Safeguarding biodiversity in carbon dioxide removal approaches
Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is garnering increasing attention as part of ‘deep decarbonisation’ pathways to achieve 2°C and 1.5°C temperature limits. CDR technologies offer the potential to contribute to the restoration and protection of natural ecosystems, the achievement of development goals and the safeguarding of human wellbeing. However, CDR can also present risks to biodiversity, particularly those techniques that depend on large-scale manipulation of ecosystems and earth-system processes. The potential impacts of CDR activities on biodiversity need to be at the forefront of decision-making around whether to engage in research and the eventual deployment of these techniques. This event discusses a recent publication that develops a framework for assessing the impacts (positive or negative) on biodiversity and ecosystems from a spectrum of CDR interventions – land and marine based, as well as more technological options. While many CDR interventions present threats to biodiversity, certain options, such as regenerative CDR, may have positive impacts.
Kate has a PhD in climate politics from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Science from Imperial College London. She is currently a Research Fellow at Melbourne University’s Climate and Energy College. Kate has policy expertise on forest governance, climate change and carbon accounting and has almost two decades experience advising government and non-government organisations. She has been following the UN climate negotiations since 2009, focusing on the role of forests and land-use in climate mitigation and has published on rights-based approaches to ecosystem restoration, the politics of forest carbon accounting, and land-use for sustainable development.
Ellycia is currently a Research Fellow at the Climate and Energy College at the University of Melbourne and a future Postdoctoral Research Fellow on the TransClim project at the Center for Climate Change, Energy and Environmental Law at the University of Eastern Finland. Ellycia holds a PhD in the international governance of ocean acidification and a Masters of Environment, both from the University of Melbourne. Ellycia is also a member of the Rationale Advisors consulting group and previously worked as a Marine Scientist for Oceana, providing science-based policy advice for the Climate Change & Clean Energy campaign.
Anita has a PhD in climate governance from the University of Melbourne, plus a Masters in climate change and an engineering degree from the Australian National University. She is Director of Workforce Development at the Clean Energy Council. Previously she ran the University of Melbourne’s Climate and Energy College, and prior to that she worked for the Australian Parliamentary Library providing research and analysis to Members and Senators of the Australian Parliament on climate change and renewable energy issues.