How is KR 6.2 Tracking?
Engineered carbon removal relies on new machines and processes that draw CO2 from the atmosphere.
We’re seeing a number of ideas on how to do this affordably and at scale. Potential solutions range from sucking CO2 from the atmosphere with giant fans to converting plant waste to oil. In both cases, the carbon would be captured indefinitely by injecting it deep underground.
So far, engineered removal has sequestered only 200,000 tons of carbon worldwide—a tiny fraction of 1 percent of a single gigaton. To reach the right scale, this industry will need to grow 20 percent each year through 2050.
Some solutions face significant resource constraints. Using fans to capture and store 5 gigatons of carbon would use close to a quarter of the world’s energy. To meet our target, carbon removal technologies must become far more efficient.
Advance purchasing commitments and clearer corporate guidelines from standards-setters will be critical to making carbon removal a reality at scale.
