Carbon Drawdown Initiative

Preprint: Could soil EC sensors or leachate EC measurements be used to monitor enhanced weathering? -- Insights from several hundred soil EC sensors and several thousand water analyses in three long-term weathering experiments. Our latest research dives deep into the potential of using electrical conductivity (EC), either in the soil pore water or in leachate water, measured manually or with EC sensors to monitor enhanced weathering (EW), a promising method for CDR. https://lnkd.in/d_rznM6w By accelerating the natural weathering process of rock dust on croplands, EW aims to capture atmospheric CO₂ and transport it to the ocean, effectively reducing greenhouse gases. But can we rely on such a simple and cheap way of measuring through EC to track this process effectively? Over the past three years, we conducted extensive experiments involving 100s of low-cost soil EC sensors and thousands of water analyses across different settings: a field in Fürth, Germany, a farm in Larissa, Greece, and a greenhouse with diverse soil and rock combinations. Our goal was to determine if these EC data could accurately reflect the changes in leachate alkalinity, a key indicator of CDR success. The findings were mixed; while some correlations were observed, the reliability of the sensors varied significantly across different conditions. Along the way we describe how we assess the success of EW experiments using accumulated total alkalinity. Despite various challenges (and failures), our study reveals valuable insights and paves the way for future research. If you're passionate about climate solutions and intrigued by the potential of innovative technologies in environmental monitoring, delve into our detailed findings. Download the full paper below to explore the complexities and possibilities of using soil EC sensors in EW projects and learn how this could shape the future of carbon tracking. Download the PDF from our blog: https://lnkd.in/d_rznM6w

Highlights reel from Negative Emissions Summit held at the Microsoft HQ in Brussels on June 20th where we explored highly durable carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies with input from CDR developers, scientists, NGOs, governments, marketplaces and CDR buyers. Negative Emissions Platform https://lnkd.in/dgQA3Uuz

Fantastic to see how much excitement there is about enhanced rock weathering (ERW) at AGU this year. If you are planning to come (which you absolutely should!), here are the potential sessions to submit your abstract to (by July 31st!!) and some pointers which may be the best fit for you. 1️⃣ GC146: Terrestrial enhanced rock weathering and downstream processes in soils, rivers, and oceans  👩🔬👨🔬 Conveners: Maya Almaraz, Shuang Zhang, Peter Raymond, and myself. 💡Given my involvement I am clearly biased but this session may be particularly suited for you if your research looks at secondary processes in soils or extends to the impacts of ERW on aquatic systems, including how ERW influences river/ocean alkalinity, the transport of weathering products, and downstream loss processes. ➡ https://lnkd.in/dATV2tnB 2️⃣ B045: Enhanced Weathering for Soil-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal: Potential and Challenges  👩🔬👨🔬Conveners: Jennifer Pett-Ridge, Daniel Maxbauer, Isabel Patricia Montanez, Noah Planavsky, and Ella Milliken 💡This session may be ideal if you are focusing on the interactions of ERW within agricultural soils, including microbial communities and organic matter. ➡ https://lnkd.in/egTrZ6_e Both of these sessions look at how soils are modifying ERW signals in general - so you will have to roll the dice if this is your area of expertise. 😇 3️⃣  GC005 - Advancements in Enhanced Weathering for CO2 Removal in (Sub-)Tropical Environments: Integrating MRV, Geochemical Modeling, and Life Cycle Analysis 👩🔬👨🔬Conveners: Vincent Clementi, Ph.D., Fatima Haque, Christina Larkin, Ph.D., Matthew Clarkson, PhD 💡Run by the startups Flux and InPlanet, this session particularly focusses on all aspects of ERW in the tropics and may be a good fit if so do you. ➡ https://lnkd.in/eGHX2Sv4 Although not ERW specific, an additional relevant session is: 4️⃣ GC040 - Carbon Dioxide Removal at scale: Science, technology, policy, and market 👩🔬👨🔬Conveners: Ning Zeng, Jessica N. Cross, Ph.D., David J Beerling, and Matthew Eisaman 💡Given the wealth of other ERW science sessions, this session may be best if your focus is more on policy or market questions or the nexus between ERW and other carbon dioxide removal approaches. ➡ https://lnkd.in/ePNNBmB6 I thought it would be nice to advertise these sessions together and provide some recommendations on where to submit. Nevertheless these recommendations are only my personal opinion - I am sure other conveners would frame it differently. Maybe you can each take over with your own interpretations in the comments or your own posts. 😉

