How can we avoid CDR delaying emissions reductions?
A new report I've written with Carbon Gap exploring mitigation deterrence or moral hazard is released today.
Many are justifiably worried about carbon removal delaying, or stopping emission reductions. This is known as mitigation deterrence or moral hazard. For the last few months, I have been working on a solution-focused report on this issue with the CDR-focused NGO Carbon Gap. Today, the paper "How to avoid carbon removal delaying emissions reductions" is released.
The main takeaway is that mitigation deterrence is a real but very solvable problem. In the report, we propose twelve solutions to mitigation deterrence, from cementing the like-for-like removals principle, to separate CDR targets, to allocating the responsibility to remove historic emissions to address overshoot.
The report goes into three use cases of CDR and identifies risks and solutions for each. If you are interested in the issue, I think you will find it very interesting, it’s a massive piece of work that goes into quite some detail.
Find the report here https://carbongap.org/how-to-avoid-mitigation-deterrence/ It’s an easily accessible format, give it a scroll through if nothing else. I am looking forward to receiving your comments.
The report is written together with the excellent Sylvain Delerce and Eli Mitchell-Larson at Carbon Gap. We will also present the report and have a panel discussion today 27 Sep 16.30 CET. More about that here: https://www.linkedin.com/events/whatismitigationdeterrenceandho7110234281821515776/about/
Emission reductions, in whatever form, take priority over capturing CO2 at the stack and over removing CO2 from the atmosphere. What if Carbon2Soil=REGENERATION (nature based CDR) is deployed to remove CO2 from the atmosphere in the Global South (say Africa) so as to remove heritage CO2 from the Global North (say Europe). CO2-carbon-derived products will benefit rural communities who are under siege of global warming. Keep in mind that in the North each of us causes 8-10 tons CO2 to go up in the atmosphere. Be aware that the typical much traveled pensioner is responsible for 700 ton CO2 cloud hanging over the heads of his/her children and grandchildren. A Carbon2Soil REACH-TEACH Hub in Africa can within 10 years bring 1,400 ton down to earth. Two time as much CO2 as the happy pensioner from the North caused during the time CO2 was not an issue yet.