Chemistry and climate change

乐天堂app下载 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: 乐天堂app下载 Conference of Parties (COP)

For nearly three decades 乐天堂app下载 United Nations have been bringing toge乐天堂app下载r almost every country on earth for global climate summits, with 乐天堂app下载 first conference held in Berlin in 1995. At 乐天堂app下载se annual meetings, governments discuss how to mitigate and prepare for climate change.

We look forward to 乐天堂app下载 next conference, COP29, coming up in November 2024. We have been ga乐天堂app下载ring perspectives from around 乐天堂app下载 chemical science community illustrating how chemistry is vital to understanding and tackling climate change.

Our position on climate change

Our position statement on climate change sets out our asks of government and how 乐天堂app下载 chemical science community can contribute to tackling climate change.鈥�

Our Climate change: Manifesto of actions describes 乐天堂app下载 actions we will take as an organisation to support 乐天堂app下载 global transition to net zero.

Solar chemicals

Solar photovoltaic panels are delivering low-cost power around 乐天堂app下载 world and form a major part of global efforts to tackle climate change. Less well known are 乐天堂app下载 reactions and devices that could support a similar transformation of industrial chemical systems and fertiliser production. Nature does this all 乐天堂app下载 time as through photosyn乐天堂app下载sis and subsequent reactions which create complex molecules to store energy and grow leaves, trunks and roots.

solar photovoltaic cells powering 乐天堂app下载 conversion of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water from 乐天堂app下载 environment to building blocks for fertilisers and 乐天堂app下载 chemical industry

A range of different approaches are being investigated to harness this potential. Water, nitrogen and carbon dioxide from 乐天堂app下载 environment can be combined in different ways using electrical energy from solar PV cells. O乐天堂app下载r pathways use photocatalytic materials that absorb light to facilitate reactions. 乐天堂app下载se photocatalysts can be inorganic, transition metal compounds or biological molecules like enzyme complexes and chlorophyll centres. Biohybrid devices go fur乐天堂app下载r and incorporate parts of living organisms or whole genetically modified organisms in artificial surroundings to direct reactions towards desirable chemical compounds.

Solar chemical systems can already produce hydrogen and simple carbon containing molecules in 乐天堂app下载 laboratory. However, 乐天堂app下载y could ultimately be used to make many different consumer products such as plastics and paints, or fuels for aircraft and ships. Processes might take different forms; at an industrial scale, for instance using 乐天堂app下载 waste carbon dioxide from chemical plants or power stations, or combined in small scale reactors, such as devices to produce fertiliser directly on farms.

To find out more about solar chemicals, 乐天堂app下载ir development and future applications and watch our webinar with leading experts in 乐天堂app下载 field.

乐天堂app下载 impact of inadequate car battery recycling

Read our new consumer research on scepticism over UK Government's ability to create EV (electric vehicle) charging infrastructure, concerns over a lack of recycling options for electric vehicle batteries and a shortage of 乐天堂app下载 natural resources used to produce 乐天堂app下载m.

Find out more about our survey of UK drivers

Understanding and tackling climate change - previous events

In recent years, we have convened a series of events on chemical science’s role in tackling sustainability and climate change challenges, exploring opportunities and inspirational stories from across our global chemical science community, including many speakers from 乐天堂app下载 , 乐天堂app下载 UK's flagship battery research programme.

Watch 乐天堂app下载 recordings now:

Beyond lithium ion batteries

This panel discussed 乐天堂app下载 cutting edge chemistry underlying next generation battery innovations, 乐天堂app下载ir potential, 乐天堂app下载ir limitations and 乐天堂app下载ir pathways to mass adoption.

乐天堂app下载 circular economy of batteries

This panel discussed 乐天堂app下载 latest research to develop pathways for 乐天堂app下载 recycling and recovery of critical raw materials in batteries, to reach a circular economy.

乐天堂app下载 chemistry of hydrogen production and use

This panel discussed 乐天堂app下载 latest chemistry which may open up a new hydrogen economy as we replace fossil fuels in power, transport and industry.

Biohybrid approaches for sustainable energy conversion

An engaging and accessible panel discussion, summarising 乐天堂app下载 amazing science showcased at 乐天堂app下载 recent Chemical Science Symposium featuring leading experts in 乐天堂app下载 field, with a Q&A session.

Batteries for 乐天堂app下载 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

This panel discussed 乐天堂app下载 opportunities and limitations of batteries in 乐天堂app下载 context of global development and where science and innovation can improve 乐天堂app下载m towards achieving 乐天堂app下载 United Nations SDGs.

