Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) is a set of techniques that aim to remove carbon dioxide (CO₂) directly from the atmosphere by either (1) increasing natural sinks for carbon or (2) using chemical engineering to remove the CO₂, with the intent of reducing the atmospheric CO₂ concentration. CDR methods involve the ocean, land, and technical systems, including such methods as iron fertilization, large-scale afforestation, and direct capture of CO₂ from the atmosphere using engineered chemical means. [Climate Science Special Report Glossary truncated from the IPCC AR5 WGI Annex III: Glossary]
In 2021, the Interagency Carbon Dioxide Removal Research Coordination (I-CDR-C) workstream was initiated through the U.S. Carbon Cycle Science Program. The workstream began exploring and advancing interagency CDR research coordination strategies.
In 2022, the I-CDR-C provided an initial summary of interagency CDR activities to the U.S. Carbon Cycle Science Program and led an online CDR town hall at the 2022 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. In fall 2022, the federal membership of the I-CDR-C became an official workstream of the Carbon Cycle Interagency Working Group.
In 2023, the I-CDR-C has continued gathering information on CDR research activities across federal agencies with the goal of supporting the USGCRP 2022-2031 Strategic Plan to provide information on “the feasibility, carbon removal potential, and risks and benefits of various carbon removal strategies, including the potential for and implications of significantly scaling up these measures—particularly for biodiversity and land use.” The I-CDR-C will lead a second CDR town hall at the 2023 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting.
I-CDR-C 2023 Federal Participation: DOC (NIST, NOAA), DOI (BSEE, USFWS, USGS), EPA, DOE, NASA, USAID, USDA
I-CDR-C Lead: Dr. Peter Warwick, U.S. Geological Survey
CCIWG Contact: Dr. Samantha Basile