Combatting Climate Change
Overview
TheUniversityofExeter’sstrongleadershipinclimate,ecologyand geologyandwiderdisciplineshaveinrecentyearsfacilitatedthe developmentandgrowthofawiderangeofinterdisciplinaryresearch projectsandprogrammes.Ourleadingexpertiseinthisareais supportingexplorationofclimatestabilitythroughdirectcarboncapture andmoreindirectmultifunctionalnature-basedsolutions,alongwith explorationofsocietalperspectivesaroundcarbondioxideremovaland othersuchclimateinterventions.
Thisworkbringstogethercapabilities,disciplines,andpartnershipsin newwaystodriveforwardsolutionsthatworkforclimate,nature,people andbusiness.Thisbrochureisaguidetoourexistingterrestrial,marinebasedtechnologicalandnature-basedresearchandcommercialisation activityinthisbroadandrapidlyevolvingsector. Itisintendedforawide rangeofaudiencesfromstudents,funders,businesses,academicsand thosewishingtofindoutmoreaboutresponsibleclimateintervention.
Contents
ResponsibleClimateIntervention:
• SocialSciencesandClimateIntervention
• Technology-BasedCarbonDioxideRemoval
• SolarRadiationManagement
CombattingClimateChange:
• EmergingOpportunities–mineralsandmining,CCUS
• Nature-BasedCarbonDioxideRemoval
LetsWorkTogether:
• OpportunitiesforCollaboration
CombattingClimateChange
Climatechangecouldcausetheglobaltemperaturetoincreasebyseveral degreesbytheendofthecenturywithcatastrophicconsequences.
Thesolutiontothisproblemistoceasetheburningoffossilfuelsandto eliminateexcessgreenhousegasesfromtheatmosphere.However,lowering atmosphericgreenhousegaslevels–evenunderthemostaggressive scenarios–maynothappenfastenoughtoavoiddevastatingclimateimpacts, includingtheonsetoftippingpointsintheclimatesystem.
IPCCSPECIALREPORT:GLOBALWARMINGOF1.5ºC
TheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange’s(IPCC)assessmentfound: Globalwarminginexcessof1.5°Cabovepre-industriallevelsisnow likely(evenifincreasedactionallowstheworldtoachievenetzero emissionsby2040),andthepaceandscaleofwhathasbeendoneso far,andcurrentplans,areinsufficienttotackleclimatechange: “thereisincreasingdebateastowhethersocietymustbuytimeto decarbonisebymanipulatingcertainvariablestoreduceglobal temperaturesonashort-to-mediumtermbasis”
Thesefactshaveledtoproposalsformethodstoremovegreenhousegases fromtheatmosphereand/ortoactivelycooltheEarthinordertobuytimeto decarboniseand/oroffsetresidualgreenhousegasemissions.Theseproposals arecontroversial,andtherehasbeenconsiderabledebatearoundtherisks andbenefitstheycarry.
Thiscomesagainstabackgroundofconcernaroundclimatetippingpoints (abruptalterationsintheEarth’sclimatesystem),whichmayleadtoessentially irreversibledisruptivechangesonaregionalorglobalscaleiftheglobal temperatureexceedscertainthresholdsforanylengthoftime.Examplesof suchtippingpointsincludethemeltingoftheArcticwinterseaice,diebackof theAmazonrainforestswithconsequentecosystemloss,andcollapseofthe majorland-basedicesheets,leadingtosignificantglobalsealevelrises.
Context
Carbondioxideremoval(CDR)ishumanactivitythatcapturesCO₂fromthe atmosphereandstoresitfordecadestomillennia.
Alongsiderapidlyreducinggreenhousegasemissions,thescalingupofnovelCDR andtheexpansionofland-basedCDRcanbeseenasanimportantcomplementto reducinggreenhousegasesthroughreducedrelianceonfossilfuelsandeliminating carbonemissionsifwearetomeetthetemperaturegoaloftheParisAgreement withinthetimescalessetout.
TherearemanyCDRmethods,whichcoveravarietyofwaystocaptureandstore CO₂.Thesemethodshavedifferentlevelsofreadiness,potentialanddurability.
Whydoweneedtoconsidercapturing carbon?
Toavoidtheworstimpactsofclimatechange,wemustdramaticallyreduceemissions ofCO2andothergreenhousegases.AstheGlobalCarbonBudgethasfound,if currentemissionslevelspersist,thereisa50%chancethatglobalwarmingcouldbe exceededinsevenyears.Emissionsmustbereducedasfastaspossible–butresidual andhistoricalemissionsalsoneedtobemitigatedifwearetosecureapathwaytoa safeclimate.
Whatarewedoingtoreducerelianceon fossilfuel?
Alow-carbonfuturewillbeverymineralintensivebecausecleanenergytechnologies needmorematerialsthanfossil-fuel-basedelectricitygenerationtechnologies.
Weknowthatgreaterambitiononclimatechangegoals(1.5°C–2.0°Corbelow),as outlinedbytheParisAgreement,requiresinstallingmoreofthesetechnologiesand willthereforeleadtoalargermaterialfootprint.OurworkwiththeCamborneSchool ofMineswillbeessentialtodevelopnewmethodsandunderstandinginthiskeyarea –thisisoutlinedinour“EmergingOpportunities”section.
MethodsofCarbonDioxideRemovaland implementation
Diagram taken from the State of Carbon Dioxide Removal (2024) Report
TheCurrentStateofCarbonDioxide Removal
Globally,around2GtCO₂ peryearofCDRistakingplacealready.Almostallofthis comesfromconventionalCDRmethods.NovelCDRmethodscontribute1.3million tons(0.0013Gt)ofCO₂ removalperyear.Thatislessthan0.1%oftotalCDR,but novelmethodsaregrowingmorerapidlythanconventionalmethods,andthe permanenceandverifiabilityofremovalofmanyofthesenoveltechniquesappears tobeincreasinglydemandedbythosepurchasingorotherwisefundingcarbon removal.
