When: Thursday, 7 November 2024, 17:00
Where: Konferenzraum, Department for Political Science, NIG, 2nd floor, Universitätsstraße 7, 1010 Vienna
Speaker: Lina Lefstad (Lund University)
Moderation: Alina Brad (Department of Political Science, University of Vienna)
Discussant: Etienne Schneider (Department of Development Studies, University of Vienna)
Abstract
A transformation of global energy systems is essential to achieve climate change mitigation targets. Governments worldwide are increasingly supporting the commercialization of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, with ambitious initiatives coming from across the globe – including from the EU. While CCS is deemed "unavoidable" for meeting global temperature goals, its deployment raises concerns about justice and fairness, particularly regarding health, access, and livelihoods, and risks delimiting our social imaginary for what are possible alternative responses to climate change. The technology has been subject to polarized debates: some see it as a technical solution with manageable cost barriers, while others fear it could deter real climate action. Both perspectives hold merit, as CCS can reduce global warming but also potentially worsen environmental and social inequalities.
But what is CCS technology? And what can we reasonably expect from it? In this lecture, I will introduce what CCS technology is, its technical challenges and potential justice implications, and discuss different CCS pathways for climate justice.
