Defossilisation vs Circular Economy.

CEWT Foundation Series Defossilisation × Circular Carbon Economy • From Emissions Reduction to System Redesign The Language Problem • We talk about decarbonisation. • But decarbonisation measures emissions. • It does not question the injection of new fossil carbon. The Structural Issue • Every year we extract geological carbon. • Renewables are rising, but fossil inputs remain embedded. • The system expands. It does not yet substitute. What Is Defossilisation? • Eliminating new fossil carbon inputs. • Not eliminating carbon — eliminating fossil dependency. • Carbon is not the enemy. Extraction is. The Circular Carbon Economy • Capture • Reuse • Recycle • Remove • Powerful framework — but incomplete without stopping fossil inflow. Open Loop vs Closed Loop • OPEN LOOP: Extract → Burn → Emit → Extract Again • Continuous fossil injection. • CLOSED LOOP: Renewable Energy → Recycle Carbon → Use → Capture → Recycle • No new fossil carbon introduced. Boundary + Mechanism • Defossilisation sets the boundary. • Circularity provides the mechanism. • Together: A closed carbon loop powered by renewables. Industrial Implications • Energy policy is industrial policy. • Reduced import vulnerability. • Lower geopolitical risk. • Greater capital certainty. The Mindset Shift • Decarbonisation: How do we emit less? • Circularity: How do we reuse carbon? • Defossilisation: Why are we still extracting? Closing • The transition is not defined by renewable additions. • It is defined by removing fossil inputs while retaining carbon utility. • Defossilisation × Circular Carbon Economy.