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Achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions likely entails not only lowering emissions but also deploying carbon dioxide (CO2) removal technologies. We explored the annual potential to store CO2in building materials. We found that fully replacing conventional building materials with CO2-storing alternatives in new infrastructure could store as much as 16.6 ± 2.8 billion tonnes of CO2each year—roughly 50% of anthropogenic CO2emissions in 2021. The total storage potential is far more sensitive to the scale of materials used than the quantity of carbon stored per unit mass of materials. Moreover, the carbon storage reservoir of building materials will grow in proportion to demand for such materials, which could reduce demand for more costly or environmentally risky geological, terrestrial, or ocean storage.
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This content will become publicly available on December 6, 2025
Pathways to reduce global plastic waste mismanagement and greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
Plastic production and plastic pollution have a negative effect on our environment, environmental justice, and climate change. Using detailed global and regional plastics datasets coupled with socioeconomic data, we employ machine learning to predict that, without intervention, annual mismanaged plastic waste will nearly double to 121 million metric tonnes (Mt) [100 to 139 Mt 95% confidence interval] by 2050. Annual greenhouse gas emissions from the plastic system are projected to grow by 37% to 3.35 billion tonnes CO2equivalent (3.09 to 3.54) over the same period. The United Nations plastic pollution treaty presents an opportunity to reshape these outcomes. We simulate eight candidate treaty policies and find that just four could together reduce mismanaged plastic waste by 91% (86 to 98%) and gross plastic–related greenhouse gas emissions by one-third.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1942280
- PAR ID:
- 10587159
- Publisher / Repository:
- American Association for Advancement of Science
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Science
- Volume:
- 386
- Issue:
- 6726
- ISSN:
- 0036-8075
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1168 to 1173
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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