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TABLE OF CONTENTSNote: Click on the headings listed in the table of contents above to easily navigate to the sections you're interested in. THIS WEEK’S TOP CDR HIGHLIGHTSCALL FOR PROPOSALS: Germany’s Carbon Drawdown Initiative is inviting proposals to analyze over 1,000 soil & biomass samples from its large greenhouse enhanced weathering experiment. Grants up to €50,000 are offered; deadline October 24, 2025. CDR AT COP30: In partnership with the Negative Emissions Platform and nearly 90 organizations under CDR30, the first-ever Carbon Dioxide Removal Pavilion has been secured for COP30 in Belém, Brazil, November 2025. GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE: California has passed three new bills (AB1207, SB804, SB643) to accelerate CDR. They integrate CDR into the Cap & Invest program, open funding through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, and establish a $50M competitive purchase program for eligible CDR projects. BIOCHAR SURVEY: The International Biochar Initiative, USBI, and The State of Carbon Dioxide Removal have launched a Biochar Industry Survey to gather insights for supporting the sector in the U.S. and globally. CALL FOR CONSULTATION: Isometric has launched a public consultation on a new protocol for carbon dioxide removal achieved through improved forest management (IFM), looking for feedback by October 17, 2025 REPORT: Carbon180 released a new whitepaper that warns against treating short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) like methane or HFCs as substitutes for CO₂ removal. While SLCP cuts offer fast benefits, they don’t replace the need for long-lasting CO₂ mitigation. Standards & markets must keep them distinct. CDR BUYERS CLUB: South Pole is launching a buyers’ club called TechGen in 2026 to scale durable carbon removals. Companies can pool demand to lower risk and cost, backing diverse CDR projects via long-term offtake deals. Read on to unpack more updates: COMMERCIAL NEWS Share Carbon Removal Updates RESEARCH PAPERSAuthors: Amy L. McBride, Kirstine Skov, Peter Wade, Joey Betz, Amanda Stubbs, Tzara Bierowiec, et al.Synopsis: A 1.5-year field trial in SE Scotland tested enhanced weathering with crushed basalt (0–126 t ha−1). Rigorous MRV compared porewater and soil methods to estimate potential CDR (pCDR). Direct pCDR ranged 0.33–0.53 tCO2 ha−1 at higher application rates, detected at 5 cm soil depth but not at 10 cm or via soil samples. Carbonate precipitation was below detection. Normalized results aligned with mid-range values from other studies, underscoring both promise and MRV challenges for scaling EW.
Authors: John MacDonald, Charlotte Slaymark, Amanda Stubbs, Marta KalabováSynopsis: This study of slag and cement sites across Scotland and Northern England shows widespread formation of anthropogenic carbonates from atmospheric CO₂. Stable isotope analysis confirmed rapid carbonate precipitation in subaqueous settings (δ¹³C: –25 to –28 ‰; δ¹⁸O: –15 to –20 ‰) and partial re-equilibration in subaerial settings. Findings reveal that these waste-derived carbonates are more common than previously recognised, highlighting their overlooked role in passive atmospheric CO₂ removal.
Authors: Finn Müller-Hansen, Livia Fritz, Sarah Lück, Benjamin K Sovacool and Jan C MinxSynopsis: This study maps global funding for Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) research, analyzing 6,000+ grants across 12 CDR options. Funding grew 21% annually over 30 years, totaling ~$4.2B - more grants than CCS but less money. Europe and North America dominate, with most funding in natural, engineering, and agricultural sciences, and growing but limited support for social sciences. Findings reveal strong growth yet little CDR-specific targeting, pointing to the need for strategic initiatives to close gaps.
Authors: Salem Alshammari, Hussain Saleem, Dong KyuSynopsis: This study demonstrates CO₂ mineralization in oilfield brines using a 600 L stirred reactor. Sequential precipitation occurred, with Mg(OH)₂ forming at pH 8–9 and Ca(OH)₂ above pH 10. Thermodynamic modeling showed higher temperatures and lower pressures increase carbonate yield. Stepwise CO₂ addition boosted CaCO₃ formation until pH dropped, requiring timely termination. The results advance brine-based CO₂ mineralization toward scalable application.
