunity to share perspectives in an informal, collaborative setting with leaders across the sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y26J5Ealtr8 |
| Description | CO2RE Principles for Credible Removal Public Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A workshop was held in Swindon with an objective to address the following four questions: 1) How do lay publics respond to the notion of developing principles for credible GGR? 2) What principles do lay publics think are most important? 3) What do lay publics think about the current indicators? 4) Are there areas of confusion or misunderstanding? The workshop involved 18 lay public participants, discussing with one another in breakout groups for a total of 5 hours over two consecutive evenings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | CO2RE Project Partner Briefing: Emerging insights on scaling up GGR in the UK |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This session, held exclusively for CO2RE's partners from across the policy, business, and industrial sectors, offered an insight into CO2RE's research, activities, and findings as they have been shaping up in project thus far. Professor Cameron Hepburn chaired the event, Dr Steve Smith provided an overview of the recently published State of Carbon Dioxide Removal Report and the UK's position, Alyssa Gilbert shared updates and findings from the Hub and wider GGR-D programme's engagement activities, Dr Isabela Butnar offered an overview of the CO2RE's developing principles for Credible GGR, and Navraj Singh Ghaleigh shared insights following the establishment of Sunak's government and COP27. Attendees were encouraged to engage with each other and the speakers in the chat and during Q/As between each presentation, and ultimately participated in a poll seeking what they considered the greatest knowledge gap in the emerging GGR sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgtNL-iTf28 |
| Description | CO2RE Sandpit Event: Designing the UK's GGR Future Leaders Network |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | During a one-day sandpit, participants came together to help design the GGR Future Leaders Network (FLN) in a way that will be beneficial to its intended members (i.e. businesses and organisations, academics, NGOs, professional practitioners, and policy experts). 31 individuals attended, shared insights, and suggested aims for the FLN, potential frameworks, and the paticular actions/approaches/strategies required to help establish the network's operations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://co2re.org/events/future-leaders-network-sandpit/ |
| Description | CO2RE held a joint roundtable and networking event with Kita and Lloyds |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The event was two part, with a closed roundtable that included 12 participants followed by a more widely attended networking event for which 158 participants registered. The goal of the event was to map risks, uncertainty, and potential interactions among voluntary markets, government-supported markets, and regulated/compliance markets across the emergent Greenhouse Gas Removals sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | CO2RE hosted a Pathfinders Innovation 'Sandpit' (3 Oct 2022) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This sandpit event invited participants to shape a new funding opportunity for GGR research. During the one-day sandpit on 3 October 2022 in Leeds, participants came together to identify key gaps in the UK GGR innovation landscape and design the research agenda for the second round of the CO2RE Pathfinders competition. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://co2re.org/events/pathfinders-innovation-sandpit/ |
| Description | CO2RE researchers spoke at CCUS 2022: Time to Deliver (Conference on Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This two-day conference, organised by the Carbon Capture and Storage Association, focused on the emerging role that CCUS will play in the transition to a net-zero carbon economy with an eye towards key actions and milestones that are required to realise the benefits of this technology in the UK, Europe and across the globe. Co-I Alyssa Gilbert was on opening plenary - Reaching climate neutrality - Strong and positive momentum for CCUS in Europe and around the world; Executive Director Steve smith was on Focus Session 1: Investing in CO2 removals: definitions, regulation and incentives; co-I Niall Mac Dowell was on Focus Session 4: CCUS in the US - lessons learned and next steps; co-I Stuart Haszeldine was on Closing plenary: Achieving climate neutrality through strong cooperation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://ccus.events/schedule/ |
| Description | Co-I Myles Allen gave a public lecture on 'The Atmospheric Physics behind Net Zero' at Gresham College |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Co-investigator, Myles Allen, noted as the pioneering physicist behind Net Zero, offered a public lecture enabling audiences to reflect on the trajectory of climate discourse. The lecture aimed to explain the corrective role that Net Zero has played in redirecting climate solutions in a more constructive direction. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/atmospheric-zero |
| Description | Co-I Myles Allen gave a public lecture on 'The Ocean Physics behind Net Zero' at Gresham College |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Co-investigator, Myles Allen, noted as the pioneering physicist behind Net Zero, offered an interactive public lecture enabling audiences to reflect on the why oceans, and geological processes that maintain deep waters at frigid temperatures, are instrumental to understanding global warming and its requisite solutions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/ocean-zero |