IndicatorsofinnovationshowthatCDRactivityisgenerallyintensifying,although withsomerecentslowdowns.Indicatorsofresearch,inventionandinvestmentin startupcompaniesshowevidenceofdiversificationacrossCDRmethods.However, currentdeploymentandnationalproposalsforfutureimplementationaremore concentratedonafewconventionalmethods.Inaddition,manymodelledmitigation scenariosstillrepresentonlyalimitedsetofCDRmethods.
TherecontinuestobeagapbetweentheamountofCDRinscenariosthatmeet theParistemperaturegoalandtheamountofCDRinnationalproposals.The gapcanbeclosedbyrapidlyreducingemissions,scalingupaportfolioofboth conventionalandnovelCDRmethods,andexplicitlyintegratingsustainability considerationsintoCDRpolicy.
AccordingtoTheStateofCarbonDioxideRemoval2024,thetruescaleofCDR requiredwillbedictatedbyhowrapidlydirectdecarbonizationalternativesscale, whattheenergydemandwillbe,whatCDRcostreductionsoccur,andthebarriersto futuredeployment.Therefore,itmakessensetoplanforarangeofscenariosover thenextdecadeandidentifythepathwaysthatwillleadtothebestoptionstoscale CDRinthefuture.Thesepathwaysinclude:bringingtechnologytocommercial demonstration,creatingrobustmonitoring,reportingandverification(MRV) standardsandtechnology,creatingpoliciestoincentivizedemandatsmallbut meaningfulscale.
Alongsidethis,webelieveintheimportanceofdevelopingcommunityandworkforce benefitmodelsthattakeintoaccounttheimpactsofsuchchangesandthe perspectivesofcommunitiesratherthanthinkingsolelyofinterventionfirst.
Thisapproachneednotcompeteagainstmitigationapproachesthataregrowing andgainingmomentum.Infact,theycouldgiveusadecadetosharpenourfocuson howmuchCDRwetrulyneedtodesignall-ineffortsforeffectivedeploymentpolicies inthefuture.
ResponsibleClimate Intervention
TakingaResponsibleApproach
Takingresponsibleactiononclimatechangemeanstakingstepsthatpromote thepublicinterest,understoodwidely,nowandintothefuture.The requirementtotakearesponsibleapproachisparticularlyimportantwith respecttoclimateintervention,giventhepotentialimpactofsuch interventions,themanyuncertaintiesstilltoberesolved,andthepublic acceptabilityofR&Dinthisarea.
Climateinterventionraisesfundamentalethical, political,andculturalquestionsthatmustbe addressedintandemwithscientificresearch,and throughdialoguebetweenresearchersinthesocial andnaturalsciences.Exeter’sworld-leading environmentalsocialscienceresearchersare workingwithclimatescientiststoensureR&Din climateinterventionisinformedbythebest approachestodemocraticpublicdeliberationabout thevalues,visions,andoptionsembeddedin differenttechnologicalfutures.Theseapproaches canbringtogetherexpertsandpublicsindialogue overquestionsraisedbyclimateintervention,related tosocialjustice,power,knowledge,andhumanity’s placeinnature.Thisdialogueisvitaltoresponsible decision-makingabouttheunavoidablechallenges andtrade-offsthatmustbefacedifclimate interventionR&Dprogresses.
EnvironmentalEthicsand IntergenerationalJustice
Eachtechnologyforclimateinterventionwould,ifdeployed,createadifferent worldforfuturepeople.Thus,climateintervention–includingearlystage research-raisesfundamentalquestionsaboutwhatweinthepresentoweto futurepeople,andperhapsalsotothenaturalworldmorebroadly.Theseare ethicalquestions,buttheyalsoraisepolitical,economicandsocialquestions:if wecanagreeonanethicalvisionofafutureworldwewanttobequeath throughclimateintervention,howcanwegetfromheretothere?Whatwould
havetochange–politically,economically,socially,andatglobalscales–forus tobeconfidentthatclimateinterventionR&Dbeingdonenowisresponsiblein thelightofthatethicalvision?
Wearecommittedtoworkingacrossmultipledisciplines,andwithexternal partners,tofocusourresearchonethicallysoundsolutionstoimprovethe worldforourdescendants.
OurInitiatives
EnvironmentalEthicsandIntergenerationalJustice
Wefacemultipleenvironmentalcrises.Climatechangeisaccelerating,biodiversityisin freefall,plasticsareeverywhere,andsoilsaredepleted.Inourresearch,wetreatthesecrises asfundamentallysocial,political,andethical,andofparticularconcernfroman intergenerationalperspective:futurepeopleareentirelyvulnerabletoourpresentchoices, andourpresentfailurestopreventmultipleecologicaldisastersraisemultiplequestionsof justicethatweaddressinourresearch.Wearecommittedtoworkingacrossmultiple disciplines,andwithexternalpartners,tofocusourresearchonethicallysoundsolutionsto improvetheworldforourdescendants.
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ACCESS:AdvancingCapacityforClimateand EnvironmentalSocialScience
ACCESSisafundedprogrammeofworkproviding leadershiponthesocialsciencecontributionto tacklingandsolvingarangeofclimateand environmentalproblems.Werecognisethat technologyaloneisnotenough.Andweare workingtoshareourunderstandingofhow people,oursocietiesandoursystemsneedto changeandadapttocreateahealthier environmentandmeetournetzerogoals.Weareprovidinginsightstofindfreshthinkingand newsolutionstosupportthetransitiontoasustainableandbiodiverseenvironmentandanet zerosociety.
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RENEW:RenewingBiodiversitythroughaPeople-inNatureApproach
RENEWisafive-yearpartnershipprogramme, deliveredinpartnershipwiththeNationalTrust,to developsolutionstooneofthemajorenvironmental challengesforhumankind:therenewalofbiodiversity.
REGREEN:Nature-BasedSolutions
Promotingurbanliveabilitythroughfostering naturebasedsolutionsinEuropeandChina,using evidencebasedtoolsandimprovedurban governanceacceleratingthetransitiontowards equitablegreenandhealthycities.
