The world has exceeded the 1.5 degrees Celsius global temperature target set by the Paris Agreement in 2015, according to recent findings from the MIT Energy Initiative.
Introduction
The world has exceeded the target to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius set by the Paris Agreement in 2015.
Study Findings
A team of researchers from the MIT Energy Initiative found that:
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Many climate-stabilization plans are based on questionable assumptions about the future cost and deployment of DAC.
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Strategies combining dramatic cuts in carbon dioxide emissions with direct air capture rely on overly optimistic assumptions about how much CO2 could be removed by DAC.
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The likelihood of deploying DAC at the gigatonne scale is highly uncertain.
Engineering Challenges
The researchers identified three unavoidable engineering challenges:
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Scaling up: DAC technology must be scaled up to meet global demands.
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Energy requirement: DAC requires significant amounts of low-carbon electricity, which can be a challenge.
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Cost: The cost per tonne of CO2 removed is estimated to be in the range of $1,500 to $5,000.
Current Status
The largest DAC plant in operation today removes just 4,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, and the price to buy the company’s carbon-removal credits on the market today is $1,500 per tonne.
Recommendations from the MITEI Team
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Continued Research: The MITEI team recommends continued research into DAC development.
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Warning Against Relying on DAC: They warn against relying on DAC as a hero for meeting net-zero emissions goals due to its high stakes and uncertain future.
