Stuart-Smith et al. (2025): Implications of states’ dependence on carbon dioxide removal for achieving the Paris temperature goal
Rupert F. Stuart-Smith, Ewan White, Ruben Prütz, Joeri Rogelj, Thom Wetzer, Marianne Wood & Lavanya Rajamani, IN: Climate Policy, https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2025.2528775
Pathways consistent with the Paris long-term temperature goal span a wide range of emission reductions in coming years: the IPCC indicates 34–60% cuts in GHG emissions between 2019 and 2030. This range is a major source of policy uncertainty. A key determinant of the rate at which emissions must be reduced this decade is the extent to which CO₂ removal (CDR) is relied on later to withdraw emissions from the atmosphere. Here, the authors evaluate the dependence on CDR of 71 states, primarily in their near and long-term climate strategies submitted to the UNFCCC by May 2024, and the associated risks.