C2GLearn
Governance of Bioenergy with
Carbon Capture and Storage
This topic aims to present a detailed overview of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) to an audience interested in understanding the basic principles of BECCS, as well as the benefits and risks associated with this Carbon Dioxide Removal approach and the underlying governance issues associated with it. It seeks to answer the following questions:
- What is BECCS and what role could it play to respond to climate risk?
- What do we know about the potential risks and benefits associated with this approach?
- What do we know about research, readiness, potential and cost of BECCS?
- How can an informed decision be made whether to scale up BECCS development and deployment?
- What are some of the governance considerations around BECCS?
- How might some of the governance challenges be considered or addressed in the context of current governance processes and mechanisms?
Webinars
This Webinar features three ten-minute expert overviews on the governance of BECCS. It will be followed by a 45-minute moderated Q&A session, during which audience members are invited to submit written questions via the Zoom chat. Speakers include:
Asbjørn Torvanger / Norway
Asbjørn Torvanger is a Senior Researcher at the Center of International Climate Research (CICERO). He is an economist studying climate economics and policy, focusing on energy and climate. Currently his projects include climate finance (choice of finance instruments for climate projects in developing countries), governance of biomass energy combined with carbon capture and storage, and design of climate policy after the Paris Agreement.
Daniel Sanchez / United States of America
Daniel Sanchez is the Assistant Specialist, Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management at University of California Berkeley. He is an engineer and energy systems analyst studying the commercialisation and deployment of energy technologies that remove CO₂ from the atmosphere. Sanchez’s work and engagement spans the academic, nongovernmental, and governmental sectors. As an Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist, he runs the Carbon Removal Lab, which aims to commercialise sustainable negative emissions technologies, and supports outreach to policymakers and technologists in California and across the United States. Prior to joining the faculty of UC Berkeley, Daniel was a AAAS Congressional Science and Engineering Fellow serving in the Office of Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO). He has previously held positions with the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Green for All, and the California Public Utilities Commission. He holds a PhD and MS from UC Berkeley’s Energy and Resources Group, and a BSE in chemical and biomolecular engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.Youba Sokona / Mali
Youba Sokona was elected Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in October 2015. Prior to this, Youba Sokona was Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group III on the mitigation of climate change for the Fifth Assessment Report after serving as a Lead Author since 1990. Youba Sokona is currently the Special Advisor for Sustainable Development at the South Centre. With over 35 years of experience addressing energy, environment and sustainable development in Africa, Youba Sokona is a well-known, leading global figure. In addition to these achievements, Youba Sokona has a proven track record of organisational leadership and management, for example as Coordinator of the African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) and as Executive Secretary of the Sahara and the Sahel Observatory (OSS). Youba Sokona’s advice is highly sought after, and as such, he is affiliated with numerous boards and organisations, including as a Member of the Board for the Institute of Development Studies, Honorary Professor at the University College London (UCL), and as a Special Advisor to the African Energy Leaders Group. In short, Youba Sokona is a global figure, with deep technical knowledge, extensive policy experience and an unreserved personal commitment to African-led development.
Moderator: Celine Novenario / Philippines
Celine Novenario is the Communications Officer at C2G. She has over 10 years of experience working in communications at the United Nations and World Meteorological Organization. Prior to joining C2G, she focused specifically on climate and water issues at WMO. Celine started her career as a journalist in the Philippines, where she was born and raised. She holds a Master’s degree in Global Affairs with a concentration on Human Rights and International Law from New York University.
Introduction
Presentations
Slide presentations
- Daniel Sanchez Potential benefits, risks, limitations, costs and uncertainties of BECCS [pdf]
- Asbjørn Torvanger Governance provisions and challenges of large-scale deployment of BECCS [pdf]
- Youba Sokona Situating Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage in the overall conversation on Carbon Dioxide Removal [pdf]
Q&A (Webinar 1)
Q&A (Webinar 2)
Campfire Chat
More information coming soon
C2G strives to achieve a diversity of views and backgrounds across all its events. To that end, it is always open to feedback and suggestions regarding future participants and topics, to ensure a range of perspectives by sector, gender, race, geography, age and other dimensions. It will not always achieve the necessary diversity in all circumstances due to issues of availability and familiarity, but aims over time to expand the range of contributors able to address its issues, subject to the broad principles outlined in its mission statement.
