Reshaping Fossil-free Carbon Supply Landscape for Accelerated Materials-based Net-zero Transition (RAN-Trans)

Achieving carbon neutrality targets by 2050 is widely recognised as the most formidable challenge globally, whilst simultaneously a key opportunity to build a greener future for the next generations. Utilisation of renewable energy sources (e.g., wind, solar) is largely addressing the net-zero commitment on energy transition, but this will only address 55% of all emissions.

Materials-based net zero, contributing to the remaining 45%, are more challenging due to the unavoidable utilisation of carbon products especially Carbon-containing Engineering Materials (CEMs) such as polymers, chemicals, and composites.

CEMs are ubiquitous to industries but around 90% of these CEMs are produced from fossil resources. Even though alternative carbon sources (e.g., biomass, wastes, and CO2) and various decarbonisation pathways (e.g., CO2/H2-to-chemicals, power-to-chemicals) are currently under investigation, the criteria to systematically evaluate the carbon matrix comprising not just the carbon footprint but also the quality of carbon resource is lacking.

This FLF will provide the evidence base to develop a carbon measuring framework by expanding the current carbon measuring matrix to not only quantify the carbon emission, but also embed carbon quality as a new dimension. Adopting this new framework, the existing net-zero technologies will be reassessed and new zero-waste solutions will be identified.

The impact will be maximised by developing national/global material-based net-zero strategic guidelines that address the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 11-13 and guide future industry direction, policy making, and public acceptance.