CO2-removal News

Peer-reviewed Publications

Bolan et al. (2026): Weathering of biochar: implications to soil health, carbon sequestration and soil remediation

Nanthi Bolan, Santanu Mukherjee, Shiv Bolan, Shailja Sharma, Kurt Spokas, Jose Lucas Martins Melo, Joshua T. Padilla, David Houben, Murilo Veloso, Arthur Gross, Sreeni Chadalavada and Kadambot H. M. Siddique, IN: Biochar, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-026-00615-x

There has been increasing interest in the application of biochar as a soil amendment to sequester carbon and remediate contamination. The novelty of this review is that it provides thorough bibliometric analysis and critical discussions on various processes of biochar weathering, factors affecting the weathering processes, and the implication of biochar weathering on its potential value for carbon sequestration and soil remediation in relation to promoting soil health. Although biochar contains stabilized carbon, when exposed in the field, biochar undergoes physical, chemical, and biological weathering processes, which could lead to fragmentation of biochar, impacting its nature, characteristics, and reactivity. The weathering of biochar in soil is impacted by the nature of biochar, soil type, cultivation practices, and environmental conditions.

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Peer-reviewed Publications

Groover et al. (2026): Genome engineering of plant photosynthesis for carbon sequestration

Evan D. Groover, Flora Z. Wang, Amala John, Jianqiang Shen, Peggy G. Lemaux, David F. Savage and Krishna K. Niyogi, IN: Nature Reviews Bioengineering, https://doi.org/10.1038/s44222-026-00453-3

Anthropogenic carbon emissions have destabilized Earth’s carbon cycle, triggering cascading effects on climate and biodiversity. Plant-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) presents a scalable, economically viable path to atmospheric carbon sequestration through soil carbon deposition, dedicated biomass cultivation and strategic agroforestry. Although photosynthesis drives terrestrial carbon capture, effective CDR strategies demand genetic optimization of carbon assimilation, retention and storage. The regulatory landscape is restrictive towards transgenic crops yet permissive of genome editing, creating a window for intervention. Advances in CRISPR-based editing, computational plant trait prediction and delivery systems for gene-editing tools in planta enable precision engineering of plant phenotypes to increase photosynthetic efficiency and carbon sequestration capacity. The authors map the molecular and physiological innovations required to realize plant-based CDR at climate-relevant scales. Beyond optimizing carbon capture itself, they examine strategies to engineer enhanced biomass accumulation, improve nitrogen and water use efficiency, and stabilize carbon storage in plant and soil systems.

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Peer-reviewed Publications

Liu et al. (2026): Redox-decoupled electrolysis for direct air capture of CO₂

Shijie Liu, Yurou Celine Xiao, Dongha Kim, Zunmin Guo, Eloi Grignon, Yuke Li, Ian Munroe, Hang Zhang, Jiexin Zhu, Zhizheng Wu, Jonathan P. Edwards, Jinqiang Zhang, Jieyuan Liu, Panagiotis Papangelakis, Yuxuan Che, Hyeon Seok Lee, Feng Li, Prasad V. Sarma, Qiyou Wang, Cai Wang, Todd Scheidt, Rui Kai Miao, Dwight Seferos, Yi Xu and David Sinton, IN: Nature Chemical Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1038/s44286-026-00391-2

Electrochemical direct air capture (eDAC) leverages renewable electricity to remove atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂), offering an alternative to carbon-intensive thermal methods. However, existing eDAC systems achieve high energy efficiency only when producing a dilute hydroxide stream (pH ≈ 13) that is incompatible with current air contactors. Attempts to generate more concentrated capture solutions encounter the fundamental limitation of proton and hydroxide recombination, lowering the current efficiency and increasing energy requirements. Here the authors present a decoupled strategy whereby CO₂ liberation and sorbent regeneration are spatially separated, achieving high current and energy efficiency via redox-decoupled electrolysis. They tuned the redox mediator and synthesized a cation exchange membrane to ensure fast reaction kinetics, a low operating voltage and stability.

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Peer-reviewed Publications

Pessoa et al. (2026): Carbon sequestration potential of native grasses in extensive green roof systems

Victor Gurgel Pessoa, Tomás Guilherme Pereira da Silva, Simone Santos Lira Silva and Vivian Loges, IN: Journal of Environmental Management, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.130027

Green roofs are increasingly adopted as nature-based solutions to mitigate urban environmental impacts, including carbon storage. however, information on the performance of native grasses in green roofs conditions remains limited. This study evaluated growth dynamics and carbon sequestration potential of native ornamental grasses cultivated under extensive green roof. Eight genotypes were assessed, including accessions and cultivars of Paspalum notatum (BRA006513, BRA019178, BRA023558, Aruaí, Tiriba and Tuim), Axonopus parodii (Curica), and the exotic grass Zoysia japonica as a commercial reference. Plants were grown in trays with a 8 cm substrate depth and monitored over 365 days, with evaluations at 90, 180, 270 and 365 days after planting. Plant height, surface coverage, fresh biomass, dry mass, organic carbon concentration and carbon stocks were quantified in above- and belowground compartments. Biomass accumulation and carbon storage increased over time, with root systems becoming the main carbon sink after establishment. However, reductions in plant height and surface coverage were observed after intermediate periods, likely due to environmental and structural constraints of extensive green roofs, such as shallow substrate depth, limited rooting volume, and periodic water restriction, which induced physiological adjustments including reduced vertical growth and canopy senescence.

