Free lecture and air capture demonstration

When: 26 October, 6.00pm for 6.30pm with reception at 7.45pm

Location:  Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 1 Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JJ

Speakers:

• Professor Klaus Lackner, Lenfest Center for Sustainable Energy, The Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York
• Dr Tim Fox, Head of Energy and Environment, Institution of Mechanical Engineers

There is growing recognition that our efforts to curb our emissions of greenhouse gases are failing. Furthermore, governments across the world continue to struggle with the challenge of reaching a binding agreement that will keep the global mean temperature rise below the 2°C threshold.

As a result, it is becoming ever more important for us to seek ways of radically accelerating emissions reduction while simultaneously exploring with urgency the full range of tools we can use to tackle global warming.

One controversial technology, known as air capture, could extract carbon dioxide (CO₂) directly from the atmosphere. Although in the early stage of development, there is a growing interest in the contribution that could be made from air capture machines such as artificial trees which would facilitate both carbon removal and carbon recycling.

Professor Klaus Lackner is a pioneer of artificial tree technology and Dr Tim Fox a leading thinker in this area. Their lecture will examine the role that such a tool can play in tackling the challenge of global warming and provide a live demonstration of CO₂ removal, returning atmospheric air to its pre-industrial carbon condition. They will outline what might be possible from an engineering point of view and explore how, where and when deployment could take place.

If you and your guests would like to attend this lecture, please contact Richard Campbell on r_campbell@imeche.org or 0207 304 6833.