XVI International Conference on Carbon Dioxide Utilization

The International Congress on Carbon Dioxide Utilization (ICCDU) is a traditional event that, since 2015, is organized annually in a different country. In 2018, its 16^th Edition will be held for the first time in Latin America, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Global warming and climate change caused by the burning of fossil fuels are among the most important and debated issues at the moment. The vast majority of nations on the planet agree on the need to reduce carbon emissions to maintain an average global warming by 2 °C by the end of the 21^st century. CO₂ capture and storage processes are already used in several regions of the planet, but they add costs to the final product. This Congress will be the main forum for discussing the scientific and technological advances on the uses of CO₂, encompassing both capture and conversion to fuels and chemicals, as well as technical-economic discussions, sustainability and the public perception of the CO₂ issue on the planet's climate. Presentations in this Research Topic will then include areas of knowledge of the general theme of the congress such as:

- Thermo-catalytic conversion of CO₂ to fuels and chemical products
- Conversion of CO₂ by electrochemical, photochemical, plasma-induced or other unconventional source of energy
- Conversion of CO₂ by biotechnological routes, including algae
- CO₂ capture processes
- CO₂ as supercritical and switchable solvent
- Regulation, public policies, life cycle analysis and other economic, environmental and social issues on sustainable use of CO₂.

The organization and accomplishment of this important scientific event in Brazil is under the responsibility of the Brazilian Society of Catalysis (SBCat), with the seal of the International Scientific Committee (ISC), which includes a group of renowned scientists of the area.

In short, the 16^th ICCDU aims to be one of the leading global forums for discussion on CO₂ issues, presenting and discussing scientific and technological advances for its use in an economical and sustainable way. No solution to the planet's environmental issues will come without viable CO₂ options being found. Fossil fuel sources will still play a dominant role in the coming decades, with scientists having to find technical and economically feasible solutions to reduce carbon emissions. This is the focus of the congress: propose and discuss advances in CO₂ utilization, aiming at a more sustainable world.