The webinar format will consist of a 20-minute presentation and a 10-minute discussion with an invited expert stakeholder, followed by a 30-minute open discussion (1 hour total).
During the webinar, Francesco Lamperti presented his paper entitled ‘The Public Use of Early-Stage Scientific Advances in Carbon Dioxide Removal: A Science-Technology-Policy-Media Perspective’ that was published in Environmental Research Letters and concluded that there exists a coordination gap between science, technology, policy and public support. Lamperti_uptakewebinar_2025.pdf (1.0 MB)
Some key takeaways from the discussion that was moderated by Livia Fritz with the participation of Mark Preston Aragones and Christina Larkin:
Scientific and technological uncertainties remain across many CDR methods. The panelists emphasized that acknowledging these uncertainties and ensuring transparency—both in research, MRV and communication—is crucial for building societal trust and supporting informed decision-making.
Some CDR approaches, such as BECCS, receive disproportionate policy and media attention despite limited technological spillover, as indicated by patent activity. The panelists discussed the risks of hype and overpromising, including how scientific estimates (e.g. removal potentials) can be strategically used to justify certain practical or policy directions. This underscores the need for conversations around responsibilities and accountability in the wider context of decarbonization strategies.
The Global North strongly dominates CDR research and innovation. Therefore, caution should be exercised when reinforcing existing inequalities in climate mitigation and given the importance of mutual learning and context-specific knowledge. In this regard, drawing on established agricultural and fertilization practices in Brazil to inform research and deployment of approaches like enhanced rock weathering (ERW) can have a strong potential.
Finally, the diffusion and impact of CDR knowledge are non-linear and context-dependent. Interactions between science, technology, and society often involve feedback loops and multi-directional flows of knowledge, calling for adaptive and inclusive approaches.
Speaker: Francesco Lamperti, Full Professor at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna and Scientist at CMCC Foundation
11 June 2025, 2 pm - 3 pm I ZOOM, online
here
The webinar format will consist of a 20-minute presentation and a 10-minute discussion with an invited expert stakeholder, followed by a 30-minute open discussion (1 hour total).
