Global CO2 Initiative

Abstract Alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) upcycling of ethanol to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is an attractive emerging pathway for SAF production, especially in the US Midwest with large-scale corn ethanol production. Only 39% of the corn carbon is converted to ethanol, 20% is emitted as CO2. Capturing the CO2 to produce additional ethanol or SAF directly can increase... Source

“I was as surprised as anyone when I made it through, but I think my proposal’s uniqueness and research-informed approach made it stand out. Sometimes being an outsider is an advantage.” –Aidan Mickleburgh, U-M College of Engineering master’s student and one of five finalists for the OpenAir Collective Carbon Removal Challenge In his short career, Aidan... Source

Here, we use artificial intelligence to provide a comprehensive systematic map of carbon dioxide removal research. We find a total of 28,976 studies on carbon dioxide removal— 3 to 4 times more than previously suggested. Growth in research is faster than for the field of climate change research as a whole, but very concentrated in... Source

“In short, decarbonization and CCU are not just compatible. They’re complimentary. And we need all the tools we can get to meet the scale and urgency of the challenge we face.”  -CarbonCure’s Vice President of Customer Success, Brad Vickers This newsletter issue features an interview with CarbonCure’s Vice President of Customer Success, Brad Vickers, who joined the company... Source

“What if instead of continuing to drill for new oil and gas below ground, we used the building blocks of hydrocarbons circulating around us to make new, renewable oil?”  Dimensional Energy creates and licenses catalyst technology that converts carbon dioxide emissions into hydrocarbons – essentially our technology makes new, renewable oil from the air. These hydrocarbons are... Source

“If you are serious about your climate commitments, now is the time to act with urgency and clarity.” — Jonathan Goldberg, CEO of Carbon Direct Jon has over 15 years of experience in energy investing and project finance. His focus on climate change and negative emissions extends to his work at Columbia University where he sits on the board of the Center... Source

“Carbon is a building block of life. Our issue should not be with carbon itself, but with how we manage it.“ – CleanO2 Co-Founder Jaeson Cardiff CleanO2 is a clean tech company and champion of the circular economy. Their CarbinXTM technology captures the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and converts it into a valuable ingredient used in consumer and... Source

“CCUS technologies will remain very important for our sustainable future. There is an international consensus that CCUS is needed to address climate change, which is a very critical issue.” -Ah-Hyung “Alissa” Park, Ronald and Valerie Sugar Dean and Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, UCLA Samueli School Of Engineering Before joining UCLA in 2023, Alissa was... Source

“What makes me hopeful is seeing how quickly innovation and collaboration can drive positive change when we bring the right stakeholders together. Through our initiatives at the Forum, I’ve witnessed how commitment from diverse partners can accelerate solutions to complex challenges, whether it’s advancing circular economy solutions or building climate resilience.” –Fernando J. Gómez, Head, Resou…

“There’s no doubt that my University of Michigan (U-M) undergraduate engineering training and my U-M graduate business training have helped me successfully lead the company to launch commercial operations, raise over $20 million in capital and build a team of 14 people.“ Ryan is a seasoned entrepreneur and venture capitalist specializing in energy and sustainability who has co-founded... Source

“The Carbon Removal Challenge introduces a new generation of students to the world of carbon removal, highlights the carbon removal work already happening in higher education, and gives students a hands-on opportunity to create brand new solutions to the carbon pollution problem.“ Sue has held many occupational titles: consultant, advocate, researcher, and programmer. Additionally, she is... Sour…

“…I’m inspired most by the people and teams I have the opportunity to work with. I’ve been fortunate to be able to work with amazing students, staff, faculty and research colleagues, and I’m inspired by and take such pride in their accomplishments. It’s such an important part of my life to see them succeed.” Previously, Karen served... Source

“To take action, we need to understand that our actions make a difference because otherwise, why bother? That, for me, is the definition of hope. And it’s a hope based on science.” You are simultaneously both a professor, conducting research and teaching, and also a Chief Scientist at a separate organization. You are a prolific... Source

“Climate Cardinals isn’t just about a singular mission, but equipping and empowering others with the knowledge to tackle the unique climate problems all around us.”  Typically, the person featured in our newsletter answers a series of questions provided by the Global CO2 Initiative (GCI). However, the format for this feature on Quincy Alberhasky and Climate Cardinals is a... Source

“I heard it from a number of people early on in my career and definitely needed the advice to stick with it. When you are working in service of a higher goal, all of the smaller tasks are important, regardless of subject matter.”  Michelle serves as part of the life cycle analysis competency on the Energy... Source

By Volker Sick, Global CO2 Initiative, University of Michigan It is clear that solving climate change cannot be done with a single technology, behavioral change, or adaptation effort alone. Emissions reduction is clearly paramount so that we can eventually reach a net-zero carbon future. Much has been achieved already, for example large-scale deployment of wind... Source