2045 climate target: Why separate targets for emissions and CO₂ removal are necessary

Germany wants to become greenhouse gas neutral by 2045. The new CDRterra Policy Brief shows that this can only be achieved with two clearly separate strategies: consistent emission reduction and targeted CO₂ removal to offset residual emissions. Separate targets and balances create transparency, planning security, and political controllability.

The land use sector is particularly critical. Today, net figures obscure massive emissions from drained peatlands, while forests are increasingly turning from CO₂ sinks into sources as a result of climate change. In the Policy Brief, CDRterra researchers therefore call for separate targets for emissions and removals in soils, forests, and peatlands.

In addition, the authors advocate for method-specific targets and incentives for CO₂ removal processes. Different storage durations, costs, and environmental impacts require separate balances, clear quality standards, and targeted funding instruments.

The policy brief classifies current developments and provides concrete starting points for the further development of Germany’s climate strategy.