CO2 Removal Must Accelerate Dramatically, Study Warns

Achieving the 1.5C global heating limit necessitates a dramatic acceleration in novel carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies. These methods must grow at 'highly ambitious rates,' surpassing the deployment speed of solar panels and electric vehicles, according to a recent study. The current commitments made by governments for carbon removal by 2035 and 2050 are insufficient, leaving a significant and expanding gap.

Novel CDR, including direct air capture and biochar, currently represents only a tiny fraction of global removal efforts. The study highlights the critical importance of the next five years for solidifying these technologies' role. However, fragile support is evident, exemplified by policy shifts in the US and a pause in procurement by Microsoft, a primary buyer of novel CDR credits. These factors underscore the vulnerability of relying on early adopters and the need for broader, stable support systems.