In line with climate science, Climeworks calls for a clear distinction between emissions reductions and carbon removals

To maximize our chances of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced at an unprecedented speed over the next decades: CO₂ emissions must decrease by at least 90% by 2050 according to the SBTi. In addition, carbon dioxide removal (CDR) solutions are needed to neutralize any residual emissions and thus enable the world to achieve net zero CO₂ by 2050.

In line with what climate science states, Climeworks is calling for a clear and distinct role of CDR, which can be summarized as follows:

• Besides emission reductions, CDR has an important role to play in the fight against global warming.

• More importantly, it has a different role to play and should not be substituting emission reductions.

• Hence, emission reductions and CDR should be clearly distinguished from each other – in climate pathways, target setting as well as in industry standards.

• A clear distinction is moreover needed in marketplaces and certificates generated from the two activities: whilst they are important and meaningful for the achievement of a net-zero world, credits generated from emissions reductions and avoided emissions should cease to exist, as soon as we have achieved net-zero state. At the same time the world will continue to rely on CDR markets to neutralize residual and historic emissions to maintain net-zero CO₂, and later on realize net-negative CO₂ emissions globally.

• Further, by explicitly splitting the contributions from emission reductions and removals, moral hazard is addressed, namely the claim that investing into CDR today could distract from emission reductions.