ESPOO, Finland, 18 April 2024: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) said that carbon dioxide removals have recently been the subject of live public debate. Making the statement through a Press release, VTT said, the European Commission has communicated that drastic emission reductions must be supplemented with land-based and industrial carbon removals by 2040 to keep on track with the climate neutrality target by 2050. VTT said the multidisciplinary NEGEM research project has focused on responsible carbon dioxide removal options, their potential, and social and environmental impacts for the past four years.

Kati Koponen, Senior Scientist and Coordinator of the project, VTT, said:”Removing CO2 from the atmosphere is needed to keep the warming at 1.5 degrees C. At the same time, we must significantly accelerate our efforts to reduce emissions. Therefore, carbon removal is not an alternative to emission reductions, but a necessary supplementary measure.”

VTT said the NEGEM project investigates several different technologies and practices for removing CO2 from the atmosphere: afforestation and reforestation, capture of CO2 released during bioenergy production and storing it in geologic formations (BECCS), biochar production, capture of CO2 directly from ambient air and storing it in geologic formations (DACCS), soil carbon sequestration, enhanced weathering, and ocean alkalinisation. 

VTT said that each method has positive and negative impacts on the surrounding nature and society and added that industrial carbon removals such as BECCS and DACCS offer a solution for permanent carbon storage, but they are currently more expensive and further away from large-scale deployment than for example, re-/afforestation, which are ready-to-use methods. However, VTT said, carbon stored in forests can be released quickly, for instance, during a forest fire or logging.

On the other hand, VTT said increasing natural carbon sinks through reforestation or soil carbon sequestration also has a positive impact on biodiversity, recreational value, and nature’s ability to adapt to climate change. It can also help meet international nature restoration targets. 

Koponen said: “Responsible carbon dioxide removal takes into account the advantages and disadvantages of each method. It is important to use a portfolio of methods to balance the trade-offs and to ensure cost-efficiency. Therefore, all methods will most likely need to be used simultaneously.”

VTT said the research project involves 16 European universities, research institutes, NGOs, and companies.

Koponen said: “The required scale of carbon dioxide removal and its impacts are not yet fully understood. Large-scale international cooperation is also necessary for the transport and storage of carbon dioxide, as many countries do not have their geological formations suitable for carbon dioxide storage. There is also a demand for mutually agreed-upon science-based monitoring practices and regulations.

While carbon dioxide removal increases costs, it also creates economic opportunities for European countries. If we must remove gigatons of carbon from the atmosphere, it will require numerous plants and large-scale infrastructure for transport and storage. Carbon dioxide removal may become an entire industry, creating jobs and export potential for pioneers. Nations, companies, and the EU have to plan their carbon dioxide removal efforts now while focusing on drastic emission reductions.”