In addition to deep emissions cuts, removing CO2 from the atmosphere is unavoidable to reach net-zero or net-negative emissions, by counterbalancing residual or legacy emissions. While global mitigation scenarios and national climate plans are increasingly relying on large amounts of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR), there is still a lack of political action. To date, almost all CDR comes from “conventional” land-based methods like reforestation while “novel” methods with more durable CO2 storage (like direct air carbon capture and sequestration) are still in their infancy. How can policymakers incentivize the timely upscaling of CDR without undermining the priority of emission reductions?

Bio Oliver Geden is Head of the Climate Policy Research Cluster at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. His research is focused on European and global climate policy. Geden is co-editor of the annual State of Carbon Dioxide Removal Report and Vice-Chair of IPCC Working Group III.

Read more: https://www.swp-berlin.org/en/researcher/oliver-geden

Following Oliver’s talk, Professor Mark Howden (ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions) will also provide some reflections.