Britain must spend £30bn to strip CO2 from atmosphere and hit net zero, experts warn

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🗞️ Driving the news: Britain is advised to invest £30bn in direct air carbon capture systems to meet its net zero goals by 2050, according to a government-funded report by Energy Systems Catapult
• These systems would annually remove up to 48 million tonnes of CO2, pumping it into undersea reservoirs

🔭 The context: The UK's goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 necessitates this technology, especially to offset aviation emissions, which are unlikely to be eliminated through sustainable fuels alone
• Existing global CO2 emissions stand at 37 billion tonnes annually, with a significant portion remaining in the atmosphere

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Implementing direct air capture is crucial not only for reducing atmospheric CO2 but also for maintaining energy security and independence in the UK
• The North Sea’s potential to store about 78 billion tonnes of CO2 positions the UK as a leader in carbon capture capability

⏭️ What's next: The UK plans to scale up these technologies significantly, aiming to operationalize them by 2040 and beyond, supported by a government investment of £20bn in carbon capture and storage initiatives and up to £100m in related research and innovation

💬 One quote: “We have credible pathways to net zero but we need to accelerate the pace and scale of deployment to levels not yet seen,” said Guy Newey, chief executive of Energy Systems Catapult

📈 One stat: Direct air capture could collect 38-48 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2050

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