2.1 Scoping the Carbon Removal Challenge

The scale of carbon dioxide removal required to combat climate change is immense. Since the start of the industrial age, an estimated 2.2 trillion tons of CO2 have been released into the atmosphere, with close to 50Gt added yearly. This accumulated CO2, which persists for thousands of years, necessitates an active removal approach to reverse adverse effects. To mitigate its lasting impact, active removal is essential. Simply reducing emissions or even reaching carbon neutrality will not be enough to reverse the damage.