FREE CLIMATE RESOURCE
Carbon Dioxide Removal
Our future depends in part on quickly removing carbon dioxide from the air. Learn what makes this complex, difficult, and vital.
Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)
What you will learn
We explore how carbon dioxide removal fits into avoiding the worst impacts of climate change, add context to the pressing need for it, and overview the challenges and critiques of scaling various approaches, from nature-based solutions to direct air capture.
The need for CDR in context
Our climate goals call for action, and fast. To what extent can CDR scale up to help.
The paradox of CDR
Understand the tension of cutting emissions while ramping up ways to capture them.
Nature-based & technological solutions
From rainforest conservation and afforestation to direct air capture and enhanced rock weathering.
Carbon capture, geoengineering, etc.
How does carbon dioxide removal stack up next to other approaches?
Climate Change - Learning for Action A sample of the content that accompanies our Learning for Action fellowship’s live classes.
Class breakdown
Introduction
We start with why it’s crucial to think critically and analytically about the need and potential for CDR and other approaches we cover, then provide the class’s outline and learning goals.
What is Carbon Dioxide Removal and Do We Need It?
Here we contextualize how much we’re depending on CDR to achieve our climate goals, the scales and constraints involved, and why we can’t rely on CDR as a substitute for cutting emissions.
Nature-Based Solutions
We cover the role of forests, peatlands, and the ocean, the limitations of planting ever more trees as a climate solution, and the significance of Indigenous land management. We also consider a case study from Nepal.
Technological, Geological, and Hybrid Solutions
Here we examine the promise of direct air capture and differentiate it from carbon capture and storage. We also overview enhanced rock weathering, biochar, and justice issues, and include a cautionary note on geoengineering.
Summary
We encapsulate key takeaways and terms, underscore that carbon dioxide removal is no substitute for cutting emissions, and reflect on the paradox of needing to scale up CDR while trying to depend on it as little as possible.
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climate fellowship
Climate Change: Learning for Action
This free class on carbon dioxide removal is just one asynchronous part of our flagship fellowship, which also covers science, economics, policy, and climate justice, and includes regular discussions with a community of climate-focused peers.
- 100% online
- 7+ guest experts
- Hands-on projects
- 12 weeks | 6-12 hours/week
- Financial aid available
