The Circular Economy of Carbon

In this dialogue, Professor Carlos M. Duarte, a researcher in marine ecology and climate change, and William McDonough, an American architect who contributed decisively to the concept of sustainability and the circular economy, will share the results of their joint research into a new systemic framework that helps articulate the pieces needed to solve the problem of climate change.

Professor Duarte will talk about the evolution of the natural carbon cycle: how it currently operates and the mechanisms that have allowed it to move vast quantities of carbon without disrupting the climate system. He will then discuss how human activity has perturbed this cycle, in order to shed light on the options available to bring it back into balance.

William McDonough will talk the audience through concepts like the new language of carbon, in the context of the circular economy, and will explain what technologies are needed to support its safe use going forward. The goal is to explore how this conceptual underpinning can be put to use in addressing the climate crisis.