Research on carbon dioxide removal on land and in the ocean: How do we design environmentally sound and safe ways to remove CO2 from the atmosphere?

Global emissions are to be reduced by half by 2030 in order to limit global warming to 1.5 °C. Germany aims to be climate-neutral by 2045. To achieve this, carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere is also necessary. The BMBF funding measures CDRterra und CDRmare explore terrestrial and marine CDR.

The two funding measures CDRterra and CDRmare are exploring different methods of removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
The two funding measures CDRterra and CDRmare are exploring different methods of removing CO2 from the atmosphere.© Jules Bss, unsplash

Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, the international community agreed to limit the increase in global mean temperature to well below 2 °C compared to pre-industrial levels and of " pursuing efforts" to limit the increase to even 1.5 °C. The Federal Republic of Germany is aiming for "greenhouse gas neutrality" by 2045.

The Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) also confirms: Limiting the increase in average global temperature to 1.5 °C or 2 °C will require not only drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, but also so-called "negative emissions." These result from actively removing CO2 (Carbon Dioxide Removal, CDR) from the atmosphere and storing it long-term. How and whether this can be implemented is being investigated by the BMBF funding measure CDRterra on land-based CDR methods and the research mission CDRmare "Marine carbon sinks in decarbonisation pathways" as part of the German Alliance for Marine Research on marine CDR methods. Both programs are funded by the BMBF with a total of 47 million euros.

If agriculture is combined with forestry, the planting of additional trees can sequester more CO2 from the atmosphere.
If agriculture is combined with forestry, the planting of additional trees can sequester more CO2 from the atmosphere.© pixabay / fietzfotos

CDRterra

In CDRterra, ten research projects are exploring CDR methods on land including a focus on their combined effectiveness. In addition to the question of the potential of CDR and the permanence of CO2 sequestration, a central aspect is the development and evaluation of adequate policy instruments by involving the public and stakeholders from civil society.

More information: CDRterra measure

Various ocean-based methods for targeted atmospheric CO2 reduction are the focus of the CDRmare research mission.
Various ocean-based methods for targeted atmospheric CO2 reduction are the focus of the CDRmare research mission.© Oliver Sjostrom, unsplash

CDRmare

The research mission CDRmare within the German Alliance for Marine Research (DAM) will investigate in six collaborative projects whether and to what extent the ocean can play an essential and sustainable role in the absorption and storage of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In addition, interactions with and impacts on the marine environment, the Earth system and society will be explored.

More information: CDRmare website

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Briefly explained: What is CDR? And what methods of removing CO2 from the atmosphere are currently being researched?© Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung

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