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Peer-reviewed Publications

Yimer et al. (2026): Role of woody plants in carbon sequestration: evidence from Sulula Mofa Forest, Northern Ethiopia

Hussen Yimer, Gonfa Kewessa and Siraj Mammo, IN: Scientific Reports, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-49271-y

Forests are vital for maintaining the global carbon balance and mitigating climate change by sequestering CO₂ and storing organic carbon, contributing to sustainable development. However, Ethiopia lacks national-level carbon inventories, monitoring systems, and databanks to enhance carbon sequestration. This study assessed the carbon stock potential along altitudinal, slope, and aspect gradients in the Sulula Mofa Dry Afro-Montane Forest. Using stratified random sampling, 42 plots (400 m² each) were established. A total of 210 subplots (1 m × 1 m; 1 m²) were established within the main plots for soil and litter sampling. Equal amounts of soil and litter materials were collected from the subplots and separately homogenized to form composite samples of approximately 100 g each. Tree biomass was estimated using nondestructive allometric models, while organic carbon in litter and soil was analyzed in the laboratory.

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Peer-reviewed Publications

Kannegieter & Medlock (2026): Additionality constrains investment in carbon sequestration

Stan Kannegieter and Kenneth B. Medlock, IN: npj Climate Action, https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-026-00155-8

Additionality is a structural constraint that only recognizes land-based carbon sequestration if it would not have occurred without carbon payments. This discourages large-scale investment because it removes a significant portion of the potential carbon storage asset. Here, the authors examine the effects of replacing the additionality requirement with a carbon asset class that rewards carbon accumulation from carbon amendments on soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration on cropland. They construct and calibrate an economic model focused on crop and carbon farming in Texas.

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Peer-reviewed Publications

Watanabe (2026): Macroalgal and seagrass species generate variable amounts of recalcitrant dissolved organic carbon in coastal Japan

Kenta Watanabe, Masakazu Hori, Atsushi Kubo, Hirotada Moki and Tomohiro Kuwae, IN: Communications Earth & Environment, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-03600-1

Dissolved organic carbon released from marine macrophytes is an important carbon sequestration pathway, but its recalcitrant fraction remains poorly quantified. Here, the authors quantified dissolved organic carbon release rates and recalcitrance using empirical data from macroalgal and seagrass species across cold-temperate to subtropical coastal Japan. Dissolved organic carbon release rates ranged from 5 to 462 µmol g-DW−1 d−1, with similar averages between macroalgae and seagrasses. Using degradation dynamics simulated with a reactivity continuum model, they estimated the mean recalcitrant fractions over 100-year timescale as 25% (17–34%, 95% credible interval) for seagrasses and 14% (11–16%) for macroalgae, corresponding to 8% (4–12%) and 4% (3–6%) of annual net primary production, respectively.

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Peer-reviewed Publications

Berger et al. (2026): Efficacy of seaweed-based carbon dioxide removal reduced by iron limitation and nutrient competition with phytoplankton

Manon Berger, Lester Kwiatkowski, Laurent Bopp and David T. Ho, IN: Nature Communications, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-73168-z

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) through seaweed cultivation has been proposed as a promising marine CDR approach due to its high afforestation potential and favorable carbon-to-nutrient ratios. However, recent studies suggest that the afforestation potential is constrained by iron limitation, and efficiency depends on relative stoichiometry with phytoplankton. Global CDR models overlook iron limitation and fail to capture how nutrient feedbacks with phytoplankton will reduce ocean carbon uptake. Here, an ocean biogeochemical model is used to assess how nutrient demand, affinity, and limitation influence the afforestation potential and CDR efficiency of seaweed cultivation.

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Peer-reviewed Publications

He et al. (2026): Temporary carbon dioxide removal to offset short-lived climate forcers

Yue He, Keywan Riahi, Matthew J. Gidden, Shilong Piao, Tao Wang and Thomas Gasser, IN: Nature, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10607-3

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is considered for achieving the long-term temperature objectives of the Paris Agreement and national net-zero emission targets1,2,3,4,5. The durability of these CDR methods varies widely, ranging from decades to theoretically permanent6. Temporary CDR dominates present deployment, whereas permanent solutions face further feasibility and cost challenges at scale1. However, efforts to integrate temporary CDR into climate policies have relied on equivalency assumptions between temporary and permanent CDR that contradict physical climate science: temporary CDR cannot fully offset CO₂ emissions as permanent CDR can6,7.

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Peer-reviewed Publications

Brun et al. (2026): Three challenges to marine carbon dioxide removal

Victor Brun, Marine Lecerf, Olivia Le Gouvello, Isabella Reis Costa, Chris Bowler, Robert Blasiak, Laurent Bopp, Ken Buesseler, Helen S. Findlay, Jean-Pierre Gattuso, David T. Ho, Lisa A. Levin, Lauren S. Mullineaux, Fabrice Pernet, Hans-O. Pörtner, Yunne-Jai Shin, Robert C. Steenkamp, Torsten Thiele and Joachim Claudet, IN: npj Ocean Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-026-00198-x

Reaching the Paris Agreement target to limit global warming below 1.5 °C requires both decarbonization and the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Here, the authors highlight three challenges to marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) (knowledge gaps, ecological and social risks, and inadequate governance), which must be addressed before considering mCDR as a scalable climate solution.

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