Planetary carbon budgets, climate feedbacks, and the race to net-zero

Global warming continues to intensify, with debate about whether some aspects of climate change may be accelerating. Its impacts are being felt by increasing numbers of people around the world, while fundamental changes are also occurring in the Earth system, including in the dynamics of the global carbon cycle. What roles do human and natural carbon sources and sinks play in shaping the future climate? How are carbon–climate feedbacks changing (e.g., wildfires, permafrost), and what role can terrestrial carbon sinks play in the pursuit of net zero emissions? This presentation explores some of these questions.

Speaker: Pep Canadell is Chief Research Scientist for Environment at CSIRO and the lead for the Global Carbon Project.

About the speaker

Professor Josep “Pep” Canadell is a globally recognised climate scientist and Executive Director of the Global Carbon Project, Honorary Professor at the ANU Fenner School of Environment & Society, as well as Chief Research Scientist at CSIRO Environment. His research has shaped international understanding of the global carbon cycle, greenhouse gas emissions, carbon sinks, and pathways to net-zero emissions, providing critical insights for climate policy and action worldwide.

A contributor to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for more than 20 years, Pep is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and the American Geophysical Union. He has authored more than 300 scientific papers, been recognised as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher since 2017, and was ranked by Reuters as the world's eighth most influential climate scientist in 2021. Beyond research, he is a passionate science communicator who works closely with governments, industry and the public to translate climate science into practical solutions for a net-zero future.

Supported by

The Australian National University College of Systems and Society uses systems-based approaches to solve modern global challenges. Our expertise spans the interfaces between systems, technology, processes, the physical world, and the social world. By integrating capabilities across computing, cybernetics, mathematics, engineering, environment and society, and science communication, we tackle the complex challenges shaping the future.

Fenner School of Environment & Society

The Fenner School of Environment & Society within ANU College of Systems and Society is a leading center for cross-disciplinary environmental research, education, and policy advice. We bring together scientists, social scientists, and humanists to tackle global sustainability challenges. We advance understanding of environmental change and sustainability across seven priority themes: climate and energy; biodiversity conservation; Indigenous Peoples and the environment; water, soil, food, forests; landscapes and natural hazards; urban sustainability; policy and governance.

CSIRO

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is Australia's national science agency. Headquartered in Canberra, it drives research, commercial innovation, and industrial development across the country. It employs thousands of staff across dozens of sites in Australia and overseas. Its purpose is to deliver scientific solutions for energy, environment, agriculture, health, and technology.

HDR candidates and early-career researchers are also invited to a special conversation with Pep on Monday 31 August at 12-1pm. Light snacks will be available from 11:30am beforehand. Find out more: Achieving Research Impact: A Conversation with Dr Pep Canadell

Contact the host of CSS Distinguished Lecturer Series: Planetary carbon budgets, climate feedbacks, and the race to net-zero