Authors: Zhou Wu, Chenxia Su, Meixia Gao, Ronghua Kang, Daniel S. Goll, Meng Yao, Zihan Tai, Ang Wang, Qing-Wei Wang, Yunting FangSynopsis: This study tested enhanced rock weathering with wollastonite (0, 5, 10 t ha−1) in a larch plantation in NE China. Wollastonite reduced soil CO₂ fluxes by ~16% in year one, likely via greater SOC stability, but fluxes rose slightly in year two due to root respiration and SOC decomposition. Tree biomass showed a positive, though non-significant, trend. Results indicate ERW impacts both soil carbon dynamics and vegetation growth, underscoring the need for ecosystem-scale assessments of C sequestration.
Authors: Sujit Kumar Nayak, Pratap Bhattacharyya, Soumya Ranjan Padhy, Anubhav Das, Shiva Prasad Parida, Monalisha Rath & Anweshita NayakSynopsis: This study reviews the role of microalgae in carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. Microalgae efficiently capture CO₂ via photosynthesis, converting it into biomass for biofuels, biochar, biofertilizers, and other products, with business potential in carbon trading. However, large-scale deployment faces high costs and limited species options. Advanced strategies—like genetic engineering, photoperiod extension, and enzyme optimization—could boost efficiency, making algae a sustainable carbon sink.
Authors: Gyoung Gug Jang, Abishek Kasturi, Jorge Gabitto, Gang Seob Jung, Pimphan Aye Meyer, Diana Stamberga, Nathan Wood, Christina Forrester, Jonathan Willocks, Radu Custelcean, Costas TsourisSynopsis: This study evaluates solvent-based DAC performance under extreme weather, testing a high-flux crossflow contactor in cold (<0 °C) and hot (>30 °C) conditions. Using anti-freeze amino-acid solvents, researchers assessed CO₂ uptake, efficiency, and kinetics at air velocities >1 m/s, supported by mass-transfer modeling and machine learning. Results show air velocity and temperature are key drivers of capture efficiency. A technoeconomic analysis under subfreezing conditions highlights siting challenges but confirms design pathways for scalable, climate-resilient DAC deployment.
Authors: Stefano Ninfole, Knut Einar RosendahlSynopsis: This paper explores how large-scale DAC deployment interacts with electricity markets. Using theory and simulations, it shows DAC can either raise or reduce price volatility depending on technology choice. More energy-efficient DAC, when improved or made cheaper, tends to increase volatility by displacing energy-intensive systems that usually shut off at high prices. Rising CO₂ prices also favor expansion of energy-efficient DAC over energy-intensive types. Findings highlight trade-offs between DAC design, cost, and energy market stability.
Authors: Niveditha M. &Palanisamy T.Synopsis: This study develops a carbon-sink binder from mill scale, fly ash, metakaolin, and limestone, aiming to cut CO₂ emissions from cement production. Using oxalic acid to enhance iron dissolution, specimens underwent carbonation curing at 1.5–3 bar CO₂. Results showed a 133% strength gain at 4% oxalic acid, with >65 MPa compressive strength achieved in 7 days at 3 bar. TGA confirmed 10–11% CO₂ uptake by mass, with stable siderite and calcite phases forming. The binder, >75% industrial by-products, offers a low-carbon, waste-to-value cement alternative, supporting circular economy goals and showing promise for precast and pavement applications.
Authors: Yue Zhang, Debin Zheng, Yongjun Guo, Shuang Liang, Biao Guo, Muhan LISynopsis: This study used an EwE food-web model of the Dashentang Marine Ranch (23.6 km², Tianjin, China) to assess the ecological carrying capacity (ECC) and carbon sequestration role of the bivalve Ruditapes philippinarum. Results showed its ECC is 208.1 t/km², far above current biomass (6.3 t/km²), indicating large aquaculture potential. At ECC, the species could sequester 21,500 t C uptake, 10,300 t benthic deposition, support 280,000 t harvestable biomass, but also release 870,000 t C via respiration. Mixed Trophic Impact (MTI) analysis found clam expansion benefits demersal fish and benthic habitat but reduces predator biomass, reflecting trophic trade-offs. A pedigree index of 0.716 supports model reliability. Findings suggest scaling up clam cultivation can improve ecosystem stability, carbon sink capacity, and economic yield in marine ranch systems.
