It was a pleasure to be on the Advisory Group for this report by the National Infrastructure Commission. Well done to the author team!

A few brief thoughts... 🧵
While about "engineered removals" this report focusses quite specifically on two approaches: bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS).
As people say, "other brands are available" (e.g. trees, soil enhancement, enhanced weathering of minerals, non-energy uses of biomass such as biochar, construction...)
Here are the recommendations, summarised in a timeline:
Good to see @NatInfraCom highlight that these actions should be clearly additional to every effort on emissions reduction. Also that impacts on disadvantaged & vulnerable groups need to be considered.
@NatInfraCom How much removal might be needed for the UK to hit #netzero by 2050? There's a chart summarising the studies:
The costs of scaling up these removals are appreciable but a small fraction of total #netzero action:
(The numbers underpinning this estimate come from the recent @OBR report, which shows how much money may get invested where over time)

obr.uk/frr/fiscal-ris…
And if anyone thinks it's a bit soon to be thinking about removals, remember 2050 is really not far away in terms of the time taken to scale most technologies.

sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
The value of this report is that the Commission is an agency the Treasury, so the people holding the purse strings in Government will be inclined to listen to them.
Eyes now on the Government's net zero strategy, expected ahead of COP26 👀

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More from @stv_smth

24 May
So there have been a couple of carbon removal developments in the UK today, although they haven't been spelled out together so here we go... 🧵
First, UKRI has announced a new research programme including a national hub (which I am a part of) and 5 carbon removal demonstrators.

Demos will be on:
* trees 🌲🌳
* peatlands 🏞️
* biochar ◾️
* energy crops 🌿
* enhanced rock weathering 🪨

ukri.org/news/uk-invest…
Second, @BEISgovuk has announced 24 carbon removal innovation projects with commercial partners.

gov.uk/government/pub…
Read 7 tweets
23 Mar
Lovely to see coverage today of our report on the quantity & quality of #NetZero targets around the world: netzeroclimate.org/innovation-for…

There are excellent threads already by co-authors @_richardblack and @thomasnhale (check them out). Just a few additional thoughts from me...
1. 2050 is a strong anchor date for these targets (not surprising given the IPCC Report on 1.5°C). The huge post-2050 chunk we see for countries is solely down to China. Quite a few states and companies are aiming earlier.
2. Despite countries having the most well-developed climate governance (the UNFCCC), those with #NetZero goals still by no means have it all in place. Companies are doing similarly well on setting plans and reporting at least annually.
Read 7 tweets
4 Feb
How to manage the inclusion of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) measures in climate targets? I have a comment on it out today in @CommsEarth:

nature.com/articles/s4324…

It's open access, but here's the Twitter-friendly version...🧵
Several papers and reports have flagged that "net-zero" targets allow some level of CDR to balance out residual emissions, and worry that this could dilute action in various ways. They propose that the way to fix this is to keep separate targets for emissions and removals.
This isn't a theoretical argument, it's live now. The UK and other have set net zero targets; the EU is actively thinking about whether/how to include CDR.

nature.com/articles/d4158…
Read 8 tweets
2 Feb
🚨 OPPORTUNITY KLAXON 🚨

Do you want to join @OxfordNetZero? We're hiring! Be a key part of our new @oxforduni initiative to research and engage on how we end #globalwarming

jobs.ac.uk/enhanced/linki…

We have seven exciting roles to fill... 🧵
Core to @OxfordNetZero will be four #ONZ Fellows - emerging research leaders & team players in these areas:

* Net Zero Politics in the Global South🌏👨‍👨‍👦‍👦
* Geological Carbon Storage 🪨🌊
* Law & Governance of Net Zero🏦
* Nature-based Solutions🌳🐒

jobs.ac.uk/enhanced/linki…

(2/5)
Also vital will be a skilled and enthusiastic Programme Manager (it's not all about the academics!). You will work closely with me, @SamFankahuser and Myles Allen, and I will consider you to be THE most important person in @OxfordNetZero 💪

jobs.ac.uk/enhanced/linki…

(3/5)
Read 5 tweets
29 Sep 20
Today we @UniofOxford have published some principles for #netzero aligned carbon offsetting: smithschool.ox.ac.uk/publications/r…

Here's a summary...

[THREAD]
First, some background:

Carbon offsetting is the reduction of your own balance of emissions by gaining credit for certified emission reduction or removal carried out by another actor.
It's not for everyone. Objections exist, both on grounds of ethics (is it right?) and practice (does it work?). But offsetting is widespread and set to grow as countries, cities and businesses all strive to set and meet #netzero targets...
Read 14 tweets
25 Jun 20
A key @theCCCuk chart on whether the UK is on track.

They may not want to say this, but might the 5th Carbon Budget be in the bag despite the lack of policy progress? (1/n)

theccc.org.uk/publication/re… Image
The projection on the above chart was made in 2018. Very much pre-lockdown. The CCC report notes that estimates for UK 2020 emissions now range from a 2% to a 13% decline on 2019.

(2/n)
If we start from a 2 or 13% reduction in 2020 and continue the 2018 projections forward, you get the range within the dark blue dotted lines here:

(3/n) Image
Read 8 tweets

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