Conference Talk: EW with ultramafic rock: Field experiments with alfalfa in Greece Here is the conference presentation by our head of research, Dr. Ingrid Smet @IngridSmet_geo, at the 3rd Internat. Conference on Negative CO2 Emissions, 2024 in Oxford. https://lnkd.in/dtqM7Une

There is much to do to build the new Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) industry. Immediate and resolute actions are essential from all involved parties. As a collective, we are not on track to unlock the full advantages of CDR. Although interest in CDR is growing, substantially more initiative is required to fully leverage its benefits. Realizing CDR's complete potential necessitates unified efforts from government officials, the private sector, consumers, and financiers. The #DVNE study presents a comprehensive 15-point action plan to address critical barriers, including regulatory ambiguities, prohibitive costs, technical challenges, and insufficient funding. This plan encompasses specific policy initiatives, technological progress, early and long-term purchase agreements, and customized funding strategies to accelerate the growth of the global CDR sector. Read more about this in "CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL -- Europe and Germany's Role in Catalyzing a Trillion-Euro Industry," a study by @bcg and #DVNE. https://lnkd.in/deqVHXN7

The amount of CDR (Carbon Dioxide Removal) required in 2050 is mind blowing. To stay under 1,5° or 2° of global warming various projections expect 4,5-9 Gt CO2 per year, while we will only have 0,015 Gt in 2025. This will be an enormous challenge, but at the same time it is also a huge opportunity for startups, established companies and also for individual careers. Where else do you find brand new industries with annual growth of 24-27% over a time span of 25 years? The DVNE study predicts 335,000 to 670,000 new jobs in Europe's CDR industry by 2050. For young people, this emerging field offers significant career opportunities to grow with the industry. It also fulfills the need for a sense of purpose in your job. All graphs and data in this thread are from "CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL -- Europe and Germany's Role in Catalyzing a Trillion-Euro Industry", a study by @bcg and #DVNE https://lnkd.in/deqVHXN7

Congratulations to the 44.01 team and CEO Talal Hasan on this major step in the company‘s development. As an early seed-investor we are proud that we were able to help pushing the waggon a little bit into the right direction. 👏

What is CDR, or "Carbon Dioxide Removal"? The study "CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL -- Europe and Germany's Role in Catalyzing a Trillion-Euro Industry" by @bcg and #DVNE quotes the @IPCC_CH's definition as shown here. Read the full study: https://lnkd.in/deqVHXN7

All IPCC pathways to net zero by 2050 include CDR. Current climate policy rightly focuses on reducing carbon emissions by shifting away from fossil fuels in electricity, transportation, buildings, and industry. Solutions like point source carbon capture and storage (CCS) also help. However, achieving net zero requires more than just emission reductions. The IPCC, IEA, and other research institutes state that removing carbon dioxide (CDR) from the atmosphere is crucial to limit global warming. CDR is necessary to offset emissions from tough sectors like steel, cement, and chemicals, and to address historic emissions, which can linger for centuries. Every IPCC pathway to keep warming below 1.5°C or 2°C includes some form of CDR to tackle residual emissions that can't be reduced due to technical or cost limitations. Read more about this in "CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL -- Europe and Germany's Role in Catalyzing a Trillion-Euro Industry", a study by @bcg and #DVNE https://lnkd.in/deqVHXN7

Existing climate policies fall considerably short of achieving the critical 1.5°C target. Despite the 2015 Paris Agreement's emphasis on capping global warming at 1.5°C as a measure of effective climate action, the world remains off target. Over 96% of global greenhouse gas emissions now come from nations committed to this goal. However, current measures fail to align with this objective. We see a substantial gap between our present course, the nationally determined commitments (NDCs) for reducing emissions, and the routes needed to keep global warming under 2°C and 1.5°C. This stark disparity highlights the urgent demand for heightened political resolve and a more expansive toolkit of solutions. Read more about this in "CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL -- Europe and Germany's Role in Catalyzing a Trillion-Euro Industry", a study by @bcg and #DVNE https://lnkd.in/deqVHXN7