ĐÓ°ÉÔ­ŽŽ University’s Ahmed Abdulla has been named Canada’s for his research on direct air capture, a technology that removes carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air to address climate change.

Abdulla, a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, is one of just 25 National Champions selected worldwide. The prestigious prize recognizes research focused on keeping humanity within the planet’s “safe operating space.” 

Three International Champions will be named in January 2027 in Davos, Switzerland, and awarded $1 million USD each to scale their research.

Advancing Deep Decarbonization

Abdulla’s work focuses on designing future energy systems that are reliable, affordable, and deeply decarbonized. At ĐÓ°ÉÔ­ŽŽ, he co-leads APEX (Alternative Pathways for the Energy Transition), an initiative that tackles and solves the deployment challenges of low-carbon energy technologies to support global climate goals. The initiative focuses on reducing risk and uncertainty, eliminating deployment bottlenecks, and improving policy design to advance clean energy solutions.

His . The findings show that performance can vary significantly by location, with implications for energy demand, water use and overall net carbon removal. 

Abdulla said the work highlights the importance of grounding climate modelling in real-world conditions.

“Nations are not decarbonizing fast enough to stabilize climate. Our in-depth, global analyses of the performance of a main capture technology paint a picture of carbon removal’s role in our future,” said Abdulla. 

The research also informs From Science to Policy: Planetary Solutions in Action, a global policy report developed with the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. The report explores how scientific evidence can better inform climate policy and international cooperation.

ĐÓ°ÉÔ­ŽŽ the Frontiers Planet Prize

The Frontiers Planet Prize is the world’s largest science competition on planetary health, involving more than 700 universities and research institutions worldwide. National Champions are selected through an independent review by international experts.

As Canada’s National Champion, Abdulla will represent ĐÓ°ÉÔ­ŽŽ internationally, contributing to discussions that connect scientific research with policy and real‑world application. 

The recognition comes as countries increasingly look to carbon removal technologies as part of broader net-zero strategies, though researchers note that real-world performance varies significantly depending on local environmental conditions and energy system constraints. Abdulla’s work contributes to ongoing efforts to ensure that assessments of the technology’s role in net-zero emission plans are aligned with physical and economic realities.

For more information on Abdulla’s research, email him at ahmed.abdulla3@carleton.ca.

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Change is in the municipal government’s hands

Dr. Alexandra Mallett, an associate professor at ĐÓ°ÉÔ­ŽŽ University with a focus on sustainable energy and climate policy, emphasized the power municipal governments hold in combating climate change.

“The first thing that needs to happen is [a] common vision, and that’s what you can do with your city councillors,” Mallett said.

“They can start advocating on your behalf with respect to the province and the federal level so that you can actually work together and leverage funds from different levels of government.”

Mallett has been involved in climate negotiations but said that she has seen the most change made through municipal actions.

“We can all do our individual part, but at the end of the day in order to make corporations change, governments change et cetera, we need to see action happening,” Mallett said. “And where I have seen it a lot is at the municipal level.”

The post Alexandra Mallett Talks to the Capital Current about Climate Change and the Municipal Election appeared first on Sustainable Energy.

Green transformation in the iron and steel industry in India: Rethinking patterns of innovation

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D’aprĂšs les deux chercheurs, les communautĂ©s autochtones sont devenues des leadeurs. «Aux premiĂšres loges du changement climatique, elles ont pris conscience de l’urgence de dĂ©carboner le secteur Ă©nergĂ©tique. Ça rejoint leurs valeurs traditionnelles, et ça permet d’utiliser des ressources locales», observe Alexandra Mallett.

L’universitaire cite en exemple la biomasse qui contribue Ă  prĂ©venir les feux de forĂȘt et participe Ă  l’usage traditionnel de la terre.

Le Yukon trace la voie

Greg Poelzer estime, lui, que la sĂ©curitĂ© de l’approvisionnement Ă©nergĂ©tique est la principale motivation des PremiĂšres Nations. «Le changement climatique n’est jamais un enjeu soulevĂ© dans les discussions. Il y a une dĂ©connexion entre les prioritĂ©s d’Ottawa et celles du Nord, oĂč l’électricitĂ© est une question de vie ou de mort», affirme-t-il.

Il explique que, si l’électricitĂ© et le chauffage produits Ă  partir de renouvelables sont «moins chers, plus fiables et plus accessibles que le diĂ©sel et le mazout», la transition est soutenue par la population, «fatiguĂ©e des prix exorbitants d’hydrocarbures importĂ©s de l’autre bout du pays».

Les Ă©nergies renouvelables sont certes en plein essor, mais restent marginales aux dires des spĂ©cialistes interrogĂ©s. «Les projets mettent du temps Ă  voir le jour, car les consultations sont longues et les dĂ©fis logistiques pour amener le matĂ©riel, Ă©normes», rĂ©vĂšle Alexandra Mallett, qui constate par ailleurs de grandes disparitĂ©s entre les territoires.

Le Yukon fait figure d’exemple. En 2019, les barrages fournissaient dĂ©jĂ  80 % de l’électricitĂ©. Avec l’ambition d’ĂȘtre , les autoritĂ©s ont modifiĂ© en profondeur la rĂšglementation et dĂ©bloquĂ© des fonds pour faciliter l’émergence de projets autres que l’hydroĂ©lectricitĂ©. Une centaine d’initiatives autochtones sont en cours.

The post Alexandra Mallett Talks to Francopresse about Renewable Energy in the Far North appeared first on Sustainable Energy.

SPPA Professor Alexandra Mallett been selected as an alternative member for the for Global Change Research .

The IAI is a regional intergovernmental body that focuses on coordination around research underway regarding global change in the Americas and the SAC provides recommendations about the Science agenda, long term plans of the Institute and annual program. The SAC also leads the peer review process of proposals sent to the IAI.

The SAC is composed of ten members elected by the CoP. These members are scientists recognized internationally for their expertise in a variety of disciplines relevant to global change research.

As the main scientific advisory body of the IAI, it makes recommendations to the Conference of the Parties regarding the Science Agenda, long-range plans and annual program of the Institute. The SAC also leads the peer-review system for scientific proposals and results of IAI funded programs.

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Environmental impacts of mining in Brazil and the environmental licensing process: Changes needed for changing times?

Alexandra Mallett, Erica Lima, Barros Franca, Italo Alves, and Lisa Mills

Abstract

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