SHANGHAI, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- It is crucial to actively develop diverse low-carbon, emission and pollution reduction, and recycling technologies in order to address climate change.
At the WLA Zero Carbon Forum held here in Shanghai on November 3, world’s top scientists and industrial experts exchanged their insights on frontier research in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), emission reduction technologies, and advanced materials which accelerate global green transformation.
"Carbon Neutrality" — Frontier technologies For Climate Action Session
Frontier technologies play crucial role in carbon neutrality
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), there is a 50 percent chance of the annual average global temperature temporarily reaching 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level for at least one of the next five years.
An anticipated rise in the frequency, intensity and duration of heat waves and an associated increase in wildfires this century are likely to worsen air quality, harming human health and ecosystems, said the United Nations' (UN) agency.
“To achieve sustainability, carbon dioxide reduction technologies need to be developed,” said Jin Fangming, professor with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, stressing the importance of developing a new technology of net zero carbon emissions and high efficiency.
According to Jin, storing solar energy, and using it to drive carbon dioxide reduction offer great potential to gain a net zero carbon emission reaction system.
At the forum, 2018 Wolf Prize laureate in Chemistry Omar M. Yaghi introduced his pioneering work on carbon dioxide capture with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs).
MacArthur “genius” Fellow Yang Peidong explained his research on capturing carbon dioxide from the air and turning it into a sustainable transportation fuel; Jin Yong, academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, introduced technologies to turn fossil fuels into production resources to improve the resource utilization; Jiang Peixue, academician of Chinese Academy of Science, shared his research on CO2 large geological storage and enhanced unconventional oil/gas recovery; and Jiang Yi, academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, suggested full use of the low- grade heat, such as heat exhausted from industries, for space heating.
Key to boost application of frontier technologies
It’s not only the efficiency of the technologies that matters. The commercial feasibility of a technology also has the same significance, said Yaghi.
“Scientists are exploring possible solutions for critical issues, while entrepreneurs are making these possibilities become reality,” said Song Xuefeng, vice president of Shenergy Group, a state-owned company based in east China’s Shanghai.
It’s of great importance that a technology is commercially feasible. “Shenergy has been eyeing on providing green and affordable energies,” he said.
It’s in urgent need to make laboratory researches to be applied in scale, as time is running out for the world on climate crisis, said Yang. He called for joint collaboration among scientists, governments and investment communities to make the frontier technologies beneficial to humanity.
As one of the heavy-weighted forums ahead of the 5th World Laureates Forum (WLA Forum), the WLA Zero Carbon Forum is supported by Xinhua News Agency Shanghai Branch, China Economic Information Service, Sequoia China Charity Foundation, and Parkland Foundation. (Contributed by Huang Xiaolan, huangxiaolan@xinhua.org)
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