Workshop on Enhanced rock weathering in Europe

Location : Ecole normale supérieure (ENS)- 24 rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France – Room E314 (Third floor)

Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is a carbon dioxide removal technology which has the potential for rapid large-scale upscaling, but has not yet full technological readiness. ERW refers to an artificial acceleration of the natural reaction of silicate-bearing rocks with atmospheric carbon dioxide forming carbonates in the soil – thereby removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. An acceleration of the reaction by orders of magnitude can be achieved by grinding rock material and spreading it over large land areas. As ERW is non-exclusive, it can be integrated together with other CDR technologies with potential synergies.

France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland have been identified as the most suitable countries in Europe for the application of ERW. For example, 40% of emission reduction targets for 2030 could be achieved in France, more than enough to offset current greenhouse gas emission from the agricultural sector in France. Multiple field-trials and start-up have been initiated to test ERW under field conditions. Nonetheless, ERW remains mostly absent in the portfolio of farming measures explored in ongoing research projects supporting the EU’s Green Deal ( e.g. Climate Farm Demo, ClienFarms). Key challenges are monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) and certification, low awareness level of the technology, European Union policy regulation, unclear environmental side effects & co-benefits for farmers.

The hybrid workshop brings together scientists from different disciplines & startups to discuss the barriers and opportunities of ERW implementation, identify research directions, and explore the potential of this innovative technology in combating climate change from multiple angles.

Organisers : Daniel Goll, Philippe Ciais & Yasmine Badrane.