For an in-depth introduction to carbon removal, read our Carbon Removal Explainer.

State of the Science 

More than a decade’s worth of research finds that carbon dioxide removal (CDR), which is removing carbon pollution from the atmosphere and safely storing it, will be necessary to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. Meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement and stopping the worst impacts of climate change raises important questions about the role of CDR, how much of it is required and when, and how it can be deployed responsibly. The Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy has created a Science Primer on the state of CDR science along with a summary.

For overviews of each individual topic in carbon removal, read the fact sheets below.

Topics in Carbon Removal

• What is carbon removal? (PDF)
• Nature-based solutions to climate change (PDF)
• Carbon capture & use and carbon removal (PDF)

Approaches to Carbon Removal

• Agroforestry (PDF)
• BECCS: Bioenergy with carbon capture & storage (PDF)
• Biochar (PDF)
• Blue carbon (PDF)
• Direct air capture (PDF)
• Enhanced mineralization (PDF)
• Forestation (PDF)
• Mass timber (PDF)
• Ocean alkalinization (PDF)
• Soil carbon sequestration (PDF)

The production of these fact sheets was supported by a grant from The New York Community Trust.