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Europe aims to scale up infrastructure for permanent carbon removals
(EurActiv, 22 Feb 2022) Europe aims to scale up infrastructure for permanent carbon removals.
With its European Climate Law adopted last year, the EU has set in stone an objective of reaching net zero emissions by mid-century.
But even if emissions can be brought down close to zero, there will always be residual emissions from agriculture or industrial processes which cannot be fully abated, according to the European Commission.
This is why any carbon emissions remaining in Europe by 2050 will have to be balanced by removals, “with the aim to achieve negative emissions thereafter,” the EU executive said in a policy paper on ‘Sustainable Carbon Cycles’ published in December.
“Carbon removals will need to play a growing role, and become the main focus of action after climate neutrality is achieved and when negative emissions will be needed to stabilise the world’s temperature increase,” the EU executive said.
For the time being, carbon removals are performed essentially by natural ecosystems – mainly oceans, and forests which absorb carbon dioxide as they grow.
But forests are themselves falling victim of climate change, with growing incidence of fires and pests, which increases the risk that the removals will not be permanent.
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EurActiv, 22 Feb 2022: Europe aims to scale up infrastructure for permanent carbon removals
