Dr. Cyril Brunner

Cyril Brunner was born in 1987 and grew up in Langendorf, Switzerland. He did an apprenticeship as a chemical laboratory worker, followed by four years of work experience, one of which he spent in Delaware, USA. Cyril studied Mechanical Engineering and received a Ph.D. in climate sciences.

He is currently working in the Climate Physics group led by Prof. Dr. Reto Knutti, where Cyril is the scientific project leader of the project SPEED2ZERO. In SPEED2ZERO, toolboxes, action plans, and technologies are developed that enable a sustainable transformation in Switzerland. A transformation that meets the international and national climate goals, in which a resilient energy supply is guaranteed, and in which biodiversity can regain richness. It is central that SPEED2ZERO is of direct benefit to Switzerland. 

In addition, Cyril is involved in research on Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR/GGR), what is required to tackle human-induced climate change, as well as what emissions will be hard-to-avoid under net zero emissions (in particular methane, nitrous oxide, hydrogen, refrigerants, and SF6). 

In the Carbon Dioxide Removal research, he is examining all land-based approaches to removing CO2 and other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere: enhanced silicate rock weathering, direct air capture and storage (abbreviated DACS, also DACCS), methane removal, nitrous oxide removal, carbon storage in long-lived products (wood, plastics), and Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage (BiCRS), for example, in improved forest management, soil carbon sequestration (SCS), waste incineration plants, cement production with CCS, wood-fired or biomass power plants with CCS, or in the production and storage of biochar, pyrolysis oils, and other pyrolysis products.

In his last project, he investigated the potential of Carbon Dioxide Removal for Switzerland to support the political and social debate about Switzerland's net zero target with scientifically founded statements and quantitative estimates, to be used, for example, for climate strategies. The project was supported by more than 35 research partners from ETH Zurich, EPFL, WSL, PSI, EMPA, ZHAW, and OST.

As a lecturer, he is enthusiastically involved in teaching at ETH Zurich.

In addition, Cyril is involved in science communication, e.g. with talks on climate action for companies, associations, political parties, the administration, or schools, with blog and newspaper articles, or as a scientific advisor, for example, for the Glacier Initiative.