Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR): How CO₂ Removal Technologies Are Shaping a Net-Zero Future

Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) refers to a suite of technologies and natural processes designed to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere and store it permanently. As global emissions continue to exceed safe limits, CDR offers a critical pathway to balance emissions with removals — helping achieve net-zero and eventually net-negative emissions.

In this guide, we’ll explore what CDR is, how it works, the different approaches available today, their benefits and challenges, leading innovators in the space, and the role of CDR in corporate and national climate strategies.

What is Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)?

CDR encompasses methods that remove legacy carbon already present in the air, storing it in durable reservoirs — underground, in soils, or within long-lasting products.

Unlike traditional carbon capture (Carbon Capture Technology), which focuses on point-source emissions like factories or power plants, CDR actively reverses accumulated atmospheric CO₂.

Captured CO₂ can then be:

• Permanently stored underground in geological formations or mineralized rock
• Stored biologically in trees, soil, or ocean biomass
• Utilized to produce sustainable fuels, materials, or carbon-based products

How CDR Works

Different CDR approaches use different mechanisms, but all follow the same basic principles:

1. Capture: CO₂ is separated from the atmosphere via biological, chemical, or mechanical means.
2. Concentration: Captured CO₂ is purified or stabilized for storage or reuse.
3. Storage or Utilization: Carbon is either locked away permanently or repurposed for commercial use.

Depending on the method, CDR can rely on nature-based systems (like forests or soils) or engineered technologies (like Direct Air Capture (DAC)).

Main Types of Carbon Dioxide Removal

1. Direct Air Capture (DAC)
   • Captures CO₂ directly from ambient air using chemical filters or sorbents.
   • Storage: Geological formations or mineralization
   • Use case: Permanent, measurable removal
   • Example companies: Climeworks, Carbon Engineering, 1PointFive
2. Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)
   • Generates energy from biomass while capturing the resulting CO₂ emissions.
   • Storage: Geological reservoirs
   • Use case: Energy production plus negative emissions
3. Forestation and Reforestation
   • Trees absorb CO₂ during growth, storing carbon in biomass and soil.
   • Storage: Biogenic, temporary
   • Use case: Cost-effective, but limited by land and permanence
4. Soil Carbon Sequestration
   • Farming practices that increase carbon stored in soil organic matter.
   • Storage: Agricultural soils
   • Use case: Agricultural co-benefits, but harder to measure
5. Ocean-Based Carbon Removal
   • Enhances the ocean’s natural ability to absorb CO₂ via alkalinity enhancement or seaweed cultivation.
   • Storage: Oceanic systems or deep-sea sediments
   • Use case: Large potential, but ecological uncertainties remain
6. Mineralization
   • Accelerates natural rock weathering processes that bind CO₂ into solid minerals.
   • Storage: Permanent, mineral-based
   • Use case: Extremely durable carbon lock-in

FAQ: How Much CO₂ Needs to Be Removed?

To meet the Paris Agreement targets, global CDR must scale to remove 5–10 gigatons of CO₂ per year by mid-century. CDR complements emissions reductions rather than replacing them, addressing “residual” and historical emissions.

Benefits of Carbon Dioxide Removal

• Permanent Carbon Storage: Many engineered CDR methods offer durable, measurable storage for thousands of years.
• Scalability: From small pilots to industrial-scale plants, CDR can grow alongside renewable energy expansion.
• Complementary to Nature: Works with reforestation, soil restoration, and ocean recovery.
• Economic Opportunities: Supports green jobs, sustainable materials, and carbon credit markets (See Sirona’s Remove CO₂ projects).

FAQ: How Does CDR Differ From Carbon Offsetting?

Carbon offsets fund projects that avoid future emissions (like renewable energy). CDR actively removes CO₂ from the atmosphere, producing measurable, verifiable, and permanent carbon removal — a higher standard increasingly required by corporate net-zero strategies (Microsoft Climate Goals).

Challenges and Limitations

• High Costs: Engineered CDR like DAC currently costs $100–$600 per ton (IEA DAC Report).
• Energy Intensity: Most methods require low-carbon energy for operation.
• Verification & Permanence: Measuring and ensuring long-term storage is complex.
• Policy Support: Effective markets need clear regulations and carbon pricing.

Leading Innovators and Projects

Technology-focused CDR companies:

• Climeworks: Modular DAC facilities in Europe
• Carbon Engineering / 1PointFive: Large-scale DAC hubs in the U.S.
• Charm Industrial: Biomass-to-bio-oil with underground storage
• Running Tide: Ocean-based carbon removal via seaweed

Market enablers:

• Frontier (Stripe, Shopify, Google, Meta): Pre-purchase agreements for verified removal
• Microsoft & Amazon: Investing in permanent carbon removal (Amazon Climate Goals)

FAQ: Is Nature-Based CDR Enough on Its Own?

No. Forests and soils are vital but have limited capacity and permanence — fires, droughts, or land-use changes can release stored CO₂. Long-term stability requires engineered solutions alongside nature-based methods.

The Future of Carbon Dioxide Removal

• Integration with renewable energy and storage networks
• Modular, decentralized CDR units for distributed deployment
• Hybrid systems combining biological and chemical capture
• Global carbon removal credit markets for verified CDR

By 2050, the most effective strategies will combine DAC, BECCS, mineralization, and nature-based solutions into a balanced carbon removal portfolio.

Why CDR Matters for Corporate Climate Strategies

Global corporations — Microsoft, Stripe, Shopify — are investing in high-quality CDR to neutralize residual emissions. Supporting CDR helps businesses:

• Demonstrate credible net-zero progress
• Fund innovation in durable carbon storage
• Build trust with stakeholders and regulators
• Access early participation in a growing carbon removal market

Small companies can participate too: Many providers offer carbon removal credits in smaller quantities, enabling SMEs to contribute without owning infrastructure.

Conclusion

Carbon Dioxide Removal is an essential pillar of climate action. While reducing emissions remains the top priority, CDR addresses existing atmospheric CO₂, offering a path to net-negative emissions. By combining emission cuts, renewable energy, and large-scale CDR, the world can move toward a stable climate future aligned with the Paris Agreement.

For related insights, explore:

• Direct Air Capture (DAC) guide
• Carbon Capture Technology guide
• Sirona Remove CO₂ projects
• IEA DAC Report