ABSTRACT
The thesis is based upon a prototype of the larger infrastructures of Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), which are utilized in order to tackle the rapid escalation of climate change and emissions. The prototypes explore carbon capture as small-scale urban factories, rather than the megastructure which may be expected. Running off the city as a resource (CO2), the manufacturing process (CCUS) materialises emissions into a tangible, informative asset. Thus, the thesis asks if urban production can contribute to the benefit of our climate and urban environment. Through technology and innovative discoveries, the Industrial Revolution introduced our urban environment to both new opportunities and new environmental challenges. Globally connected industries and manufacturing, large infrastructural networks and cheap energy - all technologies crucial to our cities and economy’s rapid growth - were developed during this period. Similarly, my thesis is based on exploring the synergies between new technology, the urban environment and environmental challenges through global, urban and local scales. The thesis is therefore a hypothetical project about climate change measures and urban industry in symbiosis. UN countries have agreed to try to stop global warming at 1.5 degrees. They will achieve this by emitting net zero greenhouse gases by 2050. Norway has announced to cut 55 percent of our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Det Norske Veritas (DNV) published a report that displays what measures are needed in order to achieve the goal. The report states that developing countries, aviation, shipping, heavy transport, and some heavy industries will not be able to have zero emissions by 2050, demanding for other sectors to be emission-free earlier. Instead, Europe and North America must become carbon negative by 2042, eight years before the goals of the Paris Agreement. Meaning that they not only have to cut their emissions to zero, but also capture carbon from the air. However, according to DNV, the technology that exists today is indeed sufficient to be able to achieve the climate goals. In 2019, Oslo had 1 267 060 tons of carbon dioxide being released into the air. This is roughly the average yearly emission-rate in the Municipality.
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