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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Climeworks has inaugurated its Mammoth plant in Iceland, the largest facility designed for direct air capture (DAC) of CO2 from the atmosphere
• It surpasses the size and capacity of its predecessor, aiming to significantly advance carbon removal technology
🔭 The context: DAC technology captures atmospheric CO2, which can then be stored underground or utilized in various products
• The Mammoth plant operates with geothermal energy, ensuring an environmentally friendly process
• Its design features modular units that can be expanded and reconfigured as needed
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Effective carbon capture and storage is crucial for combating climate change, particularly as atmospheric CO2 levels continue to break records
• This technology represents a proactive approach to removing existing greenhouse gases while still addressing the need to reduce future emissions
⏭️ What's next: Climeworks aims to scale its operations, with a target to reduce costs to $100 per ton of CO2 by 2050
• Future expansions are planned in Kenya and the U.S., part of a broader strategy to increase global carbon capture capacity significantly
💬 One quote: "This technology is fraught with uncertainties and ecological risks" (Lili Fuhr, International Environmental Law)
📈 One stat: Mammoth will capture 36,000 tons of CO2 annually at full capacity, equivalent to removing about 7,800 gas-powered cars from the roads each year
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