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Climate Change
Climate Change theme is increasingly topical. Knowledge, adaptation, mitigation and innovation are the keywords of new university education projects that will address climate modeling, technologies to reduce emissions, renewable resources, sustainable materials and engineering designs for adaptation and resilience.
26 February 2026: Climate change, open lectures for citizens return to the University of Parma
The University of Parma is once again opening its doors to the public for lectures on climate change, with classes resuming on 26 February 2026 to promote awareness of the climate crisis. Online and in the classroom every Thursday at 4.30 p.m.
The course is part of the Master's Degree Programme in Environmental and Land Engineering offered by the Department of Engineering and Architecture. It is taught by Stefano Caserini, the Rector's delegate on climate change, author of numerous scientific and popular publications, and co-editor of the journal Ingegneria dell'Ambiente (Environmental Engineering).
From 25 February 2025, 12 lectures open to all to promote awareness of the climate crisis
Parma, 14 February 2025 - The University of Parma opens its doors to all citizens for lectures on climate change, a course included in the Master's Degree Programme in Environmental and Land Engineering of the Department of Engineering and Architecture, taught by Stefano Caserini, the Rector's delegate on climate change, author of numerous scientific and popular publications, and co-editor of the journal Ingegneria dell'Ambiente (Environmental Engineering).
Official IPCC Documentation – Special Report SR15 (Global Warming of 1.5 °C), including the full scientific report, summaries for decision‑makers, and supporting technical materials
The IPCC link dedicated to the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C (SR15) brings together the complete set of official documentation published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concerning the impacts of a 1.5 °C increase in global warming above pre‑industrial levels, compatible mitigation pathways, and implications for sustainable development. This section provides access to the full scientific report, individual thematic chapters, the Summary for Policymakers, the Technical Summary, as well as supporting materials such as methodological annexes, glossaries, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and errata. Taken as a whole, these documents represent a key scientific and institutional reference for understanding the current state of knowledge on climate change, the risks associated with rising global temperatures, and response options at global, regional, and sectoral levels, offering a shared and validated basis for the development of climate policies and adaptation and mitigation strategies.
National Oceanography Centre (NOC)
The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) is one of the world’s top oceanographic institutions and has been in existence, in its various forms, for over six decades. NOC has an annual turnover of £80 million, employs over 700 staff, and is one of few research organisations globally that has the equipment and expertise to operate down to 6,000m.
Observational constraints project a ~50% AMOC weakening by the end of this century
Carbon Dioxide Capture from the Atmosphere: The Role of Oceans and Deep Geological Storage in Decarbonization
The increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere is one of the main causes of climate change. Since the Industrial Revolution, human activities—particularly the burning of fossil fuels, industrial production, and deforestation—have released enormous quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, disrupting the planet's natural climate balance. To limit the rise in global temperatures and achieve the targets established by international climate agreements, it is not sufficient to reduce future emissions alone; it is also necessary to remove part of the CO₂ that has already accumulated in the atmosphere.
In this context, Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies are becoming increasingly important. These systems are designed to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide and store it in a stable and long-lasting manner. Among the most promising solutions are two complementary approaches: enhancing the oceans' capacity to absorb carbon and capturing CO₂ followed by deep geological storage.
The Role of Oceans in CO₂ Absorption
Oceans cover approximately 71% of the Earth's surface and constitute the largest active carbon reservoir on the planet. They naturally absorb a significant portion of the CO₂ emitted by human activities through physical, chemical, and biological processes.
When CO₂ comes into contact with the ocean surface, part of it dissolves in seawater and is transported by ocean currents to deeper layers. This phenomenon, known as the "physical carbon pump," helps remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for periods ranging from decades to centuries.
A second mechanism is the "biological carbon pump." Through photosynthesis, phytoplankton use CO₂ to produce organic matter. When these organisms die or are consumed by other marine life, part of the carbon is transferred to the deep ocean in the form of organic particles that settle on the seafloor.