| Description | Co-I Niall Mac Dowell presented on 'Developing a greenhouse gas emissions and removal system' at the Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport forum policy conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Niall Mac Dowell's focus centred on assessing the role that Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR) technologies will play in helping the UK achieve its Net Zero targets. He paid specific consideration to their efficacy in helping offset emissions. The conference enabled stakeholders (including BEIS; the Environment Agency; DAERA, NI; Defra; DIT; DfT; DLUHC; HSE; HM Treasury; the Planning Inspectorate; and the Welsh Government) to reflect and exchange knowledge on key issues and solutions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/agenda/Greenhouse-Gas-22-agenda.pdf |
| Description | Co-I Stuart Haszeldine presented on 'Next steps for CCUS policy and commercialisation - policy and long-term deployment, the clusters programme, commercialisation, supply chain, global outlook' at the Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport forum policy conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This policy conference and discussion transpired in the midst of a renewed interest in the development and commercial deployment of carbon capture technologies in the UK, with the government focusing on the criticality of meeting its 2050 Net Zero targets, maintaining its growth, and overcoming regional disparities. The conference enabled stakeholders (including BEIS; the Environment Agency; DAERA, NI; Defra; DIT; DfT; DLUHC; HSE; HM Treasury; the Planning Inspectorate; and the Welsh Government) to reflect and exchange knowledge on key issues and solutions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/publication/CCUS-22 |
| Description | Co-Is Myles Allen and Rob Bellamy presented on 'Scaling up Net Zero Energy and Keeping Costs Down' at a Net Zero All Party Parliamentary policy conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Myles Allen provided the APPG with updates and insights into the recommendations in the Net Zero Roadmap, with a focus on energy and fossil fuels, and their policy relevance regarding the energy crisis the UK faced at the time. Rob Bellamy shared his outlook on the benefits and necessity of scaling up investment in innovative removals and decarbonisation technologies/approaches, and their implications for businesses and consumers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R98qKrSlDxQ&t=3967s |
| Description | Cox participates in workshop on Catalysing Carbon Removal Support Policy in the UK (21 Jul 2022) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Emily Cox presented at advocacy workshop organised by OpenAir, Carbon Gap & the Foundation for Climate Restoration inviting activists, concerned citizens and policy experts alike to join and learn about evolving carbon /greenhouse gas removal and policy proposals taking shape in the United Kingdom, and to join a new grassroots effort to shape this course and accelerate progress. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.com/e/workshop-catalysing-carbon-removal-support-policy-in-the-uk-tickets-380... |
| Description | Emily Cox co-writes article in The Conversation (27 Apr 2022) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Article on 'Extinction Rebellion scientists: why we glued ourselves to a government department' published 27 April 2022 in the Conversation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://theconversation.com/extinction-rebellion-scientists-why-we-glued-ourselves-to-a-government-d... |
| Description | Emily Cox interviewed by Wired (22 Jun 2022) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Emily Cox explains the risks of land-based removals in a Wired article 'The Nightmare Politics and Sticky Science of Hacking the Climate' of 22 June 2022 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.wired.com/story/the-nightmare-politics-and-sticky-science-of-hacking-the-climate/ |
| Description | Executive Director Steve Smith conducted an online panel: What does the IPCC say about carbon dioxide removal? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The main goal of the panel was to bring together international experts to discuss the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's newly released (4 April 2022) assessment of climate change mitigation (Working Group III). The panellists and the themes they discussed were as follows: - Dr Oliver Geden (German Institute for International and Security Affairs, SWP), Lead author, Chapter 8: Cross-sectoral perspectives - Prof Detlef van Vuuren (Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, PBL), Lead author, Chapter 3: Mitigation pathways compatible with long-term goals - Dr Annette Cowie (NSW Department of Primary Industries), Lead author, Chapter 8: Cross-sectoral perspectives - Prof Jan Minx (Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change), Co-ordinating lead author, Chapter 2: Emissions trends and drivers - Prof Sabine Fuss (Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://co2re.org/events/what-does-the-ipcc-say-about-carbon-dioxide-removal-online-panel/ |
