Sustainable Solutions Lab
Recent Publications
Building materials could store more than 16 billion tonnes of CO2 annually
Science | January 10, 2025
We explore the scale of CO2 that might be stored annually in construction materials, including concrete, brick, asphalt, wood, and plastics, and find that fully replacing these conventional materials with CO2-storing alternatives could sequester >16 Gt of CO2 each year.
Food without agriculture
Nature Sustainability | November 6, 2023
Edible molecules can be directly synthesized without agricultural feedstocks, saving land, water and GHG emissions. Dietary fats made from natural gas feedstock and average U.S. electricity would emit ~0.8 gCO2-eq/kcal (and 0 if using atmospheric carbon and renewable electricity) compared to 1-3 gCO2-eq/kcal from agricultural fat production.
Pathways to net-zero emissions aviation
Nature Sustainability | January 30, 2023
We assess nine possible pathways to achieve net-zero emissions from aviation, including changes and trade-offs in demand, energy efficiency, propulsion systems, and alternative fuels for both passenger and freight transport, as well as atmospheric carbon removal to offset non-CO2 radiative forcing.
Recent News
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Searching for the Next Hot Cooking Oil? It Could Be From Algae
An oil made by fermenting microalgae is touted for health and sustainability—but will people bite? -
What Running Tide's demise means for carbon removal's future
The buzzy marine startup blamed its downfall on a lack of demand. But would a more mature market have saved it?