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CentreforRuralPolicyResearch
TheCentreforRuralPolicyResearch(CRPR)isan inter-disciplinaryteamofsocialscientistsfocussingon social,politicalandeconomicissuesattheintersection ofland,theenvironment,farmingandfoodsystems. WhilemuchofourresearchisconductedintheUnited Kingdom,wealsohaveaninterestintheseissues aroundtheworld,especiallyinEurope.
CentreforEnvironmentalArtsandHumanities
Bringingtogetherdisciplineswhoareunitedbyacommon concernandchallenge:theworkoftheartsandhumanities incurrentdebatesaroundenvironmentandsustainability, culturesandcommunities,narrativeandrepresentation.It aimstopromoteresearchanddiscussionconcerning historicalandculturalnarrativesof‘nature’andnatural resources,landscapeandplace,culturalknowledgesand values.
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HumanitiesandSocialScience,Cornwall
Evaluatesthedifferentwaysthatcitizenvoicesare heardandsilencedthroughparticipation,protest, andoppressionindifferentpoliticalsystemsand processesofgovernance.Akeythemeis EnvironmentalJustice.
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Voice,Participation,andGovernance
Voice,Participation&Governance(VPG)theme isinterested,principally,inhowcitizensmake theirvoicesheardandparticipateinpublic debate,decision-makingandsocialresistance. Weevaluatethedifferentwayscitizens'voices areheard,encouragedandsilencedthrough participation,protestandoppressionindifferent systemsofgovernance;including,forexample, howgovernmentstrytosilencetheircriticsor removespacesforcriticaldissent,howtheyexacerbateinequalitiesinpoliticalvoice,and whattheycando(oraredoing)toreducethoseinequalities.Wealsostudythewaysinwhich citizens'participationisevolvinginresponsetobothsocialchange-suchasthedevelopment oftechnologyorchanginginfluenceofsocialinstitutions-andpoliticalchange-suchas whengovernment'sfrustratestrikeactionbyunionsorprotests.
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IndustrialDecarbonisationResearchandInnovation Centre(IDRIC)socialscienceprojects
Technologicaladvancesarerequired todecarbonise,butwewillbeunable todeploytheserapidlyandfairly withouteffectivepolicyandregulation, communityacceptanceofthenew technologies,andasuitablyskilled workforce.IDRIC’swhole-systems approachmeansthatoursocial scienceresearchaddressesallthese issuesandacceleratesindustrial decarbonisationwhilstensuringajust transitiontonetzero
Theseprojectsfocusontranslatingthegreengrowthvisionintofairerlocaldevelopment andsocialsupportfortechnologydevelopment,including:
• Deliveryofaplace-basedjusttransitioninindustrialclusters(projectIA3.1)
ThePlace-basedJustTransitionFrameworkforstakeholderswillbecrucialtothe success(orotherwise)offuturedeployments ofcarbontechnologies
• JusttransitionsforindustrialdecarbonisationintheUK(projectMIP2.4)
• NetZeroSenseofPlace(projectMIP3.4)
• ACCESS
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SeaCURE:Acceleratingtheocean’s naturalremovalofatmosphericcarbon
TheSeaCUREproject,inpartnershipwithBrunelUniversityand PlymouthMarineLaboratory,isdevelopingunderstandingand testinghowwemightengineerseawatertoremoveCO2from theatmosphere.
TheSeaCUREsystemmakesuseofthenaturalbehaviourofthecarboncycle-the‘sucking’ of CO2from the atmosphere in response to the atmosphere-ocean CO2concentration differencegeneratedbyrisingatmosphericCO2levels.SeaCUREmassivelyacceleratesthis processbystrippingaround90%oftheCO2outoftheseawatersothattheCO2concentration differencebetweenairandwaterisenhanced,andtheamountofCO2 removedfromthe atmosphere is dramatically increased. Importantly, natural concentrations of CO2in seawateraremuchhigherthanthoseinair,suchthatprocessing1cubicmetreofseawateris equivalenttoprocessing150cubicmetresofair.ThismeansthatSeaCUREofferspotential benefitscomparedtoapproachesremovingcarbondirectlyfromtheair.
SeaCUREbuildsoncollaborationbetweenworldleadingacademicexperts(inoceancarbon andclimatemonitoringandmodelling,chemicalengineering,greeninfrastructureandlife cycle analysis) and engineering and technology-focused SMEs with expertise in carbon removal,waterprocessingandplantdesignandbuild.
SeaCURE’s marine-based greenhouse gas removal (GGR) pilot plant aims to be the first continuouslyoperatingDirectOceanCaptureplantintheworld.Itwillshedlighton(andwe hope,helpsolve)thechallengesassociatedundertakingseawaterCO2removalatscale As wellasaddressingtheengineeringchallenges,SeaCUREisdevelopinganddemonstratingthe approach to verify seawater carbon removal, and understanding the potential marine ecosystemimpactsoftheseapproaches,andwhatwouldneedtobedonetoavoidthem.
SeaCURE hasdeveloped and demonstrated thecomponentsofamarine-based Negative EmissionsTechnology(NET),withthepotentialtobeappliedatverylargescales.Thesystem makesuseofthenaturalbehaviourofthecarboncycle,i.e.the‘sucking’ofCO2outofthe
atmosphereinresponsetotheatmosphere-oceandifferenceinCO2concentrationgenerated by rising atmospheric CO2concentrations. We are now designing and building a demonstrationplantintheUKwhichwilloperateatarateof100tonnesofCO2removalfrom theatmosphereperyear,developingandtestingstateof-the-artapproachestoverifythat CO2removal, and carefully building the evidence based required for larger-scale plant deployment.
SeaCUREisacollaborationbetweenworldleadingacademicexperts(inoceancarbonand climatemonitoringandmodelling,greeninfrastructure,lifecycleanalysisandmarinelaw) and engineering and technology-focused SMEs with expertise in carbon removal, water processingandplantdesignandbuild.