| Description | Executive Education: Foundation Course on Nature-based Solutions to Global Challenges |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I created and ran this course, contributing two days (themes 1 and 2), and convening all the others. The course is an introduction to NbS for professionals working in a range of sectors. For example, staff at NGOs from the development and environmental sectors wanting to better understand the evidence from research and practice on how NbS can deliver multiple benefits and for whom, to enable them to hold governments to account; business executives wanting to better understand the risks and also the opportunities of investing in NbS; civil servants, regulators, and investors working to develop policies that can enable economic recovery whilst supporting net-zero and biodiversity goals; and philanthropists wanting to support activities that have positive outcomes for both people and nature. 29 people attended course run 1 in September 2022, 60 on course run 2 in January 2023; participants came from all over the world, and approximately 40:60 public:private sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| URL | https://www.naturebasedsolutionsinitiative.org/nature-based-solutions-to-global-challenges-foundatio... |
| Description | Gilbert quoted in FT (18 Jul 2022) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Alyssa Gilbert quoted in FT article 'UK aims to set the pace for corporate net zero plans' on 18 July 2022 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.ft.com/content/3a363ec9-bf2b-4fa1-b756-531bd29fbba7 |
| Description | Haszeldine quoted in New Scientist (1 Sep 2022) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Stuart Haszeldine quoted on importance of market incentives and good regulation for carbon storage in New Scientist article 'Most major carbon capture and storage projects haven't met targets' on 1 September 2022 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://institutions.newscientist.com/article/2336018-most-major-carbon-capture-and-storage-projects... |
| Description | Haszeldine quoted in New Scientist (18 Feb 2022) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Stuart Haszeldine quoted on importance of long term storage in New Scientist article 'Most schemes to capture and reuse carbon actually increase emissions' on 18 February 2022 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://institutions.newscientist.com/article/2308935-most-schemes-to-capture-and-reuse-carbon-actua... |
| Description | Hub researchers interviewed on the Carbon Removal Show postcast (10 Aug 2022) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | podcast on 'The state of UK carbon removal' included interviews with speakers at the GGR-D Launch event in May 2022, as well as CO2RE staff. Full guest list: Philippa Westbury, Stakeholder Manager at CO2RE George Hope, Communications Manager at CO2RE Steve Smith, Director of CO2RE Emily Cox, Research Associate at Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford Navraj Singh Ghaleigh, Senior Lecturer in Climate Law at University of Edinburgh Emma Keller, Head of Sustainability at Nestle UK&Ireland Sanna O'Connor-Morberg, Former Carbon Dioxide Removal Lead at Energy Transitions Commission Laith Whitwham, Senior Policy Officer, Industrial Decarbonisation at Aldersgate Group Ruth Herbert, CEO Carbon Capture and Storage Association Judith Thornton, Aberystwyth University Liz Bowles, OFC Director and Associate Director of Farming and Land Use at The Soil Association |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://pod.co/the-carbon-removal-show/s2-2-the-state-of-uk-carbon-removal |
| Description | Nature-based Solutions Initiative now has c.25k followers on Linked In |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | We post updates on the science, policy and practice of nature-based solutions to over 25k followers on Linked In |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021,2022,2023 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/company/70791408 |
| Description | Navraj Singh Ghaleigh publishes letter in FT (25 Oct 21) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Letter on 'Oil workers will require jobs in low-carbon economy' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.ft.com/content/bda80b40-9f5b-4b46-9787-4781c8b30d27 |
| Description | Online Event: The State of Carbon Dioxide Removal Report Launch |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Led and co-written by CO2RE Executive Director Steve Smith, alongside other researchers from the Hub and across Europe, the State of Carbon Dioxide Removal report is the first global assessment of the current state of greenhouse gas removals and the gaps that need to be closed to achieve global climate goals. The authors aim to build a community, bridge data gaps, and support the scale up of CDR responsibly and equitably. The launch offered audiences and media an insight into some of the key themes, chapters, and findings of the report and the processes/methods that authors have employed in making their assessments. This lauch event attracted 555 attendees, 1.2k YouTube views, 550+ media mentions, and 35,304 page views from 99 countries. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUDZ2vSwjs0 |
| Description | Peers for the Planet briefing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Mac Dowell, Butnar and Smith provided a briefing on carbon removal to the cross party parliamentary group Peers for the Planet |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Portobello Transition Town (PEDAL) AGM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Paul Rouse Paul presented on COP26 outcomes and CO2RE Hub work |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.pedal-porty.org.uk/2022/01/pedal-agm-28th-january-2022/ |
| Description | Positively Negative event series |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This series of online participatory workshops (x5) mapped the value chains associated with different greenhouse gas removal technologies. It recruited circa 20 people from across industry, business, academia and consultancy and is being used to build strong partnerships for the research hub. The workshops covered bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, biochar, enhanced weathering, afforestation, direct air capture and peatland restoration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| URL | https://kumu.io/CRC-maps/dac-value-map |
