Clearing the Air
The objective was to advance discussion of atmospheric carbon dioxide removal (CDR, aka negative emissions technologies, NETs) within BC. Despite being a certainty for any Paris Agreement compatible future, BC had been neglecting the need – which is not suprising as the scale, complexity, and implications of CDR are sobering.
The need for a made-in-BC strategy was apparent, so I authored a primer to kickstart its creation. With a focus on getting impact, I crafted a narrative which: tore down disciplinary/technological silos; and built bridges across policy, industry, and research communities. The first half is a call-to-action, it establishes: what is CDR; why it is needed; and how our current trajectory is insufficient. The second half responds to this call-to-action with a strategy framework to build upon.
As a trusted expert in the climate action community, the report succeeded in opening up conversation during its development and post-publication. Uptake included: public webinars; CBC radio interviews; local papers; a Globe and Mail op-ed; and several briefings to BC deputy ministers and assistant deputy ministers. My work’s influence is also evident in the BC Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy’s (now NorthX Climate Tech) subsequent BC Carbon Management Blueprint. Together, we succeeded in shifting policy discussion from a narrow focus on traditional industrial emitters, to one which addresses carbon management comprehensively.