BybringingseawaterintotheSeaCUREplant,thendroppingitspHwecanfacilitatethe rapidremovalofover90%ofthatwater’sdissolvedcarbon.WetaketheliberatedCO2to around99%puritywhereitisavailableforarangeofutilisationcasesandforgeological storage.IncreasingthepHofthewaterandreleasingittothesurfaceocean,thenatural exchangeofCO2betweentheoceanandatmospheredoestherest,andcarbonissuckedout oftheatmosphereuntilthereleasedseawaterischemicallyindistinguishablefromthatthat wassuckedintotheplant–andtheatmosphereisonestepbacktowardswhereitwas beforewestartedburningfossilfuels.
SeaCUREpresentsopportunitiestoscalethisapproachoffshore,mitigatingtheland-use challengesthatarepotentialbarriersforothermethodsofCO2removal.
Formoreinformation:
• Contact: p.halloran@exeter.ac.uk
• VisittheSeaCUREwebsite
WhyconsiderSolarRadiationModification(SRM)
Weknowthisisacontentiousarea. AstheIPCCpointout:“AlthoughsomeSRMmeasures maybetheoreticallyeffectiveinreducinganovershoot,theyfacelargeuncertaintiesand knowledgegapsaswellassubstantialrisksandinstitutionalandsocialconstraintsto deploymentrelatedtogovernance,ethics,andimpactsonsustainabledevelopment”.
Solarradiationmodification(SRM)–alsodiscussedinthecontextofgeoengineering–ispart ofasetofclimate technologiesthatmaybeusedtoprotecttheearthfromtheadvanced stagesofglobalwarming(IPCC2021)
Emissionreduction,evencombinedwithlarge-scalecarbondioxideremoval(CDR),maynot besufficienttoavoidsevereclimateimpacts.Theremaybeinadequateambitiontoreduce greenhousegasemissions,climatesensitivitymaybehigh,theimpactsatagiven temperaturetargetmaybeworsethanexpected,orsomecombinationofallthree.Forthese reasons,solarradiationmodification(SRM)isbeingdiscussedasapotentialadditional elementofanoverallportfolioofoptionstoaddressclimatechange. Inadditiontoavoiding, forexample,globalwarminginexcessof1.5°Cabovethepreindustrialera,SRMistheonly optionthatcouldrapidlyreducetemperaturesifanytargetweredeemedinsufficient.
Thereforeourworkisexploratoryandseekstonotjustifytheapproach,buttoexaminethe efficacyandmethodsusedtoensurethatIFsuchanapproachweretobeconsideredfor implementation,wewoulddosobasedonfirmscientificunderstanding.
OurresearchintoSolarRadiationManagement
SRMproposalswouldreflectasmallpercentageofsunlightbacktospace.Thisprovidesa surfacecoolingeffectandcouldpotentiallyreducesomeofthedetrimentalimpactsof climatechange.ExamplesofSRMincludebrighteningcloudsovertheoceanandinjecting reflectiveaerosols,ortheirgaseousprecursors,intothestratosphere.Researchersatthe UniversityofExeterusestate-of-the-artclimatemodelstoevaluatethesemethodsandtheir impactontheclimatesystem.Highlightsofthisworkincludecontributionstothe GeoEngineeringModelIntercomparisonProject(GeoMIP),morethan35UoEpeer-reviewed papersandleadauthorcontributionstorecentMontrealProtocol,UNEnvironmentProgram andWorldClimateResearchProgrammereports.
Aerosols,CloudsandClimate
Source:NationalAcademiesofSciences,Engineering&Medicine(2021).ReflectingSunlight: RecommendationsforSolarGeoengineeringResearchandRe-searchGovernance.Washington,D.C.: NationalAcademiesPress.ISBN:978-0-309-67605-2.DOI:10.17226/25762
Thefocusofourresearchgroupisatmosphericaerosolsandtheirrolesandimpacts inclimate.Atmosphericaerosolsconsistofmicroscopicparticlessuspendedinthe troposphereandstratosphere.Theyinteractwithbothsolarandterrestrial radiation(aerosol-radiation-interactions,ARI)andwithclouds(aerosol-cloudinteractions,ACI).Aerosolscanalsoplayakeyroleinclimatefeedbacks.
Climateinteractions:
Theinteractionsbetweenaerosols,cloudsandradiationarehighlightedasthekey climateuncertaintiesintherecentIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange (IPCC)assessmentreport.ARIandACIarebothveryuncertain.Whetheraerosols coolorheattheatmospherethroughARIdependsstronglyontheirabsorption properties,butalsoupontheirhorizontalandverticalspatialdistribution.Aerosol coolingthroughACIishighlyuncertainbecauseofthechallengeinrepresenting complexaerosolandcloudmicrophysicalinteractions,manyofwhichcannotbe adequatelyrepresentedinrelativelycoarseresolutionglobalclimatemodels.
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MODISTERRAreal-colourimage(22ndJune2019)oftheashcloudfromtheeruptionofRaikokevolcano,as seeninthecentreofthephoto.Ship-tracksarealsoreadilydiscernibleasline-featuresofbrightercloudinthe stratocumuluscloudsintheSEquadrantoftheimage.Accuratelyparameterisinginteractionsbetween aerosolsandcloudsclimatemodelsisextremelychallenging.
Imagecredit-CloudpatternssouthoftheAleutianIslands(takenfromNASAWorldview).
Combiningmeasurementswithstate-of-the-artmodels:
Toimproveourunderstandingofaerosols,clouds,andclimateinteractions,our studiesinvolveairborneandsurface-basedin-situmeasurements,retrievalsof aerosolandcloudphysicalandopticalpropertiesfromsatelliteinstrumentationand numericalsimulationacrossarangeofscalesbyusingprocess-scalemodelsaswell asregionalandglobalmeteorologicalandclimatemodels.
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CombattingClimate Change
CamborneSchoolofMines
CamborneSchoolofMines(CSM)isacombinedgeoscienceandminingschool.CSM takesinterdisciplinaryresearchandeducationinfundamentalandappliedaspectsof geoscience,georesourcesandmininghelpingtoaddressenvironmentalchallenges suchastheenergytransition,netzeroandresponsibleuseofnaturalresourcessuch ascriticalminerals.