Authors: Lulu Bai, Jinxiao Duan, Peng Shi, Jun Xiao, Zhanbin Li, Peng LiSynopsis: This study examined how soil erosion–deposition affects SOC mineralization via aggregate turnover using flume experiments, rare earth tracers, and soil incubation. Erosional soils showed higher aggregate breakdown (10.49%) and SOC mineralization (41.39 mg kg⁻¹) than depositional soils (30.37 mg kg⁻¹) or controls (24.21 mg kg⁻¹). Modeling revealed aggregate breakdown strongly promoted mineralization, while buildup suppressed it through protection. Results highlight erosion as a driver of SOC loss and suggest watershed engineering to enhance SOC sequestration.
Authors: Tilmann J. Neubert, Martin OschatzSynopsis: This study reviews Redox-Mediated Electrochemical Carbon Capture (RMECC) as an alternative to energy-intensive heat-driven DAC. It highlights progress in sorbents, electrolytes, and cell design, while addressing challenges such as atmospheric CO₂ dilution and oxygen interference. The findings suggest RMECC could enable more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and scalable DAC systems.
Authors: Fatima Haque, Benjamin Möller, Susan Sagina, Cavince Odhiambo, Herine Ondolo, Ngugi Thuo, Kevin Kamau, Sam DaviesSynopsis: A field trial in Kisumu County, Kenya, tested Enhanced Rock Weathering with nephelinite on 56 women smallholder maize farms. A single application (20 t/ha) boosted maize yields by 71% in year one and 79% in year two, without reapplication. Soil analyses showed positive though inconclusive trends in pH and cation exchange capacity, with mixed micronutrient effects. Despite uncertainties in soil mechanisms, results highlight ERW’s strong agronomic potential in sub-Saharan smallholder systems.
Authors: Tyler Kukla, Yoshiki Kanzaki, Freya Chay, Noah Planavsky, Chris ReinhardSynopsis: This study uses the SCEPTER reactive transport model to compare carbon removal from carbonate liming and basalt enhanced weathering. Results show carbonate weathering can sometimes remove more CO₂ than basalt, particularly in less acidic soils and at lower application rates, though risks of fossil carbon release remain. Silicate strategies like finer grinding boost removal less effectively for carbonates. Findings highlight trade-offs in the carbonate–silicate swap and opportunities to optimize current liming for carbon removal.
Summary of the concept of an anthropogenic carbon cycle (Source)WEB POSTSShare THESESAuthors: Gladys A AyamgaSynopsis: This study assessed how olivine rock dust and land practices affect soil microbes in irrigated cropland in southern New Mexico. Using PLFA profiles and 16S rRNA sequencing, researchers found higher microbial diversity and biomass in rock dust–treated plots, especially under multiple cover crops. Clay soils supported more biomass than sandy soils, with most activity in the 0–20 cm layer. Key taxa included Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, and Chloroflexi. Results suggest olivine boosts soil structure, water retention, and microbial thriving, supporting its potential for carbon sequestration.
REPORTSBOOKUPCOMING EVENTSSeptember 2025October 2025November 2025December 2025We have curated a “Carbon Removal Events Calendar.” Explore and stay informed about upcoming events, conferences, and webinars on Carbon Dioxide Removal technology. Sync specific events / all events to your default calendar to ensure you never miss out on important CDR updates. Carbon Removal Events Calendar JOB OPPORTUNITIES"280earth's direct air capture systems pull CO2 permanently out of the atmosphere, improving the climate for generations to come."
"Carba converts waste biomass on site into valuable biocarbon, which can be buried in landfills and create significant co-benefits."
"Deep Sky is at the forefront of addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time: climate change. At Deep Sky, we are dedicated to developing and implementing Direct Air Capture (DAC) technologies that effectively remove excess carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere."
"CREW’s technology and services make wastewater treatment cheaper and more efficient, while permanently sequestering CO₂."
"Charm Industrial's technology converts excess biomass into carbon-rich bio-oil and injects it underground for permanent carbon removal."
"Skytree enables a transition to a world with cleaner Air for everyone. We do this by developing and deploying smart technology that captures atmospheric carbon dioxide, enabling its use or storage to combat climate change and aid society and businesses around the world.
"Vaulted is a waste management company that removes carbon. We take organic waste that can pollute our environment above ground and safely inject it ultra deep underground—permanently removing carbon from the atmosphere while protecting local land, air, and water."
"It's a London-based climate tech startup working to reinvent carbon for a thriving planet. Since 2020, we have rapidly pioneered the world’s most versatile direct air capture (DAC) technology to recover historic CO₂ emissions from the atmosphere, anywhere at any scale."
