Companies role in scaling up DURABLE CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVALS

The report finds that while durable CDR (storage >1,000 years) is essential for neutralizing fossil emissions, corporate uptake is low and concentrated among a few companies, notably Microsoft. Many companies instead rely on non-durable CDR, which the authors argue is unsuitable for neutralizing long-cycle emissions. The report highlights risks of double counting between companies and governments and a systemic lack of transparency regarding the environmental and social impacts of CDR projects. It recommends that voluntary initiatives like SBTi require companies to set separate monetary and removal targets based on ability to pay, rather than merging them into net-zero goals.

• Durable CDR, defined as storing carbon for at least 1,000 years, is the only credible method for neutralizing emissions from the long carbon cycle, such as fossil fuels, but its current capacity is far below what is required for global net zero.
• Corporate demand for durable CDR is highly concentrated; Microsoft alone was responsible for over two-thirds of all durable CDR ever contracted by the end of 2024.
• Many companies use non-durable CDR (storage <100 years) to claim the neutralization of ongoing emissions, which the report argues is not a credible substitute for actual emission reductions due to low durability and MRV inaccuracies.
• There is a significant risk of double counting where both a corporate buyer and a national government claim the same removal toward their respective climate targets, undermining the credibility of net-zero claims.
• Corporate reporting on the environmental and social integrity of CDR projects is severely lacking, with none of the 35 assessed companies providing sufficient information to evaluate risks such as biomass feedstock origin or water and energy use.
• In the tech sector, companies often use CDR to meet net-zero targets despite having the potential to reduce emissions to near zero, which may distract from necessary deep decarbonization.
• Airlines are investing in Direct Air Capture (DAC) not only for neutralization but as a critical input for producing synthetic power-to-liquid (PtL) fuels.
• Fossil fuel producers primarily focus on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) for emission reduction or enhanced oil recovery (EOR) rather than durable removals, often conflating the two in their strategies.
• Agrifood companies heavily rely on land-based non-durable CDR, such as soil carbon sequestration, which the report claims is unsuitable for neutralizing biogenic methane due to measurement uncertainties and land constraints.
• The report recommends that voluntary initiatives require companies to set separate monetary targets for durable CDR based on their ability to pay, rather than just tonne-for-tonne targets tied to residual emissions.

APA

Mooldijk, S., Daly, E., Day, T., de Grandpré, J., & Bammel, L. (2025). Companies role in scaling up DURABLE CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVALS. Carbon Market Watch. https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CMW_NCI_CDR_report.pdf

Chicago

Mooldijk, Silke, Emily Daly, Thomas Day, Juliette de Grandpré, and Louise Bammel. Companies role in scaling up DURABLE CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVALS. Carbon Market Watch, 2025. https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CMW_NCI_CDR_report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mooldijk |first1=Silke |last2=Daly |first2=Emily |last3=Day |first3=Thomas |last4=de Grandpré |first4=Juliette |last5=Bammel |first5=Louise |title=Companies role in scaling up DURABLE CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVALS |publisher=Carbon Market Watch |date=September 2025 |url=https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CMW_NCI_CDR_report.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mooldijk2025companies, author = {Mooldijk, Silke and Daly, Emily and Day, Thomas and de Grandpré, Juliette and Bammel, Louise}, title = {{Companies role in scaling up DURABLE CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVALS}}, institution = {Carbon Market Watch}, year = {2025}, month = sep, url = {https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CMW_NCI_CDR_report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }