Is net-zero by 2050 possible?
Abstract: The Industrial Revolution that lifted billions of people out of poverty and led to increased productivity and wealth has also led to increased carbon dioxide emissions, which in turn is changing our climate. To avoid the worst of climate change, the world needs to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. This talk will cover new clean technologies such as CO2 conversion and self-driving labs that will help Canada decarbonize our economy and accelerate discovery to get there faster.
Bio: Phil De Luna was Director, Materials for Clean Fuels at the National Research Council of Canada where he built and leads a 7-year $57-M collaborative R&D program focused on developing disruptive technologies to decarbonize Canada. His research on CO2 conversion and accelerated materials discovery has been published in high-impact journals such as Science and Nature and has been cited more than 9000 times over the past 5 years. He is a Governor General Gold Medalist, a Forbes Top 30 Under 30, a 2x TEDx speaker, a member of the Royal Society of Canada, an adjunct professor at the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Toronto, an Action Canada Fellow, and a former Federal MP candidate. He has appeared in several documentaries, co-hosts a podcast called “What’s Next In…”, and given hundreds of talks on sustainability, innovation, early career development, and diversity in positions of power.