Modern society depends on ammonia (NH3), a chemical compound that plays a central role in modern agriculture, delivering nitrogen essential for soil fertility. Ammonia is also a key feedstock in plastics, rubber, and other products.
Current methods for making ammonia produce significant carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions—almost 2% of the global total. Low-carbon production methods can dramatically reduce these emissions. Low-carbon production of ammonia also creates a fuel that could help decarbonize a range of sectors.
In November, a team including several scholars from the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs released the ICEF Low-Carbon Ammonia Roadmap, which explores a number of topics including low-carbon ammonia production options, infrastructure needs, potential uses for low-carbon ammonia, and policy options.
CGEP hosted a discussion with the report’s co-authors as they presented their findings and recommendations.
Moderator:
Panelists:
- Zhiyuan Fan, Ph.D. student and Research Associate, Columbia University
- Dr. Julio Friedmann, Chief Scientist and Chief Carbon Wrangler, Carbon Direct
- Ann-Kathrin Merz, Industry Analyst, First Ammonia and Research Assistant, Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia SIPA
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