Greenhouse gas removal could make UK carbon neutral by 2050

UEA researchers have helped devise an ambitious plan to make the UK carbon neutral by 2050 – with the help of greenhouse gas removal (GGR) technologies.

The technologies discussed in a new report range from well-known and ready to deploy methods, such as forestation, to more speculative technologies like direct air capture—which aims to use chemical processes to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.

It is the first time that a range of GGR technologies have been assessed for their real-world potential in being used together to meet climate goals in the UK over the next 30 years.

The report by the Royal Academy of Engineering and Royal Society states that while the UK's first priority must be to maintain efforts to rapidly cut greenhouse gas emissions, GGR technologies have a role to play in counteracting emissions from aviation and agriculture, where the scope to completely reduce emissions is limited.

But the research team say that immediate action is needed, in order to meet climate targets.

Bringing the UK to net-zero emissions in 2050 will require annual removal of an estimated 130 megatonnes of CO2, even with stringent reductions in emissions.

The report also considers the global picture and outlines a scenario in which a portfolio of GGR technologies can be implemented together to achieve carbon removal across the world by 2100 to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Biological solutions like planting trees will become saturated by the end of the century and other GGR technologies will need to be developed and used in the longer term.

Each technology is assessed on its readiness for deployment in the time scale required, potential for scalability, costs, environmental and social impacts and how much of a 'dent' it can make in removing excess carbon to meet the targets.

Prof Corinne Le Quere, director of UEA's Tyndall Centre for Climate Change, was on the report working group. She said: "It is critical that we make rapid and aggressive reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, particularly CO2. But we will also need to rely on greenhouse gas removal in order to meet climate goals set out in the Paris Agreement, and limit the devastating impacts of climate change.

"The important thing is that we need to act now. This report outlines a range of greenhouse gas removal technologies which can be deployed already now.

"Changes that need to be made include increasing forestation to cover and additional 5 per cent of UK land, restoring peatlands and wetlands, and using wood as a building material."

The UK 2050 net-zero scenario

GGR technologies suitable for the UK to use to meet net-zero emissions by 2050

Ready to use GGR methods such as forestation, habitat restoration, soil carbon sequestration, and building with wood or carbonated waste could provide just over a quarter of the target to reach net zero emissions.

Biochar, enhanced terrestrial weathering in agricultural soils, direct air capture (DACCS), and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) could contribute to the rest of the 2050 target.

What we need to do to achieve net-zero emissions in the UK

• Rapidly increase forestation to 5 per cent of UK land, restore wetlands and salt marshes, and store more carbon in farmland.
• Establish an incentive or subsidy system to encourage farmers to use their land to store carbon. This could be part of the framework that replaces the Common Agricultural Policy after the UK leaves the EU.
• Encourage changes in building practice to use wood and cement manufactured with carbonated waste.
• Develop better ways of monitoring the effectiveness of GGR technologies.
• Pursue research into the potential of longer term GGR technologies such as enhanced weathering, biochar, BECCS and DACCS.
• Capitalise on the UK's strengths in engineering and industry to establish the infrastructure required for the storage of CO2.

How to meet the Paris Agreement using GGR technologies

The report also calls for action in a number of key areas in order to meet the overall goals of the Paris Agreement.

• Continue and increase global efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
• Implement a global portfolio of GGR technologies now to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
• Build carbon capture and storage infrastructure, essential to meeting the scale required for achieving climate goals.
• Encourage investment in the development and piloting of GGR projects to assess their real world potential and understand any environmental and social impacts.
• Establish incentives, for example carbon pricing, to pay for removal of CO2 and encourage business to use a wide portfolio of GGR technologies.
• Establish a framework to govern use of GGR technologies that addresses sustainability and engages the public.
• Build GGR into regulatory frameworks and carbon trading systems.
• Establish international science-based standards for monitoring the effectiveness of GGR technologies and their environmental impacts.

Dr. Naomi Vaughan, from UEA's school of Environmental Sciences, said: "This report highlights that along with reducing our greenhouse gas emissions there is action we can take now to remove CO2 from the atmosphere, such as habitat and forest restoration and storing more carbon in soils. In the longer term however, achieving net-zero carbon emissions will rely on rapid and deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors combined with the development of a portfolio of greenhouse gas removal technologies.

Prof Nilay Shah, director of the Centre for Process Systems Engineering at Imperial College London and member of the report working group, said: "Delivery of these technologies at the necessary scale will present many challenges. Overcoming these will require a concerted effort from engineers, scientists and governments worldwide. For the goal to remain in our sights action must be taken now."

Provided by University of East Anglia