New York State governor Andrew M Cuomo has launched a $9 million fund to support research into ways of capturing atmospheric carbon and turning it into useful products.
The Carbontech Entrepreneurial Fellowship Program will provide technical expertise for "carbon-to-value" technology that stores captured CO2 in physical objects.
The programme is part of the state's aim of becoming a leading hub for carbontech businesses as well as supporting its goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 85 per cent by 2050.
"Revolutionizing the development of products made from carbon capture will create the landscape to achieve deep decarbonization in our fight against climate change," Cuomo said.
"Attracting scientists with cutting-edge skills and knowledge to realize new products is essential to growing our green economy, and we are bringing their research out of the lab to pave the way for a more climate resilient future to benefit all New Yorkers." Programme commercialises removal of CO2
The programme is part of a burgeoning "carbontech" sector that aims to commercialise the removal of atmospheric CO2, which is the main cause of climate change.
Players include Finnish company Solar Foods, which plans to make food from captured carbon, and Australian company Mineral Carbonation International, which turns CO2 into construction materials.
Other carbontech companies include Canadian company Carbicrete, which makes concrete from CO2, and Dutch ...