Keynote, Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)
Catalysing a sustainable future
Professor Karen Wilson The Centre for Catalysis and Clean Energy, Griffith University
The 2030 United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals offer a blueprint for the world to tackle rising CO2 emissions by transitioning away from fossil resources; if average global temperature rises are not to exceed 1.5 °C, a large proportion of existing oil, gas and coal reserves must remain unused. Such aspirations necessitate new chemical technologies to produce sustainable transport fuels and value- added chemicals, starting from raw materials such as biomass, CO2 or water as sustainable feedstocks. The drive for a ‘zero waste economy’ also encourages a circular approach to valorize waste feedstocks. Catalysis underpinned the development of the modern chemical industry, contributing to 90 % of chemical manufacturing processes, and facilitating energy efficient, selective molecular transformations. This presentation will discuss innovations in catalyst/process design required to overcome the scientific and engineering barriers to economically feasible processes for low carbon fuels and chemicals production from sustainable feedstocks.
© The Author(s), 2023
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