Earth’s atmosphere and oceans are awash with excessive carbon dioxide. Natural sinks are inadequate to maintain the biosphere in a state similar to pre-industrial times. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted from human activity are the driving force behind the accelerated warming of Earth’s atmosphere and oceans. Even if we stop emitting carbon dioxide, noticeable reductions in atmospheric levels would take decades.
Nature uses photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates, and lessons from algae, methanotropes, and other biological systems can provide valuable insights. What can human ingenuity do to circularize carbon from CO2 to CH4 and other chemical feedstocks? This session focuses on advancements in chemistry research, engineering design, and scale-up for the photo- and electro-reduction of carbon dioxide.