Carbon Economy and Policy

To achieve the Paris climate targets, the world needs to rapidly transition to a net-zero carbon economy. The carbon emissions left after decarbonizing electricity and electrifying other sectors should thus either be compensated via enhancement of carbon sinks, both natural and technological, or eliminated via net-zero carbon technologies. Climate policy plays a fundamental role in spurring innovation and investments in the needed net-zero carbon technologies and carbon removal methods. At the same time, the needed boom in these innovations represents an unprecedented opportunity for economic development that needs to be taken by emerging businesses offering nascent technologies and innovative business models.

The CP lab’s research in carbon economy and policy aims to provide a deeper understanding of technological and policy options to drive transformative change from the current linear and carbon-intensive economy to a future circular and net-zero carbon economy.

Our research currently covers the following areas:

• Roadmaps of net-zero carbon technologies in hard-to-decarbonize sectors (e.g., aviation, marine shipping, agriculture etc.)
  
• Technological, environmental and economic assessments of technologies
  
• Policy pathways to enable carbon economy
  
• Bioeconomy: agriculture, biofuels, bioplastics and biochemicals
  
• Carbon removal technologies
  
• Power-to-X technologies
  
• Circular carbon modelling/biogenic carbon modelling
  
• Life cycle assessment and risk assessment methodologies
  
• Circular and safe- and sustainable by-design criteria