Scientists are investigating several technologies to enhance the natural capacity of oceans to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Marine Macroalgae Cultivation
One of the most promising strategies involves cultivating large quantities of seaweed, particularly kelp and other macroalgae. During growth, these plants absorb significant amounts of CO₂ through photosynthesis. The resulting biomass can be used to produce biofuels, sustainable materials, or, in some cases, transferred to deep waters to promote long-term carbon storage.
In addition to capturing CO₂, seaweed cultivation can help protect marine biodiversity, improve water quality, and create new economic opportunities for coastal communities.
Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement
Another technique involves adding natural alkaline minerals, such as olivine or finely ground limestone, to seawater. This process increases the ocean's chemical capacity to absorb and retain CO₂ in the form of dissolved bicarbonates and carbonates.
Interest in this technology stems from its potential to store carbon for thousands of years while simultaneously helping to counter ocean acidification, one of the most concerning consequences of excess atmospheric CO₂.
Direct CO₂ Capture from Seawater
Recently, electrochemical systems have been developed that can directly extract dissolved CO₂ from seawater. By reducing carbon concentrations in surface waters, the ocean can absorb additional CO₂ from the atmosphere, further enhancing its role as a natural carbon sink.
Despite their considerable potential, many of these technologies are still in the experimental stage and require further research to evaluate their environmental sustainability, costs, and effectiveness on a global scale.
Atmospheric CO₂ Capture and Deep Geological Storage
Alongside marine solutions, one of the most advanced technologies currently available is the capture of CO₂ followed by its permanent storage underground.
This approach is based on capturing carbon dioxide either directly from the atmosphere through Direct Air Capture (DAC) facilities or from the emissions streams of power plants and industrial facilities through Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) systems.
In the case of direct air capture, large fans draw atmospheric air through absorbent materials that selectively retain CO₂ molecules. The gas is then separated, purified, and compressed.
Once captured, CO₂ is transported via pipelines or specialized ships to geological sites suitable for permanent storage. The most commonly used formations include:
Deep saline aquifers;
Depleted oil and gas reservoirs;
Basalt formations rich in reactive minerals;
Porous sedimentary rocks covered by impermeable caprock layers.
Injection generally takes place at depths greater than 800–1,000 meters, where pressure and temperature maintain CO₂ in a "supercritical" state that combines properties of both liquids and gases, facilitating efficient storage.
Mechanisms Ensuring Storage Security
The long-term retention of CO₂ underground is ensured by several natural processes.
First, the gas becomes trapped beneath impermeable rock layers that prevent it from migrating back to the surface. Over time, part of the CO₂ dissolves into deep groundwater, becoming even more stable.
The safest mechanism, however, is mineralization. In the presence of certain rocks, such as basalts, CO₂ reacts with calcium, magnesium, and other elements to form solid carbonate minerals. In practice, carbon dioxide is transformed into new rock, virtually eliminating the risk of future release.
Several pilot projects have demonstrated that this process can occur within just a few years, much faster than previously believed.
Advantages and Limitations of the Two Strategies
Marine technologies and geological storage have different but complementary characteristics.
Ocean-based solutions take advantage of natural processes that already exist and could offer enormous carbon removal potential on a planetary scale. However, they still require extensive scientific evaluation to better understand their possible effects on marine ecosystems.
Geological storage, on the other hand, is currently the most mature and controllable technology. Operational facilities already store millions of tons of CO₂ each year, and numerous studies indicate that, when properly designed, storage sites can ensure very high levels of safety for thousands or even millions of years.
The main limitations include the high costs of direct air capture, the significant energy requirements of the facilities, and the need to develop dedicated infrastructure for carbon transport and storage.
Conclusions
Global decarbonization will require a combination of measures that include reducing emissions, expanding renewable energy sources, and removing CO₂ already present in the atmosphere. In this context, oceans and deep geological storage represent two fundamental and complementary tools.
Oceans offer immense natural potential for carbon absorption and could become a key element of future climate strategies. At the same time, atmospheric CO₂ capture and its permanent confinement underground represent one of the most concrete solutions currently available for achieving durable carbon removal.
The challenge of the coming decades will be to develop these technologies in a safe, sustainable, and economically viable manner so that they can effectively contribute to achieving climate neutrality and safeguarding the environmental balance of our planet.