CriticalMinerals
Low-carbontechnologies,particularlysolarphotovoltaic(PV),wind,andgeothermal,are moremineralintensiverelativetofossilfueltechnologies.Forexample,about3,000solar panelsareneededfor1megawatt(MW)ofcapacityofsolarPV. Seeprojectionsbelow... Theseprojectionsmaybeconservativeandwillmostlikelybelargerina1.50C-degree scenario,whichdemandssolutionstobeimplementedfaster,andatalargerscale.
Miningofcriticalminerals:
Criticalmineralsarethosethathavehigheconomicimportance,arerequiredforthe transitiontoanetzeroeconomybutareatriskofsupplydisruption.Theyareessentialfor the‘'green’technologiesthatwillallowthetranstiontonetzero.However,current productionisnotenoughtomeetfuturedemand.Forexample,productionofgraphite, lithium,andcobaltwillneedtobesignificantlyrampedupbymorethan450percentby 2050—from2018levels—tomeetdemandfromenergystoragetechnologies.
Becauseofthematerialintensityoflow-carbontechnologies,anypotentialshortagesin mineralsupplycouldimpactthespeedandscaleatwhichcertaintechnologiesmaybe deployedglobally.
ProfessorFrancesWall,ProfessorofAppliedMineralogyattheCamborneSchoolofMines, providedadviceforthekeyreport,ResiliencefortheFuture:TheUnitedKingdom’sCritical MineralsStrategy,publishedJuly2022.
Thestrategycontainsthreemainactions:toaccelerategrowthoftheUK’sdomestic capabilities;collaboratewithinternationalpartners;andenhanceinternationalmarketsto makethemmoreresponsive,transparentandresponsible.ItalsooutlinesGovernmentplans toworkwithCamborneSchoolofMinestoboostitspositionasaworld-leadingminingschool andlaunchadegreeapprenticeshipinminingengineeringin2023.
Miningiscriticaltoachievingamoresustainablefuture.ReplacingBritain’s31.5millionpetrol anddieselvehicleswithelectricalternativeswilltaketwicethecurrentannualworld productionofcobalt,andayear’sproductionofneodymium.
Weneedtoextractthesecriticalmineralsresponsiblyandsustainablytoreachournetzero ambitions.CamborneSchoolofMines(CSM)istrainingthefutureleadersofthemining industry.Studentsaretaughtresponsibleandsustainableminingpractices,frommine reclamationtocarboncapture.
OurInitiatives
ConvexSeascapeSurvey
Understandinghowcarbonisstoredintheseascapeandseafloor
TheConvexSeascapeSurveyisapioneeringcollaborationofworld-leadingscientists workingtoquantifyandunderstandbluecarbonstoredinthecoastaloceanfloor, andtheeffectsofmarinelifeuponit.Wewilldelivernewreliableopen-sourcedata whichwilleducate,inspireandenableinformeddecisionsonoceanuse,toharness thepoweroftheseainthefightagainstclimatechange.
TheConvexSeascapeSurveyseekstoexplorehowtheoceanperformsitsvitalroleasthe world'slargest carbonsink. Over fiveyears,theproject willnot onlyscrutinisethecarbon lockedinthecontinentalshelfseabedsbutwillassesstheroleofoceanlifeoncarbonstorage, aswellasassessinghumaninfluencesonseabedcarbon.FundedbyConvexGroupLtd.,the projectisfacilitatedbyBlueMarineFoundation,withscienceledbytheUniversityofExeterin collaborationwithpartners.
Understandingseascapecarbon
Wewillidentifytheoriginsofcarbonontheworld’scontinentalshelvesandexplorehowithas accumulatedandalteredovertime,discoverwherethebiggeststoresarefound,molecularly fingerprintwheretheycamefrom,andputthesizeofthesecarbonstoresintocontextinthe globalcarboncycle.
Humaninfluencesonseascapecarbon
Wewillmapthespreadofmultipledifferenthumanactivitiesdisturbingtheseabedovertwo andahalfcenturiestothepresentday.Byoverlayingdisturbancemapswithourmapsofthe distributionofcarbonintheseascape,andexperimentalmeasuresoftheconsequencesof bottom disturbance in the field and laboratory,we will identify historic and contemporary patternsofhumaninfluenceonbluecarbonanddetermineitsvulnerabilitytolossandrereleasetotheoceanandatmosphere.Wewilltherebymakequantitativelinksbetweenhuman pressuresontheseascapeandtheirimpactoncarbondioxideemissionsandidentifypotential managementoptionstoslowclimatechange.
Theroleoflifeandbiodiversityonseascapecarbonstores
Wewillstudyand monitor theeffectsonwildlifeand habitatsof protectionfrom seabeddisturbinghumaninfluencesatmultiplerepresentativelocationsworldwide.Wewillmeasure howlongittakesforcarboncaptureandburialtorecoverfollowingprotectionandquantify thecomplementarybenefitsofprotectedareastowildlifeandpeople,intermsofecosystem services,economicbenefitandincreasedhumanwellbeing. Findoutmore>>
TheCentreforResiliencein Environment,Waterand Waste(CREWW)
TheCentreforResilienceinEnvironment,WaterandWaste(CREWW)wascreatedand fundedinpartnershipbetweentheUniversityofExeter,SouthWestWaterandResearch England.BasedonourStreathamCampus,CREWWhasbeenestablishedtoundertake researchintosomeofthemostpressingEnvironmentalchallengesinourtime.Namely,how wecanmanagepreciousnaturalresourcesinwayswhicharesustainableandresilientinthe faceofclimatechangeandpopulationgrowth. Bringingtogetherourbestmindsfromacrossmultipledisciplineswithindustryexpertsto discoversolutionsthatwillprotectthefutureofwaterresourcesinthefaceofclimatechange andpopulationgrowth.
Itsresearchhorizonswillfocusonthemostpressingresearchchallengesthatimpactupon theprovisionofsafeandresilientwaterandwasteservicesacrosstheUKandoverseas, bringingtogetherengineering,nature,economicandbehaviour-basedsolutionsthatdeliver multiplebenefitstoourbusinessoperations,theenvironment,societyandtheeconomy.
