International Governance of Technological Carbon Removal: Surfacing Questions, Exploring Solutions

The paper examines the governance of technological carbon dioxide removal (CDR) as countries increasingly integrate these methods into their long-term low-emission development strategies (LTSs). It identifies three primary risks: mitigation deterrence, where CDR focus reduces urgent emissions reductions; equity concerns regarding the distribution of costs and benefits; and a fragmented MRV ecosystem that lacks standardization. The document argues that international collaboration and standardized processes are necessary to ensure the responsible and equitable scale-up of CDR technologies.

• There is a scientific consensus that carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is necessary to achieve the 1.5 degrees C temperature goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement and to reach net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by midcentury.
• Technological carbon removal is increasingly featured in national climate planning; as of May 2023, 26 out of 62 long-term low-emission development strategies (LTSs) submitted to the UNFCCC either plan for or are considering the use of these methods.
• The governance of technological CDR faces the challenge of mitigation deterrence, where the promise of future large-scale removal may divert investment and attention away from immediate emissions reductions.
• Equity in CDR deployment is a critical concern to prevent countries with minimal responsibility for the climate crisis from hosting projects that provide them no benefit.
• The current measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) ecosystem for technological CDR is fragmented and lacks standardization, which is necessary to build industry trust and support voluntary carbon markets.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). International Governance of Technological Carbon Removal: Surfacing Questions, Exploring Solutions. https://www.wri.org/research/international-carbon-removal-governance

Chicago

World Resources Institute. International Governance of Technological Carbon Removal: Surfacing Questions, Exploring Solutions. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/international-carbon-removal-governance.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=International Governance of Technological Carbon Removal: Surfacing Questions, Exploring Solutions |url=https://www.wri.org/research/international-carbon-removal-governance |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendinternational, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{International Governance of Technological Carbon Removal: Surfacing Questions, Exploring Solutions}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/international-carbon-removal-governance}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }