Former F1 driver Nico Rosberg, now focused on low-carbon technologies, is supporting Oxford University research into decarbonization. He emphasized that alternative fuels are essential to meet net-zero goals, particularly in sectors like shipping and aviation, which have long-lasting infrastructure and high emissions.
More than 70% of F1’s sport’s emissions come from logistics and transport – the shipping and flying of people and equipment across the 23 annual grands prix races taking place on almost every continent.
Most recently he has been sponsoring graduates at Oxford University to support student research into removing carbon from the atmosphere, cleaning plastic from the oceans and developing alternative fuels for ships and planes.
After touring the university’s Divinity School and Bodleian Library, which dates back to the 15th century, Mr Rosberg said: “I really wanted to contribute after racing, inspire my two young daughters, so this led me down this path.
“Also it’s a very unique time in the world now with potential for innovation here, technological innovation, to really have an impact.”
Varun Shankar, a DPhil engineering student and part of the one-year partnership between the Rosberg Climate Fellows Programme and Oxford University’s Sustainable Development Goals Impact Lab, said he wants to use his skills to help his home country of Zambia develop without relying on fossil fuels.
He said: “I think we are still on the path of economic growth but we need to do this whilst decarbonising.
“So it’s like how can we couple these two? And think about ways that you’re still growing economically but not dependent on fossil (fuels) but dependent on different renewable sources?
“I think the Global North has already successfully developed on that front, but we need to do it in a way that’s also decarbonised.”
His sponsored research aimed to test the feasibility of using alternative fuels for shipping, which he said contributes around 2.8% of global emissions.
He said: “The shipping sector is different to other sectors because the ship lasts for 25 to 30 years.
“So if you make a decision now it has to last until 2053. Whatever ship you build today would be running until 2053 so you can’t say let’s wait until 2050 to make that change.
“Whatever change you make now will impact how much you can reduce in 2050. I think that that narrative needs to really be understood.”
October 2023
