{"id":3185,"date":"2025-11-27T17:09:17","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T16:09:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/afen.fr\/?p=3185"},"modified":"2025-12-12T14:22:33","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T13:22:33","slug":"les-chiffres-cles-de-lelimination-du-carbone-edc-ou-nous-en-sommes-et-ce-quil-faut-pour-changer-dechelle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/afen.fr\/en\/actualite\/key-figures-for-carbon-elimination-edc-where-we-are-and-what-it-takes-to-change-scale\/","title":{"rendered":"Key figures for carbon removal (CDR): where we are and what it takes to change scale"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I. Why is CDR necessary?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Limiting global warming to 1.5\u00b0C, as set out in the Paris Agreement, means not only drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In 2022, CO\u2082 emissions reached 40 Gt CO2 \u2082<\/strong><\/a>an all-time record. If all greenhouse gases are added, the total climbs to 53.8 Gt CO2 eq<\/strong>. To get 50% chance of limiting warming to 1.5\u00b0C<\/strong>we estimates <\/a>that only 250 GtCO\u2082 are left to be emitted<\/strong> from 2020. This corresponds to \u22486 years of emissions at current rate<\/strong>. For 2\u00b0C, the budget is around 1,150 GtCO\u2082<\/strong>or \u224825 years<\/strong> at the current rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Article 4.1 of the 2015 treaty speaks explicitly of achieving \"a balance between anthropogenic emissions and removals by sinks\" in the second half of the century (UNFCCC). This balance can only be achieved with thecarbon removal (CDR)<\/strong><\/a>. So-called \"residual\" emissions (aviation, cement, agriculture) are technically or economically impossible to remove completely. To offset these flows, it will be necessary to develop technological or biogeochemical carbon sinks capable of storing CO\u2082 on a long-term basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latest IPCC report <\/a>estimates that scenarios compatible with 1.5 \u00b0C require 7 to over 10 GtCO\u2082\/year of removal by 2050<\/strong>. Today, the volume of CDR actually delivered is derisory: \u22481.3 MtCO\u2082\/year<\/strong> according to the 2024 edition of State of Carbon Dioxide Removal<\/em><\/a>. In other words, less than 0.1% of what should be achieved within three decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gap is colossal, and calls for a real industrial effort to move from megatons<\/em> today to gigatons<\/em> in 2050. involves industrial, infrastructure and financing policies on a massive scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

II. Where do we stand today? Capacity, national policies and the market<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1) Global deployment and technology mix<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Independent monitoring data (including cdr.fyi<\/a>) indicate that in 2024, about 318,600 tonnes<\/strong> sustainable CDR<\/a> have actually been delivered<\/strong> to buyers (i.e. +120% vs. 2023), while 8 MtCO\u2082<\/strong> have been contracted<\/strong>. The dominant technology is the biochar<\/strong>which represents approximately 86% of 2024 deliveries<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alongside these projects BECCS<\/strong> (bioenergy with capture and storage) and DACCS<\/strong> (direct air capture with storage) are multiplying, but actual volumes remain low despite growth. L'enhanced weathering<\/strong> remains in the pilot phase. In particular, there is a diversification of technologies, dominated by DAC until 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2) National objectives and plans <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the first large-scale projects and the voluntary market, a number of major economies are beginning to establish quantified trajectories for carbon capture and CDR. These national strategies translate into public policy the scale of the volumes required between now and 2030-2050, and send out a strong signal to investors and project developers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n