Transitioning to Net-Zero Carbon: Engineering Challenges and Opportunities: Proceedings of a Forum (2024)
Chapter: Front Matter
Proceedings of a Forum
NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001
NOTICE: The subject of this publication is the forum titled Transitioning to Net-Zero Carbon: Engineering Challenges and Opportunities, held during the 2022 annual meeting of the National Academy of Engineering.
Opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the forum participants and not necessarily the views of the National Academy of Engineering.
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-73063-1
International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-73063-5
Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.17226/28542
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Suggested citation: National Academy of Engineering. 2024. Transitioning to Net-Zero Carbon: Engineering Challenges and Opportunities: Proceedings of a Forum. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/28542.
The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, as a private, nongovernmental institution to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. Dr. Marcia McNutt is president.
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Preface
The world is about to undergo one of the greatest transformations in human history. To avoid irreparable damage to the natural world and to human health and well-being, societies must move away from a heavy reliance on fossil fuels to energy systems that result in no net release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
Engineers will be at the vanguard of this energy transition. They will develop, commercialize, implement, and evaluate the technologies that will result in net-zero carbon. They will work with natural and social scientists, policymakers, and the general public to provide guidance on needed investments and technological options.
The energy transition is already underway, and many countries and regions have committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and replacing them with renewable and other non-carbon-producing energy sources. But no one energy technology has emerged as the obvious solution to the immense challenges of this critical transition. All potential energy sources need to be on the table.
At the 2022 forum of the National Academy of Engineering’s annual meeting, five prominent engineers who are experts in the area of energy discussed the transition to net-zero carbon:
- Amy Halloran, director of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Grid Modernization Program at Sandia National Laboratories;
- Sarah Kurtz, professor at the University of California, Merced;
- Kathryn A. McCarthy, US ITER project director at Oak Ridge National Laboratory;
- José N. Reyes Jr., cofounder and chief technology officer of NuScale Power and professor emeritus in the School of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Oregon State University; and
- Gavin P. Towler, vice president and chief technology officer of Honeywell Performance Materials & Technologies and Honeywell UOP.
The forum was again adroitly moderated by television host and entrepreneur Deanne Bell. Drawing on her background in engineering and expertise in communicating with the public, she helped ensure that the forum was both substantive and engaging.
Engineers transform human life through the creation and refinement of new and existing technologies. Today they are being asked to undertake a task more momentous than any they have taken on previously. I’m confident that they will rise to the occasion.
John L. Anderson
President
National Academy of Engineering
Alton D. Romig Jr.
Executive Officer
National Academy of Engineering
