COP29: Carbon Dioxide Removal is needed to reach net zero by 2050

To achieve net zero emissions by 2050, we must significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and actively remove CO₂ from the atmosphere. Thus, carbon removal should be an integral component of national and international climate initiatives, accompanied by specific targets, established standards, and enhanced support for developing new technologies for sustainable implementation.

SINTEF is participating at COP as an independent observer, committed to advancing sustainable climate and energy solutions. To support this goal, we are providing advice to climate negotiators on 15 key areas with the potential to significantly reduce emissions.

• SINTEF’s  advice for COP29: Technology for a Faster Global Climate Transition

Recommendations for Carbon Dioxide Removal

• Recognise that we need both emission cuts and carbon removals in order to reach net zero by 2050. It is time for CDR technology to be treated as a key element in international climate negotiations.
• Include carbon removal in greenhouse gas emission cuts. International regulation and recommendations are needed regarding the relative levels of emission cuts and carbon removals.
• Clarify the definition of “hard-to-abate emissions”.
• Include specific quantitative targets for carbon removals in addition to emission cuts for both nature-based and technological solutions.
• Develop international guidelines and standards regarding the verification, measurement and reporting of carbon removals.

Problem

While carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the subject of major global investments and initiatives, this technology focuses on reducing our current CO₂ emissions and not removing CO₂ emissions that have already been emitted (CDR). In order to reach net zero by 2050, we must remove excess greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere and oceans, and store them safely and permanently.

As a result of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, the atmospheric concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere is currently over 420 parts per million (ppm), greatly exceeding preindustrial levels of 280 ppm. At 450 ppm, we risk exceeding a 2°C increase in global temperatures, which will cause serious and irreversible climate change. If we are to meet our goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, the IPCC has estimated that we need to remove around six billion tonnes of CO₂ annually, and up to 600 billion tonnes in total by 2100.

In addition, certain sectors, such as agriculture, heavy industry and long-distance transport, are crucial for society but very difficult to decarbonise. These sectors are likely to continue to generate emissions even in 2050, despite significant technological advances. CDR is therefore necessary to compensate for these emissions.

However, CDR development is behind schedule. There are few international incentives to promote CDR solutions, and a lack of both standards for measuring and verifying the amount of carbon removed. While certain countries, such as the US and Sweden, have started to implement CDR policies, the topic receives little attention in climate negotiations.

It is also important to remember that we do not have unlimited potential for CDR: the amount of biomass that can be used for CDR is restricted on the grounds of biodiversity and contested land use, while capturing CO₂ directly from the air (DAC) or from the ocean (DOC) requires far more energy than capturing CO₂ from an energy-intensive industry. In other words, reducing our current emissions must always be prioritised over removing historic emissions.

Solutions

We urgently need to invest more resources and research efforts into the development of new, sustainable CDR solutions that are both cost effective and resource efficient.

CDR must be a part of the international climate negotiations, and guidelines and standards must be developed for the verification, measurement and reporting of CDR technologies. The UN must take the lead in this area, to ensure that this development is sustainable and fair globally.

In addition, funding for researching and developing new CDR technologies and solutions must be increased. The countries that have historically been responsible for the most emissions must increase their efforts, and set aside funding for the development of new solutions.

Norway should take the initiative to ensure that CDR and its role as a climate solution is clearly presented in the international climate negotiations. So far, no concrete targets have been quantified for the amount of CO₂ that must be cut from our current emissions, and the amount that must be removed with CDR. The sectors where it will not be impossible to reduce CO₂ emissions must also be defined.

Main COP29 recommendation: International research communities and industrial partners are developing technologies to reduce emissions and advance the energy transition, and we strongly recommend establishing a global North-South R&D program with open, competitive calls to ensure a fair, accelerated path to a sustainable economy.