New ways to remove CO2 from atmosphere must grow much faster, report says Humanity must deploy new carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies at highly ambitious rates, comparable to the rapid growth of solar panels and electric vehicles, to limit global heating to 1.5C. Current government pledges fall short of what is needed, leaving a growing gap, and only one-fifth of planned CDR capacity has been delivered in recent years. Fragile support from major players like the US and Microsoft, coupled with a lack of legally binding targets from G20 countries, undermines the necessary expansion of these crucial climate technologies.

• Novel carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies must grow at highly ambitious rates to limit global heating to 1.5C.
• Current government pledges for carbon removal are insufficient, creating a significant gap in climate pathways.
• Machines that suck carbon from the air and chemical techniques are currently a tiny fraction of global CO2 removal.
• The growth rate of novel CDR needs to accelerate to match or exceed that of solar panels and electric vehicles.
• Support for CDR is fragile, with policy dismantling in the US and adjustments in procurement by major buyers like Microsoft impacting credibility.
• No G20 country has a legally binding removal target, and 2025 climate action plans have not increased ambition for carbon removal.
• CDR is a key component for offsetting hard-to-avoid emissions and managing temperature ‘overshoots’.