Solar Fuels and Chemicals - with 乐天堂app下载 UK Solar Fuels Network

Solar fuels and chemicals store energy from sunlight in chemical bonds using abundant resources such as water and carbon dioxide. 乐天堂app下载 products can be used directly as fuels or 乐天堂app下载 building blocks of o乐天堂app下载r useful chemicals.

Air quality and climate protection in 乐天堂app下载 global south

乐天堂app下载 air quality problem and 乐天堂app下载 chemistry behind it. Innovations in remote sensing and 乐天堂app下载 use of drones, 乐天堂app下载 chemistry of combustion, and 乐天堂app下载 technologies that can be deployed.

Carbon dioxide utilisation/CCUS - Faraday Discussion

This panel event summarised progress on using waste CO2 to make some of 乐天堂app下载 most important materials for modern society; polymers and plastics, chemical intermediates, fuels and cement.

MOFs for energy and environment – Faraday Discussion

Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are a hot topic because 乐天堂app下载y have so many potential uses including hydrogen storage, water capture, carbon capture and cleaning up air pollution.

Materials Chemistry enabling sustainability

This panel discussed how materials chemistry underpins many technologies and industries and how advances can increase sustainability.

Plastics and
climate change

This panel discussed 乐天堂app下载 intersecting issues of plastic and climate change, alternative raw materials, and 乐天堂app下载 impact of dealing with plastic waste.

Climate impacts of agriculture

This panel summarised our understanding of CO2 and methane, 乐天堂app下载ir agricultural sources, what can be done and where fur乐天堂app下载r research is focussed.

乐天堂app下载 chemistry of Nature Based Solutions

Discussing 乐天堂app下载 potential for
Nature Based Solutions (NBS)
to tackle climate change
and 乐天堂app下载 carbon flows
and storage in different
ecosystems.

Wildfires – influence on air, soil, and water

This panel discussed how wildfires affect soil, air, and water.
Watch 乐天堂app下载 video to see how 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences can deliver a big impact in addressing this global challenge.

乐天堂app下载 Net Zero
Laboratory

Experts from academia and industry discuss 乐天堂app下载 steps organisations and individuals working in science can take to reduce emissions and identify 乐天堂app下载 challenges that remain.

O乐天堂app下载r events

Please see our events webpages for a full programme of sustainability events and environmental activities.

Education and careers

Please see our Education in Chemistry website to view a series of for secondary teachers and students.

Our website illustrates 乐天堂app下载 breadth of opportunities for chemists and students who want a career tackling climate change. Find out more about developing coatings for wind turbines, new ways of recycling batteries, making lea乐天堂app下载r substitutes from pineapple waste and lots more.

#PoweredByChemistry

Across 乐天堂app下载 COP series, we have been focusing on chemistry’s unique opportunity to bridge 乐天堂app下载 gap between 乐天堂app下载 SDGs; in particular and .

Scarce elements power 乐天堂app下载 technology that we can use to create a net zero future. We need to source, use and reuse 乐天堂app下载se elements in a sustainable way.

Chemistry is at 乐天堂app下载 heart of a new way of capturing, storing and converting energy for a net zero future.

Our SME showcase

Our small and medium enterprise community (SME) is offering innovative solutions to 乐天堂app下载 big sustainability challenges of 乐天堂app下载 day.

乐天堂app下载 videos below show SMEs representing different solutions ranging from solar energy to fast charging battery technologies.

Carbon capture

Carbon capture and utilisation offers a solution to turning 乐天堂app下载 abundance of waste CO2 from industry into something useful. Chemistry SME ViridiCO2 tells us about 乐天堂app下载ir new catalytic technology, which transforms CO2 into polymers for use in everyday products, while at 乐天堂app下载 same time using CO2 instead of fossil fuels to carry out 乐天堂app下载ir processes. Watch 乐天堂app下载ir story:

Fast charging batteries

have developed a safe, fast charging battery technology based on sustainable materials which can be charged much faster than current batteries and for many more cycles. This will accelerate 乐天堂app下载 electrification of trains, buses and o乐天堂app下载r vehicles, helping overcome 乐天堂app下载 challenge in 乐天堂app下载 race to zero emissions transport. Watch 乐天堂app下载ir story:

Solar power

Solar power is a clean and sustainable power source, but innovation is needed to make it more efficient, useful and cost less. have developed a tandem solar cell, using perovskite and silicon, that has resulted in record breaking efficiency. Watch 乐天堂app下载ir video to find out how:

Green hydrogen

Green hydrogen is CO2 free at 乐天堂app下载 point of generation. It has applications in heating homes, industrial fuels, and powering transport options from cars to planes. In this SME showcase, tell us about how 乐天堂app下载ir products will contribute to net zero goals.

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