If a method were established that would not only reduce carbon dioxide but also extract large volume of carbon from it, the world would certainly change dramatically. It is no exaggeration to say that this could fundamentally rethink the carbon cycle and bring about a revolution in energy, the environment, and industry. Furthermore, as mass production processes become more widespread, carbon dioxide will be treated as a useful resource rather than an unwanted emission, which will significantly change the structure of the economy and the environment.
Specifically, it is expected that the impact on society and industry will be great, including innovation in climate change countermeasures, new sources of carbon resources, and changes in energy supply.

New sources of carbon resources have the potential to produce carbon-based materials (e.g. carbon fiber, graphite, and synthetic fuels) without using coal or petroleum. This will eliminate the need for mining of carbon resources, leading to a reduction in environmental impact.

In terms of innovation in climate change measures, if we can convert carbon dioxide in the atmosphere into carbon and fix it, we can contribute to mitigating global warming. For instance, by incorporating the extracted carbon into building materials and industrial products, we can confine carbon dioxide for a long period of time.

In terms of changes in energy supply, chemical energy can be effectively utilized in the process of extracting carbon, which may lead to the development of new technologies for generating electricity and fuel. For instance, the process of “carbon dioxide → carbon → fuel” will become a sustainable energy source.

However, an end to these possible/not possible debates seems to be in sight. I hope that 2026 will be the first year of carbon dioxide utilization.