State policymakers can enact real change by enabling carbon dioxide removal

RMI has launched the State CDR Atlas, a tool designed to help the 50 US states scale carbon dioxide removal (CDR) by assessing their unique geographies, infrastructure, and regulatory landscapes. The Atlas evaluates states across eight CDR approach categories using two primary ratings: an Opportunity Rating based on natural resources and infrastructure, and an Enabling Policy Rating based on the current regulatory environment. Using Virginia as a case study, the document illustrates how the tool identifies specific gaps—such as Virginia's lack of government procurement programs for CDR—and provides guidance on Terrestrial Enhanced Weathering (TEW) as a specific CDR approach. The tool is intended as an orientation and prioritization resource rather than a final siting mechanism.

• RMI developed the State CDR Atlas as a screening tool to help US states identify which of eight categories of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) approaches are most promising based on over 80 metrics, including infrastructure, natural resources, workforce, and governance.
• The Atlas utilizes two distinct rating systems for each state: an Opportunity Rating, which assesses pre-existing qualities like natural resources and workforce, and an Enabling Policy Rating, which evaluates if the regulatory landscape is ready for safe CDR deployment.
• A case study of Virginia demonstrates that while the state has high opportunity for Direct Ocean Capture, Ocean Geochemical CDR, Ocean Biomass CDR, and Bioenergy + CCS, it lacks the necessary supply and demand policies, such as government procurement programs, grants, or compliance mechanisms.
• For Terrestrial Enhanced Weathering (TEW)—the addition of alkaline minerals to soils—the Atlas identifies that states with large amounts of relevant farmland and ready sources of alkaline minerals are best suited for the approach, though it recommends that policymakers fund research to establish safety standards.

APA

RMI (2024). State policymakers can enact real change by enabling carbon dioxide removal. https://rmi.org/resources/state-policymakers-can-enact-real-change-by-enabling-carbon-dioxide-removal/

Chicago

RMI. State policymakers can enact real change by enabling carbon dioxide removal. 2024. https://rmi.org/resources/state-policymakers-can-enact-real-change-by-enabling-carbon-dioxide-removal/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=State policymakers can enact real change by enabling carbon dioxide removal |date=23 October 2024 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/state-policymakers-can-enact-real-change-by-enabling-carbon-dioxide-removal/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2024state, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{State policymakers can enact real change by enabling carbon dioxide removal}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2024}, month = oct, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/state-policymakers-can-enact-real-change-by-enabling-carbon-dioxide-removal/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }