Socioeconomic Aspects
Mining the Atmosphere explores sustainable innovations and socio-economic factors that support the transition to a carbon-binding society.
Modelling the human-energy-material nexus for a carbon-binding society
To enable a carbon binding society, Empa researchers are exploring how atmospheric carbon removal can be scaled and integrated into society within planetary boundaries. Drawing on expertise from three Empa labs, researchers are developing innovative methods to analyze feedback loops across energy, material and societal systems aiming to understand the systemic integration of Mining the Atmosphere technologies and their role in shaping a carbon-balanced future.
Project Lead: Dr. Harald Desing
Outlining digital Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) procedures for streamlined sustainability assessments
To bolster LCA studies within Mining the Atmosphere, Empa's LCA experts are developing a digital knowledge base that harmonizes key concepts across standards, enabling researchers to assess novel solutions reliably, even with limited LCA expertise.
Project Lead: Dr. Didier Beloin-Saint-Pierre
Enhancing carbon markets: systemic analysis of pathways and certification
To drive market-ready carbon-based materials and energy solutions, Empa researchers are exploring how certification can boost scalable, trusted solutions and business models. By analyzing international developments and technical pathways, they develop the foundation to understand effective certification systems that link carbon sinks with clean hydrogen production and conversion into synthetic fuels, chemicals and other materials. Aligning regulations and incentives with circular carbon pathways is essential for transitioning to a carbon-negative society.
Project Lead: Dr. Jens Hunhevicz