New Research Highlights the Need for CO2 Removal to Achieve Climate Neutrality

According to a comprehensive report by over 100 researchers from ten collaborative research networks under the CDRterra program, Germany will not meet its climate neutrality targets by 2045 without actively removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. The study demonstrates that even with ambitious emissions reduction strategies, residual emissions from sectors such as agriculture, industry, and waste management will persist. These must be balanced using methods that extract CO2 from the air and ensure its long-term storage.

The researchers note that, globally, current efforts to remove CO2 are insufficient. Presently, approximately 2.2 billion tonnes of CO2 are removed each year, primarily through reforestation and wood product utilization. However, to align with the 1.5-degree Celsius warming limit, the volume of CO2 removed annually would need to at least double, if not triple, by 2050.

The report evaluates and advances several carbon removal techniques, emphasizing that no single approach can deliver the required scale. A combination of technologies and biological processes is considered essential. Key methods discussed include:

• Biochar and Rock Dust Mixtures: These can enhance soil nutrient availability and accelerate the weathering of rocks, using conventional agricultural equipment for application.
• CO2-Binding Building Modules: Wall modules made from gabbro slabs, bio-based carbon fibers, and biochar can, over their lifecycle, bind more than half the CO2 emitted by comparable steel-reinforced concrete walls.
• Direct Air Capture with Solid Adsorption (DACCS): This technique, particularly effective in regions with abundant renewable energy and high humidity, removes CO2 directly from ambient air using solid materials at low temperatures.
• Artificial Photosynthesis: Laboratory experiments have shown that solar energy can convert CO2 into carbon flakes, potentially requiring less land and water than traditional energy crop production.

The primary obstacles to widespread CO2 removal, as identified in the report, are not technological but structural. The agricultural sector often lacks the necessary knowledge, seedlings, and skilled workers for practices such as agroforestry. Legal restrictions, such as limitations on converting grassland, further hinder progress.

Other barriers include land use conflicts, public skepticism regarding visible landscape changes, and insufficient stakeholder engagement. The report underscores that while the necessary methods exist, the supporting infrastructure and frameworks are frequently inadequate.

To integrate CO2 removal into national climate strategies, the researchers recommend establishing clear legal frameworks and targeted funding initiatives that emphasize climate impact and societal benefit. The development of reliable CO2 transport and storage infrastructure, along with robust monitoring and verification systems, is also advised.

Early involvement of farmers, local governments, businesses, and citizens is seen as crucial for long-term, cross-sectoral planning. Since CO2 removal measures affect existing land uses and economic structures, policymakers are urged to ensure that both the costs and benefits are distributed equitably. Regions that make significant contributions in terms of land, infrastructure, or resources should receive proportionate support, revenue, or employment opportunities.

The researchers conclude that carbon removal should complement, not replace, emissions reduction efforts. Only by pursuing both strategies in tandem can Germany achieve greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045.