NatureforClimateChange,PeatlandGrantScheme
Peatlandsaregloballyimportantecosystemsthatofferusawidearrayofvaluableservices, suchasstoringcarbon,providingcleanwater,floodalleviation,supportingbiodiversity,while alsoprovidinghistoricalandrecreationalbenefits.Unfortunately,humanactivitieshave causedsignificantdamagetotheseecosystems,leadingtofunctionaldecline.Peatland restorationaimstoimprovethedegradedpeatlands'ecohydrologicalfunctionbyusing varioustechniquestochangehowwaterflowsthroughthem.However,thereisstillmuchto learnabouttheexactprocessesandratesofrecoveryafterrestoration,aswellas theunderstandingthemosteffectiverestorationmethods.
Buildingonadecadeofresearchcasestudiesatthe UniversityofExeter(UpstreamThinking1,Mire-on-theMoors)thisprojectcontinuestosupportand evaluatepeatlandrestorationincollaborationwith theSouthWestPeatlandPartnership.Throughcocreatingappliedresearchquestions,wehavedeveloped multipleexcitingresearchthreads.Theseinclude:using remotelysenseddataandmachinelearningtomappeat extentanddepthsintheSouthwest,UK.
Improvingourunderstandingofpeatextentsallowstheseimportantcarbonstorestobe betterprotected;monitoringvegetationcommunities,waterquality,hydrologyand greenhousegasemissionsusingaspace-for-timesubstitutionexperiment–buildingan understandingofwhatreasonabletrajectoriesand timescalesofecohydrologicalrecoveryarefor Dartmoor;andusingcuttingedgetechnologyto measurehigh-frequencycarbondioxideand methanefluxesindifferentvegetationcommunities –quantifyingtheirannualcarbonbalanceguides restorationtargets,whilemulti-yearcontinuous datacandescribefunctioninrelationtoclimatic drivers. Findoutmore>>
NetZeroPlus
NetZeroPlusisfocusingonhowwemakethebestuseofour naturalresourcestomeetUKNetZeroCommitments.In particular,evaluatingtheroletreeplantingcanplayin meetingnetzerotargets,andexploringhowlandusemore widelycanbepartoftheanswertothechallengesfacing PeopleandNaturethiscentury.
TheNetZeroPlusteamworkwithpolicymakers,landowners andawholerangeofpartnerstoco-designresearchwhich helpusimproveourknowledgeandunderstandingoflanduseandhowchangesto UKlandusemighthaveconsequencesforthenaturalenvironment,greenhousegas emissionsandsequestration,foodandenergyproductionandsecurity,andawhole rangeofthingsthataffectpeopleandnature.Ourresearchincludes:
• Measuringgreenhousegasstoredintreesandsoilatnewandestablished Demonstratorsites
• Developingmethodologiesandappliedtechniquestobetterunderstandthe scienceandvalueofnaturalresources
• Workingwithdecisionmakerstoco-designinnovativedecisionsupporttools (seeADD-TREESinfo)whichcapturethesereal-worldconnections.
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ADDTREES
AI-elevatedDecision-supportviaDigitalTwinsforRestoringand EnhancingEcosystemServices
ADD-TREESisapioneeringArtificial Intelligence(AI)researchprojectproviding innovativetechnologiesthatwillaidcrucial decisionsaboutlandusechange.
LedbyProfessorDanielWilliamson,ADDTREEShasafocusoninitiativestocreatenew woodlandsandforestswithawiderangeof objectives,includingidentifyingtherighttree intherightplaceattherighttimeto determine:whichtreespeciesshouldbe plantedtoabsorbgreenhousegasesnow; whichtreespecieswillberesilienttofuture climatechangeandwhichtreespecieswillberesilienttopestsanddiseases.Itaimsto feeddirectlyintotheUKGovernmentEnvironmentAct2021targetofplantinghalfa millionhectaresofnewtreestoincreasecarboncaptureandothergreenhousegases aspartoftheUK’sstrategytoachieveNetZeroby2050.
Throughfourinterlinkedworkpackages,researchersattheUniversityofExeterand UniversityCollegeLondonaredevelopinguser-bespokedigitaltwinsandco-creating decisionsupporttoolsdirectlywithandforpolicymakersandlargelandholders.Our engagedusersincludeDefra,MoD,NationalTrust,NetworkRail,ForestryEngland, NationalForestCompanyandtheWoodlandTrust.
CarbonStorageinPasturethroughEcological Restoration(CASPER)
Goals
Governments,companies,andindividualsareincreasinglyinvestingandtrustinginmethods ofremovingcarbonfromtheatmosphereinordertotackleclimatechange.Butwestilldon’t properlyunderstandhowimpactfulmanyofthesemethodsreallyare. TheCarbonStorage inPasturethroughEcologicalRestorationproject(CASPER)seekstoaddressthatknowledge gap,inrelationtosomespecificNature-basedSolutionsscenarios.
WorkinginExeterandinBrazil,theCASPERteamisstudyingwhathappensinsoilto encouragecarbonstorage,andhowlongcarbonwillstaythereonceit’sstored.CASPER aimstosubstantiallyadvanceunderstandingofhowplant-microbesoilinteractionsand agriculturalmanagementpracticesimpactthepotentialforcarbonsequestration.
CASPERisnovelbecauseitlinksresearchinto soilsciencetothechallengesfacedbylocal communitiesinthetropics,whenattemptingto implementrestorationandregenerative agricultureinareasofseverelydegradedland. Specifically,itaimstocreatelowcost, accessiblewaystoimproveproductivityandsoil carbonstorageusingnativeplants,andatthe sametimeimproveeconomicandsocial outcomesforsmallscalefarmers.
Researchtofindaffordablewaystostore carbon,inharmonywithnatureandlocal people,isvital.Throughthelabandfieldwork, CASPERwillprovidedemonstrationsitesanda bodyofscientificevidenceaboutmethodsof soilmanagementandrestoration.Thisis expectedtoevidencemethodsthatdon'twork, alongsidethehopetofindsolutionsthatare viable,economical,andstorecarbonforthe longterm.
