Can direct air capture make a real impact on climate change?

NPR’s “The World” podcast interviewed Monica Lupion, assistant professor of teaching in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, for a story about Climeworks, one of the first and best-known companies to direct air capture — or pull carbon dioxide directly out of ambient air for storage or use, which can help lower emissions in the atmosphere.

“I liked the technology. I think the technology is beautiful,” she said. “They managed to achieve a very difficult task, which is capturing carbon dioxide from a very dilute atmosphere. So, I think that's great.” Lupion expressed skepticism that taking carbon dioxide directly out of the air will ever be able to make a big difference because it’s inefficient.

Listen to the story here.