Halting dangerous climate change is only possible with immediate and deep cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions. This requires the phase-out of fossil fuels, a shift to 100% renewable and decarbonised energy, rapid improvements in energy efficiency across all sectors, and the protection and restoration of ecosystems on land and at sea. Yet, past and current European and global efforts have proven insufficient to curb the continued rise of atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. As a result, staying within the 1.5°C limit can no longer be achieved through emission reductions and ecosystem restoration alone, making additional geological CO₂ removals necessary. However, no removal technology is currently available at the scale required without generating significant risks for sustainability, food security, and the wider economy.
Efforts to develop governance instruments and incentives for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) within EU climate policy are underway. Integrating CDR requires careful handling to avoid unintended consequences such as weakening the land carbon sink, increasing pressure on renewable energy and water resources, harming ecosystems, or disrupting the ocean carbon cycle. Poorly designed policies risk undermining both climate action and ecosystem health, eroding impact and credibility rather than delivering benefits. Some CDR methods should not be pursued at all, while others require significant efficiency gains before becoming viable. Public policy and budgets must prioritise research and development of sustainable, reliable, efficient, and long-term permanent CO₂ removal practices.
This Climate Action Network Europe position paper explores the critical issues surrounding the development and integration of domestic CDR into EU policy. It addresses potential risks and trade-offs, and recommends governance approaches that outline pathways for CDR to complement emission reduction efforts while protecting food security, biodiversity, ecosystems, and people.
Read the position in full here
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