EffectivesolutionstorestoreBrazil'svastareas ofdegradedlandcouldbenefitlocal communities,mitigateclimatechanges,and helptoconserveandprotectothernatural resourcesinBrazilsuchasgroundwater
LinktoBrazil
Underutilised and degraded pastureland are most concentrated within the tropics. Within Brazil, the world’s largest tropical country, pasture covers 21.5% of the country. Land
managementoverthelastfewdecadeshasseverelydecreasedsoilfertilityandcarbonstocks inthesepasturelands,andasaconsequencemuchofthislandcannolongersupporteither agricultureorgrazing. Around54%ofBrazil’spastureareinmoderateorseverelydegraded condition,representingalmost1millionkm2(almosttwicethesizeofFrance).
In these degraded lands, invasive species often out compete native flora, changing the landscapeandmakingtherestorationofnativeecosystemsincreasinglydifficult. CASPER seekstodemonstrateaviablealternativetothisscenario,inwhichthesedegradedlandscould bemoreefficientlyrestoredandutilisedtoincreasecarbonstorage,biodiversityandsocial justice,whilstlimitingthepressuretodeforestnativetropicalhabitats.Duetothevastareas atstake,evenminorgainsinimprovingdegradedsoilsprovidehugepotentialforpositive biodiversityandsocietalimpacts,andincreasedsoilcarbonstorage.
The main areas under study between the University of Exeter scientists and our Brazilian partnersareintheAmazonarcofdeforestation,andasavannaareacalledtheCerrado.The CerradoisavastbiomewithasmanyplantspeciesasBrazil’sAmazonbutisoftenoverlooked inconservation,restorationandclimatepolicy.
Team
TheteamattheUniversityofExeteriscomprisedof7co-investigators,allbasedwiththe Geographydepartment.Theirexpertisespanstropicalecosystemfunctionandtropicalplant diversity, soil science, biogeochemical cycles and greenhouse gas fluxes, microbiology, pasturelandmanagement,andtheimpact of land management practicesonbothcarbon storageandlocalcommunities.Collectively,theyhavemanyyearsofexperienceconducting researchinthetropics.
The 5-year programme involves significant lab-based work in Exeter and fieldwork experimentationinBrazil,workingwithlocalpartners,communitiesandlandmanagersinthe region.ThefieldworkwilltakeplaceacrossvariousbiomesinBrazilrangingfromtropicalrain foresttosavanna,inclosecollaborationwithresearchersfromthethreepartnerinstitutions.
• InstitutoOuroVerde(IOV)–anNGOfocusedonsocialparticipationasabasisfor sustainabledevelopment.
• UniversidadeEstadualdeCampinas(UNICAMP)–apublicresearchuniversityin SaoPaulo
• Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA) – a state-owned researchcorporationaffiliatedwiththeBrazilianMinistryofAgriculture.
Methods
Theresearchwillcoverthreekeyareas.
• Identifyingthemechanismsthatcanpromotecarbonsequestrationinagricultural soils.
• Identifyingsolutionstoincreaseproductivityandsoilcarbonstorageindegraded Brazilianpasturesystemsusingnativeplants.
• Linksandsynthesisbetweenthesetwoelements.
TheExeterbasedlabworkwillfocusonmicrobialsequencingandanalysisofsoil/carbon interactions, within thecontext of growing varied plant species.Theaim is to providethe mechanisticdetailedunderstandingofplant,soilandcarboninteractions,whichcanthenbe appliedinthecontextoftheBrazilianpasturelands(alsowithpotentiallearningpointsforUK soils). Muchoftheworkwilltakeplaceinacontrolledlabenvironment,whichenablesthe isotopictracingofcarbonintosoilandstudyoftheresultinggreenhousegasfluxes,within varioussoil,microbiomeandplantcombinations.
TheworkinBrazilisconductedinpartnershipbetweenthethreeBrazilianorganisationsand membersoftheExeterteam. Areasofinvestigationinclude;thelegacyeffectofinvasive speciesandchemicalfertilizersonsoilchemistryandsoilmicrobialcommunities;theeffectof nativeplantfunctionaltraitsonsoilproperties;thepotentialoftreesforhydraulicliftofwater fromdeepsoillayers;theeffectofleguminousandnon-leguminoustreesonsoilcarbonand fertility; deep soil carbon stocks and the role of trees; the social and economic drivers of regenerativefoodproductionsystemsintheCerradoandAmazonia.
Funding
CASPERisfundedbyShell.IntheirrecentlypublishedEnergyTransitionStrategy(ETS)2024, Nature-based Solutions are shown as one of the key enablers for carbon abatement and removalintheoverallstrategyroadmap. CASPER stemsfrom theunderstandingthat the sciencebehindnetzeroisclear,asistheneedtoacceleratethephasingoutoffossilfuelsupply anddemand,transitiontorenewableenergyatscale,andinvestincarbondioxideremoval. ThisworkisattheheartoftheUniversityofExeter’sStrategy2030.High-qualitynaturebased solutions, independently verified to determine their carbon impact and social and biodiversitybenefits,willplayanimportantandnecessaryroleinmitigatingglobalemissions.
TheCASPERProjectprovidesaviableavenueforfacilitatingthescaleandpaceofchange required,withpotentialforrealworld,globalclimate,ecologicalandsocietalimpact.
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ClimateTech:CommercialisationandSpin-Outs
Thecarbonandecosystemmonitoringsolution
Quanterraofferscarbonandecosystemmonitoringfornature-based solutions,givingtheircustomersmoretimetofocusonecosystem management.FoundedinJan2021byDrRebeccaMitchell,DrRobert ClementandDrTimothyHill.
Wearenowdevelopinglow-costcarbonmonitoringtowersandsystemsto supportrealtimecarbonemissionMRV.
We’reworkingwithcommercialandacademicpartnerstopilotoursolutionaround theglobe.Ifyou’reinterestedinworkingwithus,eitherasapartner,customeror investor,we’dlovetohearfromyou.Pleasegetintouchbyemail:info@qtsys.com.
