Combating climate change requires efforts on two major fronts. On the one hand, drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions remains the absolute priority. However, a landmark report coordinated by Oxford University points out that beyond these reductions, we will also need to significantly increase the removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) already in the atmosphere.
Ambitious CO2 elimination targets
According to this interdisciplinary report, to limit global warming to 1.5°C or 2°C, as set out in the Paris Agreement, it will be necessary to eliminate between 7 and 9 billion tonnes of CO2 per year by 2050. This represents a fourfold increase on current levels of around 2 billion tonnes of CO2 eliminated annually, mainly through reforestation. The targets set by the Paris Agreement have not yet been met. Nevertheless, a number of initiatives in both the private and public sectors are working towards the goal of 0 carbon emissions by 2050, such as the French multinational Schlumberger.
CO2 removal methods
There are two complementary approaches to CO2 elimination. On the one hand, strengthening natural carbon sinks, such as forests, soils and peatlands, plays an essential role. On the other hand, new emerging technologies, although currently marginal, will have to be deployed on a large scale. These techniques include the direct capture of CO2 from the air, the conversion of biomass into biochar and the grinding of rocks to increase their CO2 absorption capacity.
Challenges and issues
However, the report also highlights the potential risks of some of these techniques for the environment and ecosystems. Non-governmental organizations warn against over-reliance on these technological solutions, which should not distract attention from the urgent need to move away from fossil fuels. The experts therefore call for the controlled and sustainable development of these CO2 elimination methods, while ensuring that biodiversity and food security are preserved.
