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BECCS – a climate friend or foe? A discourse depiction of the negative emissions technology BECCS in the UK

Errendal, Sofie LU (2021) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20212
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
The UK has recently increased its 80% GHG emissions reduction target to net-zero by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. To achieve this goal, the UK emphasizes deploying the technology Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). However, despite multiple challenges, BECCS is still prevalent in the UK. This paper aims to identify why this is so by investigating how BECCS is communicated, by whom, and the social ramifications of this. This research analyzed grey UK literature describing BECCS, which revealed that BECCS is communicated, mainly by the UK Committee of Climate Change, as necessary for the UK net-zero target and beneficial for the domestic economy and environment. However, such depictions can undermine climate action and lead to... (More)
The UK has recently increased its 80% GHG emissions reduction target to net-zero by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. To achieve this goal, the UK emphasizes deploying the technology Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). However, despite multiple challenges, BECCS is still prevalent in the UK. This paper aims to identify why this is so by investigating how BECCS is communicated, by whom, and the social ramifications of this. This research analyzed grey UK literature describing BECCS, which revealed that BECCS is communicated, mainly by the UK Committee of Climate Change, as necessary for the UK net-zero target and beneficial for the domestic economy and environment. However, such depictions can undermine climate action and lead to British biomass imperialism. Therefore, this paper suggests that it is vital that the UK continues its climate action despite BECCS promises and that the international community establishes biomass agreements to prevent biomass imperialism. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Errendal, Sofie LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20212
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage, Greenhouse Gas Removal, 2050 Net-Zero Target, Climate Change, Critical Discourse Analysis, Sustainability Science
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2021:040
language
English
additional info
Department/Affiliation: LUCSUS
id
9066828
date added to LUP
2021-10-14 07:37:35
date last changed
2021-10-14 07:37:35
@misc{9066828,
  abstract     = {{The UK has recently increased its 80% GHG emissions reduction target to net-zero by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. To achieve this goal, the UK emphasizes deploying the technology Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). However, despite multiple challenges, BECCS is still prevalent in the UK. This paper aims to identify why this is so by investigating how BECCS is communicated, by whom, and the social ramifications of this. This research analyzed grey UK literature describing BECCS, which revealed that BECCS is communicated, mainly by the UK Committee of Climate Change, as necessary for the UK net-zero target and beneficial for the domestic economy and environment. However, such depictions can undermine climate action and lead to British biomass imperialism. Therefore, this paper suggests that it is vital that the UK continues its climate action despite BECCS promises and that the international community establishes biomass agreements to prevent biomass imperialism.}},
  author       = {{Errendal, Sofie}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{BECCS – a climate friend or foe? A discourse depiction of the negative emissions technology BECCS in the UK}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}