Unless we rapidly ramp up CO₂ removal, climate neutrality by 2045 will be scarcely achievable

The researchers are devising a scenario with ambitious transformation measures. This foresees

the sequestration of up to 80 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent each year as of 2045

through various CDR methods – when existing and new approaches are combined.

Today, however, Germany removes just a fraction of this amount from the atmosphere. Even

with extremely ambitious reductions, some 60 to 130 million metric tons of residual emissions

per year will remain from 2045, according to estimates. “Without ambitious emissions reductions and CO₂ removal, we will miss our climate targets. To ramp up CDR, we need clear rules, the build-out of new methods, the protection of natural sinks – and dialog with society,” says Julia Pongratz, CDRterra spokesperson and professor at LMU.

Proven methods such as afforestation, reforestation, agroforestry, and carbon farming techniques like cover cropping can be implemented in the short term and accelerate the sequestration of carbon dioxide. Modeling shows that large-scale afforestation and reforestation programs can measurably slow climate change. But to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, current global levels of CO₂ removal must be at least doubled by 2050. In Germany, this significantly intensifies competition for land areas. In addition, there are legal and structural barriers: For example, the conversion of grassland into forest is prohibited in many places, and farmers often lack the know-how and long-term planning certainty.

To expand the portfolio, the researchers have investigated novel techniques. They see potential, for example, in artificial photosynthesis, which uses solar energy to convert carbon dioxide into carbon flakes – and is more efficient than natural processes. Novel CO2 – sequestering building materials based on gabbro, biochar, and bio-based carbon fibers are also promising. However, these options need more time to be developed.