Carbon Neutrality Research Center (CNRC) | Institute of Atmospheric Physics was established on December 25, 2020, focusing on the basic and applied studies of geoscience related to carbon neutrality. CNRC aims to provide the research framework for carbon neutrality “By continuing IAP’s strong research capabilities regarding ‘orderly’ adaptations to the human-natural systems, exploring natural climate solutions, and developing carbon emission/source assessment methods and technical platforms. CNRC will achieve these goals by applying the latest satellite remote sensing and data analysis techniques to Earth system sciences and interdisciplinary research.”

 

Division Director:

Prof. Yi Liu

 

Prof. Liu Yi is a professor at the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is the Director of the Carbon Neutrality Research Center (CNRC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chair of the China-EU Expert Group on Satellite Remote Sensing monitoring of Greenhouse Gases, and Vice Chair of the Satellite Meteorological Committee. He is the main organizer and contributor of the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, also known as the "Carbon Project". His responsibilities also include design, development, and data application research surrounding the Chinese Carbon Dioxide Satellite (TanSat). He developed the high-precision inversion and flux calculation methods for greenhouse and other polluting gases from satellite measurements, and promoted breakthroughs in atmospheric greenhouse gas satellite remote sensing methods and applications in China. He has published more than 100 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, including Nature.

 

China has committed to achieve carbon neutrality (net-zero carbon emissions) by 2060. To achieve this goal, carbon emissions must peak before 2030. This carbon neutrality strategy will be the largest formal human adaptation effort in this century, by altering the current evolutionary course of the climate system and by creating new frontiers in atmospheric and climate science. On the path toward this milestone, scientists must understand and resolve a number of issues, such as responses and feedbacks throughout the dynamic Earth system, direct and indirect impacts on climate and the environment, carbon inventories on regional and global scales, renewable energy research, and pathways optimization. Climatologists and research scientists will consider, but will not limit themselves to answering the following questions:

 

1) What are the key scientific issues regarding "carbon neutrality"?

2) The gaps between climate “knowns”, “unknowns”, and applying the right research and action.

3) What databases and techniques should researchers strive to improve to support "Carbon neutrality"?

4) How to create a bridge between natural sciences and social sciences?

 

 

1. Defining and further developing the MVS system. 

2. The full scientific potential of current and future generations of carbon satellites, the carbon cycle process models, and the atmospheric transport models. 

3. Establishing an international standard Fourier transfer infrared spectrometer (FTIR) station network.

4. Creating an urban carbon monitoring network. ？

 

1. Multiscale Coupled Data Assimilation. 

2. Natural Carbon Fluxes monitoring system.

3. Emission detection within megacities and/or hotspots.

4. National emission assessments and global stock-take.

 

1. Determining the climate, environmental, and ecological effects of reducing emissions.

2. Exploring the mechanisms as well as evaluating the potential and path of collaborative haze and carbon emission reduction in cities and industries.