CDR Jargon Buster

Effective CDR solutions rely on four key attributes: additionality, measurability, price, and permanence. Additionality ensures that the carbon removed is genuinely new and would not have been captured otherwise, avoiding displacement or double-counting. Measurability guarantees that every tonne of CDR purchased equates to an actual tonne of CO2 removed, backed by rigorous standards and monitoring. Price reflects the balance between cost-effectiveness and environmental impact, with high-quality, permanent solutions often costing more but offering greater benefits. Permanence addresses how long the carbon remains stored, with some methods offering centuries-long storage to ensure long-term climate impact.

The like-for-like principle ensures that carbon removal methods are matched to the origin and duration of emissions they address. For example, fossil fuel emissions, which have accumulated over millions of years, require long-term storage solutions like geological storage to balance their impact. In contrast, biosphere emissions, such as those from agriculture or wildfires, can be addressed using shorter-term nature-based solutions like afforestation. This principle aligns removal strategies with emission characteristics, ensuring appropriate and effective mitigation while maintaining climate integrity across various sources of CO2.

Several myths persist about CDR technologies, including misconceptions that they can fully replace emission reductions, cause environmental harm, and are prohibitively expensive or energy-intensive. In reality, CDR complements emission reductions rather than replacing them, addressing residual emissions that cannot be eliminated. Advanced technologies have minimised environmental impacts, often offering additional benefits like improved soil health or biodiversity. While early-stage solutions were costly, innovation and scaling have significantly reduced prices, with further reductions expected. Lifecycle analyses ensure these technologies achieve true net carbon removal, addressing concerns about energy use and reinforcing their effectiveness.

Strong policy frameworks drive CDR adoption by creating incentives, funding research, and setting quality standards. Policies like carbon pricing and adherence to the like-for-like principle ensure effective deployment. Without such support, scaling CDR to meet climate goals would be significantly hindered.