Carbon removal credits generated by techniques like biochar, DAC and enhanced rock weathering
Proponents say CDR focuses on 10% of hard-to-abate emissions, not as substitute for cutting 90%
Puro.earth standard for CDR stipulates carbon only removed when stabilised and stored ‘durably’
Fewer than 110,000 tons of carbon so far delivered through CDR, but sales of credits are 437% higher
Brand-backed coalition Frontier to accelerate early investment in high-potential removal projects
October 10 – Ever since the Paris Agreement of 2015, the climate rallying call of global brands has centred squarely on the imperative to tackle absolute greenhouse gas emissions.
Yet the imperative to “cut”, “slash”, “reduce” and “drive down” emissions is being joined by another word in the corporate climate lexicon: “remove”.
Until now, the advance purchase of credits generated by engineered carbon dioxide removal techniques such as biochar, direct air capture and enhanced rock weathering has remained thepreserve of only a handful of pioneering major brands.
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Yet, the high profile of these early adopters (Microsoft, Shopify, Klarna, Boston Consulting Group and, most recently, Amazon) is serving to put carbon removals credits on the menu of potential climate action for many more companies.
The idea of paying for carbon removals is not new. Companies have been offsetting their emissions through tree-planting projects and avoided deforestation schemes such as REDD+ for decades. But lack of robust oversight in the historic offset market, and questions over the permanence of nature-based removals, has led to widespread claims of greenwashing.
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Putting clear water between themselves and such claims is, unsurprisingly, a priority for the big-brand proponents of engineered carbon dioxide removal (CDR). The first point they are anxious to stress is the market’s focus on permanent capture and storage of carbon.
Saplings read for planting in a reforestation scheme in Brazil.
Saplings ready for planting in a reforestation scheme in Brazil. Companies have been offsetting their emissions through tree-planting projects for decades. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini Acquire Licensing Rights
Amazon’s recent commitment to purchase 250,000 metric tons of CDR credits provides an illustrative example. The U.S. e-retailer states that the carbon captured via a new Texas-based direct air capture (DAC) plant will be injected “deep underground in saline aquifers”, thus secure from future disruption.