Why Net Zero?

What will it take to stop global warming and how long have we got?

These are huge questions for humanity, nature, society and geopolitics. Understanding our changing weather and its impacts is one of the greatest scientific challenges of our time. But understanding how to stop changing it turns out to be surprisingly simple. You don’t need to be a scientist or policy wonk to appreciate what it will take to stop global warming. Focusing on fundamentals has surprising implications.

A lecture by Myles Allen

The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website:

[hexisplus]

You might need a decent sound engineer.

[jasonkirk]

Sound quality is terrible. Does nobody do sound checks before the lectures?

[spicehedge]

Would it not be easier to manage co2 emission from the oceans algae.

[kingcrazymani]

The basic theoretical question and framing of the “waste management problem” sound about right. The two biggest problems are: (1) validity of data; and (2) validity of data. Given what I see when I walk around my neighborhood, I am certain that the data sets are corrupt. When I look at water temperatures as reported, and until recently splashed around in the ocean water to check, I would find a consistent +5 degree lean in reported versus colder actual temperatures. The Information Scientist in me has his head explode listening to lectures where “settled science” is based on data that makes no sense to my visual and tactile observations. There’s more; there always is. The question and framing are useful. My friends and I would like to help at some point get the data right.

[jaynemacklyne]

Wonderfully clear, informed and thought provoking talks on this topic I've ever heard. Thankyou

[mididoctors]

Where does the energy to capture this co2 come from .. seems a thermodynamic issue

[leskuzyk]

The question to pose, is, how will humans be convinced to stop? Or, conversely, how will the otherwise scenario play out, not depending on humans? Physics has not helped so far ... and therefore cannot be seen as the solution. The problem is a human nature problem.

[rabbalam]

NetZero is an immoral and impossible concept. Sorry!

[bernhardschmalhofer]

My understanding is that such regulation would apply to fossil fuel extracted in a country or imported into a country. Should the embedded emissions of imported products also fall under the regulation?

[cuttysark]

If he's concerned about government getting hold of the tax money, what's his view on James Hansen's suggestion of "tax and dividend" where all the tax money received is re-disbursed to citizens directly into their bank accounts?

[DavoidJohnson]

Great stuff. Incidentally questioning the trustworthiness of government is not sinicism.

[nickjung]

Time to end the production of cosmetics!

[dhruvtripathi]

Thank you so much for taking the time to teach us all so eloquently about such a complex subject!

[pauldayus]

Sent to this Net Zero lecture by Katherine Blundell's playlist - it hasn't disappointed.
Thank you so much for sharing this. 👍🏽

[ronaldgarrison]

I really like the way Myles handles presentation, but in this case, in the end, I'm not at all clear on what he's advocating. Mainly, what sort of carbon capture? If capture of emissions from fossil fuel use is part of the solution, that will not work for much except coal power plants, which are a relatively small part of the energy mix, declining fast, and especially in the UK. Everything else involves huge numbers of small point sources where CCS is clearly impractical—with the possible exception of making concrete and steel, but that's a somewhat tangential matter. And to the extent that any large plants, of any kind, are outfitted with CCS, that creates other problems, mainly in that a lot of money will be sunk into a lot of physical plant that doesn't have much of a future.

OTOH if it's to be DAC, that can cover everything, and can be done anywhere there is an energy source. Since it's clear that electricity is going to be a growing portion of energy use, eventually being most of it, DAC is really where the action is. Regulations could be used to induce fossil fuel companies to do DAC and bury the CO2 in their wells. Well, maybe. Must admit I haven't given that idea much thought. But I'd really like if Myles could be clear about whether that is what he has in mind.

[vwbusguy]

Human population growth drives energy usages globally, compare population 150 years ago to now and see how it jumps as far as energy consumption.
Tough pill to swallow...as well as our need to have certain living standards compared to 150 yrs ago drives it upwards collectively

[DocPiperine]

I am worried that the presenter may be a paid shill of the energy companies.

[jameslooker]

I recently became interested in Carbon Capture and Sequestration again when I started thinking about liquifying air as a way of monetizing and exporting renewable energy. Liquid nitrogen can be used to replace large air conditioners without straining electricity grids. Liquid oxygen will be necessary for power plants to capture their own CO2 emissions. This lecture makes me more confident that 20-year takeoff agreements for liquid air will be easier to sign than for renewable power projects.

[jameslooker]

Carbon sequestration helps many existing technologies improve their economics. Corn/sugar ethanol, biodigesters, and biochar all gain long term feasibility from carbon sequestration. Bioenergy combined with carbon sequestration has a lot of potential to start large scale sequestration before direct air capture technology matures.