| Description | Regular talks/webinars to diverse groups from the private sector, including investors/financial institutions (e.g. Insight Investment Summit) on value of biodiversity |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Regular follow up after giving talks - e.g. after recent Insight Investment Summit, asset managers wanting further meetings to discuss how to reduce their impacts on biodiversity within their value chains. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022,2023 |
| Description | State of CDR report resulted in 550 media mentions (18-27 Jan 2023) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | State of CDR report resulted in 550 media mentions (18-27 Jan 2023), including included coverage in Carbon Brief, Nature, The Economist, BBC News, Reuters, Bloomberg, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Europa Press Ciencia, and Deutschlandfunk, among others. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.stateofcdr.org/new-page |
| Description | Steve Smith and Cameron Hepburn publish article in the Conversation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Article on 'Climate change: six priorities for pulling carbon out of the air', published 28 May 2021 in the Conversation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://theconversation.com/climate-change-six-priorities-for-pulling-carbon-out-of-the-air-161689 |
| Description | Steve Smith gave keynote on CO2 Removal at OX to ZERO Solutions Summit (1 Sep 2023) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Steve Smith was the keynote speaker on a session on CO2 Removal, with Myles Allen participating as a panel member, at the Ox to ZERO summit on 1 Sep 2022. OX to ZERO unites the county's most innovative thinkers, investors and entrepreneurs exploring the potential of new ideas, technologies, and companies to accelerate the net zero transition. The event featured experts from a variety of fields dedicated to supporting the drive towards a zero-carbon future, including more leading figures from green finance, business and academia. The event was in person and online. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://oxtozero.com/programme/ |
| Description | Steve Smith interviewed on The Owl Hoot podcast (7 Mar 2023) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Steve Smith discussed net zero and carbon dioxide removal - providing insight into net zero and carbon dioxide removal, clarifying terminology and detailing their roles in climate strategy - on the Owl Hoot podcast on 7 March 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://theowlhoot.com/podcast/net-zero-and-carbon-dioxide-removal-with-steve-smith/ |
| Description | Steve Smith participated as panellist at Financial Times Climate Capital |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Financial Times Climate Capital Live 2023 is a two-day event for politicians, business leaders, and financiers to discuss and start real climate action. Steve Smith participated in Panel on How Do We Stop Having a Conversation About Carbon Markets and Make It A Reality? At most climate focused events globally there is some form of discussion on improving carbon markets. While the work of voluntary carbon market organisations is widely recognised as a great first step, there is still more to do: - How do we move from carbon conversation to action? - How do sectors come together to standardise and align a set of pricing mechanisms? - Who gives the carbon reporting initiatives credibility? - What role can technology play in creating and supporting a better carbon accounting system? |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://climatecapital.live.ft.com/agenda/session/1039827 |
| Description | Steve Smith quoted in ABC News online article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Article on "Google cracks down on climate change denial by targeting ads" published 8 October 2021 quotes Steve Smith |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/google-ban-ads-appearing-climate-denial-content-80472979 |
| Description | The UK GGR Event (12-13 May 2022) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The CO2RE Hub co-hosted a launch event to showcase the latest GGR research & innovation and highlight its role in effective, sustainable & equitable climate action. Day One (Thursday 12 May): Results from the GGR-A Programme and next steps for research This day focussed on knowledge exchange between two research programmes, involving academic researchers and programme stakeholders. It presented the main outcomes from the recently-completed Greenhouse Gas Removal Programme and included discussions on the next steps for GGR research and on pulling through knowledge for the new Greenhouse Gas Demonstrators Programme. Day Two (Friday 13 May): The UK Greenhouse Gas Removal Landscape This day connected policymakers, technology innovators, businesses, investors, environmental organisations and academics. It presented plans for the Greenhouse Gas Removal Demonstrators Programme and showcased the state-of-the art in GGR strategies in the UK, as well as bringing in perspectives from senior experts in other countries, including Germany and the US. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://co2re.org/events/uk-ggr-event-current-innovations-future-directions/ |
| Description | Workman and Hall write blog for Illuminem (28 June 2022) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Hub researchers Mark Workman and Steve Hall co-authored blog on 'Carbon Removal Governance: Lessons from fracking' posted on Illuminem on 28 June 2022) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://illuminem.com/illuminemvoices/fcd05470-e2e9-443b-8514-e229655b79e8 |