John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
Stanford University recently hosted an event to address climate change and the need for greenhouse gas removal. The Sustainability Accelerator held a daylong event featuring speeches and presentations from leading experts, including Nobel laureate and former U.S. Secretary of Energy, Professor Steven Chu.
During the event, Professor Chu warned of "dangerous territory" if global temperatures rise beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. He highlighted the increased risks associated with climate change, including more extreme weather, rising sea levels, and impacts on ecosystems and human health.
Arun Majumdar, dean of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, described the current period as an inflection point for climate action and emphasized the importance of sustainability as a challenge and opportunity for this century. "Our ambition in education, research, innovation, and impact has to match the scale, complexity, and urgency of the issues in sustainability," Majumdar said.
The event showcased 18 innovations aimed at removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The demonstrations, which included panel discussions and short talks, aimed to support the Accelerator’s goal of annually removing gigatons of carbon dioxide by mid-century, according to Jeffrey Brown, managing director of the programs.
Professor Jane Willenbring shared insights from her research involving earthworms and their potential role in carbon sequestration. She expressed excitement about the project's potential collaborations. Professor Thomas Jaramillo discussed his research into electrolysis and fuel cells for reducing ocean acidity and carbon dioxide. "The discussions, the people I’ve had a chance to meet, the discussions that I see happening all around us – that enthusiasm, everyone bringing their piece of the puzzle together, everyone bringing their expertise," Jaramillo noted.
Yi Cui, faculty director of the Accelerator, led a panel on overcoming industry challenges by focusing on the economic aspects of scaling greenhouse gas removal technologies. "Looking at gigaton scale, if you calibrate yourself, this might mean a hundred billion to trillion-dollar market," Cui said.
Charlotte Pera, executive director of the Accelerator, closed the presentations by emphasizing the importance of partnerships in achieving global climate goals. "We know we can do more and move faster working together," she stated.
This event highlights the global effort required to address climate change through technological innovation, policy development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Alerts Sign-up