Abstract
The chemical industry is a fundamental pillar of the global economy, supporting every major goods-manufacturing sector. It provides materials that enable modern life, from everyday consumer products to advanced technologies. Devices such as televisions and smartphones, for example, rely on chemical solutions including light stabilizers and UV absorbers. Without the chemical industry, agricultural yields would plummet without fertilizers and pesticides, food would spoil more quickly without effective packaging, and heating costs would skyrocket without high-performance insulation materials. Electronic technologies would not exist without specialty chemicals essential for semiconductor manufacturing, and modern standards of personal care and hygiene would be severely compromised without detergents and related products. Looking ahead, the industry faces a critical transformation. Moving beyond fossil-based hydrocarbons toward renewable carbon sources is essential for achieving long-term sustainability and enabling a circular economy. What pathways are available to the chemical industry to support this transition? And how might a net-zero chemical industry be realized by 2050? In this lecture, I will also discuss our own efforts to adapt methanol as a C1 feedstock.
