Meeting the Goals of the Paris Agreement: Letter from 100+ Carbon Removal Experts
More than 100 carbon removal experts submitted a letter in response to the UNFCCC’s Article 6.4 Supervisory Body about how carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is an essential component for a just energy transition and to limit warming to 1.5 °C. Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement shapes the future of how global carbon markets operate. In response to proposed guidance from the Supervisory Body, the letter urges the UNFCCC to adopt the IPCC definition of CDR, and a method-neutral, criteria-based approach to determine CDR project’ eligibility under the Article 6.4 mechanism. We invite you to read the letter and to join the conversation.
May 24, 2023
Supervisory Body
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
RE: Input to SB005 Annotated Agenda and Related Annexes
Dear Supervisory Body:
Thank you for your continuing efforts to ensure that the UNFCCC considers carbon dioxide removal (CDR) as an essential component for a just energy transition and to limit warming to 1.5 °C. The 100+ organizations below appreciate your invitation to respond to the call for input that you issued. Specifically, we would like to share some thoughts here in response to the Information Note entitled “Removal activities under the Article 6.4 mechanism” (A6.4-SB005-AA-A09 version 0.40).
We are pleased to see the Supervisory Body Information Note concur with the IPCC that the science is clear that CDR – alongside a strong global prioritization on emissions reduction of CO2 and other greenhouse gases – is “unavoidable,” and in fact will be required at gigatonne (Gt) scale by mid-century for us to reach net zero and have a chance to limit warming to 1.5 or even 2°C (IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report p 50). It is important to further highlight that CDR encompasses a range of pathways, from land-based soil and forest carbon sinks; biomass-based carbon removal and storage (BiCRS); to marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR); to mineralization-based approaches; to direct air capture (DAC) – as well as emergent and potentially as yet undiscovered methods.
CDR is a new commercial sector, and the range of potential pathways are at varying stages of discovery, development, and deployment. The sector is advancing quickly, and there are a number of approaches ready for eligibility under Article 6.4 now, with more expected to reach that stage of maturity in coming years. (We have significant concern with the assertion on p. 18 of the Information Note that CDR does not “contribute to sustainable development,” and we would be pleased to connect you with carbon removal leaders advancing projects in Kenya, Kiribati, India, Brazil, and other locations around the world where CDR is contributing directly to local and regional economic development.)
In a recently published Issue Brief by the Carbon Business Council, this resource follows the IPCC’s lead to define CDR as” anthropogenic activities removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and durably storing it in geological, terrestrial, or ocean reservoirs, or in products” (IPCC AR6 WGIII Report p1,796). The Brief goes on to outline five key criteria for high-quality CDR: additionality, durability, net-negativity, verification, and equity and community engagement. We strongly urge the Supervisory Body to adopt this IPCC definition of CDR, and a similarly method-neutral, criteria-based approach to determine CDR project’ eligibility under the Article 6.4 mechanism.
The Information Note lists four CDR approaches under the label of “engineering based activities” – a label we do not recommend given that virtually every CDR approach is a hybrid of nature and engineering. We would suggest, instead of labeling and enumerating individual CDR pathways and approaches, that the Supervisory Body define the criteria that a given CDR project must demonstrate to be eligible under the Article 6.4 mechanism – and let science, innovation, and the market compete to deliver the solutions offering the greatest climate impact and other co-benefits.
We would be pleased to discuss this further with the Supervisory Body, and very much appreciate your continuing work to achieve a safe and equitable climate future, as well as the opportunity to submit this input for your consideration.
Sincerely,
