Large-scale CO2 removal via enhanced rock weathering (online lecture)

Professor David Beerling, University of Sheffield

Enhanced silicate rock weathering (ERW), deployable with croplands, has potential use for atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) removal (CDR), which is now necessary to mitigate anthropogenic climate change. ERW also has possible co-benefits for improved food and soil security, and reduced ocean acidification. The talk will discuss the challenges and opportunities of ERW deployment, including the potential for excess industrial silicate materials (basalt mine overburden, concrete, and iron and steel slag) to obviate the need for new mining, as well as uncertainties in soil weathering rates and land–ocean transfer of weathered products.

Further Reading

Beerling, D.J. 2020. Potential for large-scale CO2 removal via enhanced rock weathering with croplands. Nature, 583, 242–248.

David is the Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation and Sorby Professor of Natural Sciences in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences (APS) at the University of Sheffield.
He has written two popular science books: “The Emerald Planet” and “Making Eden”.

This lecture will be held as a Zoom meeting. Society members for whom we have email addresses will be sent an invitation a few days before the event. If you are a member but are not on our email list, or a non-member who would like to join the meeting, please email the society’s meetings secretary to request an invitation.