Sinkingseaweedforcarbonremoval
SeaweedGenerationisdevelopingtechnologytogrowseaweedsustainably andcheaply,makingitcommerciallyviabletosinkseaweedforbillion-tonnescalecarbondioxideremoval.
AlgaRay,sinksinvasiveseaweedintothedeepocean.
Bydoingthis,itnotonlylockscarbonawayforhundredsofyears,butalsoprevents environmentaldisasterscausedbytheseaweed(afloatingspeciescalledSargassum)whenit hitscoasts,whereitcanalsoseverelyimpacthumanhealthandlivelihoods.
Oursecondrobot,theAlgaVator,increasesautomationinseaweed cultivation.
TheAlgaVatorisdesignedtodecreasethecostofgrowingseaweed,sowecanuseitfor highvolumeproductssuchasanimalfeed,fertiliserandpackaging,orsinkitforcarbon dioxideremoval.
ForgeneralquestionsorinformationaboutSeaweedGeneration,pleasegetintouch withusviaemailatenquiries@seaweedgeneration.com.
Workwithworld-leadingclimatescientists:
TheUniversityofExeterhastheUK’stopfivemostinfluentialclimatescientists–allin thetop21intheworld(ReutersHotList).Intotal,wehaveover1,500researchand educationspecialistsworkingtodeliveragreenfuture.Ourexpertiseisexceptionally wide-ranging,coveringkeyareasfromclimaterisk,NetZero,decarbonisationand environmentalintelligencetocriticalminerals,renewableenergy,circulareconomy, naturerenewalandbiodiversity.
GlobalCarbonBudget
ProfPierreFriedlingsteinFRSattheUniversityofExeterleadsthedeliveryoftheannual GlobalCarbonBudgetreport.Thisisthemostcomprehensive‘stocktakeofglobalcarbon emissions.’TheGlobalCarbonBudgetOfficeisledbyProfessorPierreFriedlingsteinfrom theUniversityofExeter’sGlobalSystemsInstitutewiththesupportofmorethan100people from70organisationsin18countries.ProfessorPierreFriedlingsteinFRSattheUniversityof ExeterleadsthedeliveryoftheannualGlobalCarbonBudgetreport.Thisisthemost comprehensive‘stocktakeofglobalcarbonemissions.’TheGlobalCarbonBudgetOfficeis ledbyProfessorPierreFriedlingsteinfromtheUniversityofExeter’sGlobalSystemsInstitute withthesupportofmorethan100peoplefrom70organisationsin18countries.
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GlobalTippingPoints
LedbyProfessorTimLenton,theglobaltippingpointsteamarebringinghopetotheclimate crisis,withresearchintothe‘positivetippingpoints’thatcanaccelerateclimateactionand helpusavoidthegrowingthreatofnegativeclimatetippingpoints.Ourresearchershave identifiedPositiveTippingPointsinarangeofareas–fromagricultureandecosystem regenerationtopoliticsandpublicopinion.Someofthesearealreadyinprogress.Others areyettobetriggered.Understandingtheseareasandworkingtoidentifytheopportunities couldallowustoactivateTippingPointsthatcouldcombineintocascadesofpositive change.
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Howwecanworkwithyou:
GreenFuturesSolutions
GreenFuturesSolutionsistheUniversityofExeter'snewinitiativeforbusiness, bridgingthegapbetweenacademiaandthebusinessworld.Weworkin partnershipwithleadingclimatespecialiststobringyouinformedsolutionsthat canfuture-proofyourorganisationinthegreentransition.
Noothercityontheplanethousesasmanyoftheworld’stop100climatescientistsas Exeter,andourteamsareworkingtodelivergame-changingsolutionsthatarepositive forbusiness,nature,andclimate.
BringingtogetherExeter'sacademicexpertsandprofessionalserviceteams,Green FuturesSolutionsgivesyouaccesstotheskills,data,knowledge,innovationandresearch capabilitythatyouneedtodecarboniseandtransitiontoasustainablebusiness operation.
ExeterInnovation
AtExeterInnovation,weharnesstheworld-leadingresearchandeducationofthe UniversityofExetertocreaterealandlastingimpact,byworkingwithorganisationsof alltypesandsizesontheirinnovationjourney
AstheportalforaccessingtheUniversityofExeter’sinnovationsupport,recruitment services,andworld-classexpertise,ExeterInnovation’ssectorteamscanconnectyour organisationtotherightsolutionsforyourneeds.
OurExpertise:
DataScienceandAI SustainabilityandEnvironment HealthandLifeSciences
SecureCommunities RecruitandDevelopTalent CreativeEconomy
EmergingTechnology
OurServices:
EnergyFuturesandEngineering ResponsibleBusiness
Policy@Exeter
Policy@Exeterisanationalandglobalfocalpointforpolicymakersseeking partnershipsandexpertisealignedtoExeter’scapabilities.Ourroleistopromote, disseminateanddevelopresearchthatrespondstotheneedsofpolicymakers.
TheUniversityofExeterishometoworld-leadingresearchgroups,centresandinstitutes, coveringawiderangeofdisciplines,industrysectorsandpolicypriorities.Ourvisionisto bridgethegapbetweenacademicresearchfindingsandtheinsightsandinfluencethisbrings topolicymakingregionally,nationallyandglobally
Ourresearchershaveshapedandimprovedpublicpolicy,organizationalprocessand procedure,publicdebateandunderstanding.Weworkwithministerialandnon-ministerial departments,governmentagenciesandpublicbodies,localauthorities,thirdsectorand advocacyorganisations,toimprovedecision-makingatregional,nationalandinternational level. Findoutmore>>
GreenFuturesNetwork(GFN)
TheGreenFuturesNetworkisafreewayfororganisationstoconnecttothelatest environmentalandclimateresearch.Allarewelcometojoinregularwebinarsand workshops,aswellasCommunitiesofPracticefeaturinghundredsoforganisations sharingbestpracticeoncomplexchallengesincludingclimateadaptationandScope 3emissions.
ExeterResearchNetworks(ERNs)
ExeterResearchNetworksareinterdisciplinaryresearchgroupsthatbringtogether criticalmassacrosstheUniversitytotacklepressingsocietalchallenges.
