Does Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology support sustainability, or does it create new environmental challenges?

Details

Supervisors

Desmet, Carlos

Faculty

Louvain School of Management

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences de gestion, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

enThe study examines how Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology can be used to address climate change and considers its wider environmental and economic impacts. It evaluates whether DAC effectively supports sustainability goals or if it introduces new challenges. The research combines a review of scientific literature, policy analysis, life cycle assessments, and interviews with professionals involved in DAC development and deployment. Findings show that DAC is still in an early phase, marked by high costs, significant energy needs, and limited global deployment. While DAC offers a way to remove carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere, it cannot replace the critical need to reduce emissions through changes in energy systems and industry. Several obstacles stand in the way of DAC’s wider adoption, including infrastructure limitations, regulatory delays, and underdeveloped markets for carbon removal credits. Ultimately, the study concludes that DAC should serve as a complementary approach, used mainly to address residual emissions after other reduction methods have been implemented. It highlights the importance of integrating DAC into broader climate strategies that prioritize emission avoidance and systemic transformation to achieve long-term sustainability.