About this Event
From Decarbonization to Carbon Removal: Designing Responsible Carbon Management for Net Zero
Achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions will require more than rapid deployment of clean energy alone. While direct decarbonization must remain the priority, carbon management—including carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR)—will play a necessary but carefully bounded role in addressing hard-to-abate emissions and legacy atmospheric CO₂.
Drawing on experience in U.S. federal government during implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, Jennifer Wilcox will explore with us how policy design, infrastructure planning, and rigorous measurement can ensure carbon management delivers real climate benefits without prolonging fossil fuel dependence. The presentation concludes with design principles for responsible deployment centered on transparency, permanence, and community protection.
Jennifer Wilcox is the Presidential Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering and Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, with appointments in the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. She also serves as Chief Scientist at Isometric and is a Senior Fellow at the World Resources Institute. Previously, Wilcox served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, where she helped guide national carbon management strategy under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Her research focuses on carbon capture, carbon dioxide removal, and the intersection of technology and policy in achieving net-zero emissions. She is the author of the first textbook on carbon capture and the CDR Primer, serves on the Energy & Environmental Science editorial board, and was named to the TIME 100 Climate list in 2023.
This talk is part of a series designed to bring together leading researchers across disciplines in science, engineering and business to advance understanding of solutions-focused topics relating to climate and energy.
Parking is available in the Brian Whalen Parking Complex (on Virgina Street near Lawlor).
Visit our website for more information about the series and its past speakers.
Agenda
🕑: 03:45 PM - 04:00 PM
Welcome
Info: Coffee will be served, so come a bit early and get a cup and a good seat.
🕑: 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Presentation
Info: Jennifer Wilcox will present her talk followed by a question-and-answer session.
🕑: 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Discussion and Reception
Info: Engage with other guests in solutions-focused discussions during a reception.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Joe Crowley Student Union: Great Room (402), 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, United States
USD 0.00