"Carbon Upcycling is the carbon and waste circularity company, enabling industries to transform their CO2 and solid waste into enhanced low-carbon cement products."
"Phlair's technology is the first DAC approach that is 100% compatible with intermittent behind-the-metre solar, scalable and capable of achieving low capture energies."
Looking for your dream job in CDR? There are 610 jobs available *right now*: check them all out at: CDRjobs Board
PODCASTS"Blue carbon ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrass and salt marshes, can sequester carbon up to ten times faster than terrestrial forests, while also protecting coastlines and supporting biodiversity. Ahead of our webinar, Yihan Wang from Terraformation talks with Innovation Forum's Ellen Atiyah to explain their climate potential, why they remain undervalued and how projects such as the Keta Lagoon Blue Carbon Project in Ghana are changing the story."
"We're already facing a shortage of carbon removal credits," Hannes Junginger, Carbonfuture CEO | Carbonsations | "We're already facing a shortage of carbon removal credits," Hannes Junginger, Carbonfuture CEO Carbonsations 28:34 |
"Our guest for this episode is Hannes Junginger, CEO and co-founder of leading carbon removal credits provider Carbonfuture. This is Hannes' second appearance on the podcast and he walks us through the company's progress in the last two years, its impressive milestones and some of the biggest challenges faced. Hannes dives into the hurdles to scaling carbon removal to date and talks about the main issue in balancing supply and demand."
Philanthropy's role in shaping climate finance | Carbon Curve Podcast The Carbon CurveEpisode 57 is with Adam Fraser, CEO of Terraset… 4 days ago · 1 like · Na’im Merchant "In this episode, Na’im speaks with Adam Fraser about Terraset, an innovative nonprofit dedicated to removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. They discuss Adam's background in sports journalism and his transition to climate action. They highlight the unique approaches Terraset uses to fund carbon removal, including a recently launched revolving fund which pre-purchases carbon removal and reinvests proceeds to create a sustainable funding model. They also discuss the importance of philanthropic capital to catalyze the nascent carbon removal industry and how Terraset collaborates with various stakeholders to support and scale early-stage carbon removal companies. The episode delves into the diverse motivations and profiles of Terraset’s donors, the gaps and challenges in funding permanent carbon removal and potential solutions, and the future plans for Terraset and how interested parties can get involved."
"In this episode of This Week in Carbon, host Edward Smith and co-host Rene Velasquez are joined by Sebastian Manhart, Senior Policy Advisor at Carbon Future and co-host of the CDR Policy Scoop podcast, to explore the rapidly evolving world of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR).Sebastian shares his journey from social entrepreneurship to advising Angela Merkel’s chancellery, highlighting Carbon Future’s mission to build trust infrastructure for a scalable CDR market through robust monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV). The discussion dives into record-breaking CDR market growth, Europe’s delayed climate targets, and groundbreaking national policies, offering a deep dive into the numbers, politics, and future of CDR.We discuss:• The CDR market’s historic Q2 2025, driven by Microsoft’s mega-deals and growing corporate demand• Risks of market concentration and the need for compliance markets to ensure long-term stability• Europe’s 2040 climate target delays and the significant role of international offsets under Article 6• The UK’s 15-year Contracts for Difference (CFDs) and Germany’s €500M CDR investment by 2033• Overcoming environmentalist skepticism and the mainstreaming of CDR as a critical climate solution."
Scaling Carbon Removal Responsibly - Stacy Kauk of Isometric | The Earthshot Podcast | Scaling Carbon Removal Responsibly - Stacy Kauk of Isometric The Earthshot Podcast 53:51 |
"In this episode, Troy Carter sits down with Stacy Kauk, Chief Science Officer at Isometric and former Head of Sustainability at Shopify, to explore how the carbon markets can regain trust and scale responsibly.Stacy shares her journey from UN climate negotiations to building Shopify’s pioneering carbon removal program, founding Frontier, and now shaping a new kind of registry at Isometric."
"In this episode of Cementing Europe’s Future, we turn our attention to carbon capture, utilisation and storage — or CCUS — a critical technology in the cement industry’s decarbonisation pathway."
Revolutionizing the Concrete Industry | Age of Adoption | Revolutionizing the Concrete Industry Age of Adoption 18:16 |
"What if injecting CO2 into concrete could actually make it stronger while fighting climate change?Kristal Kaye, interim CEO of CarbonCure Technologies, discusses her transition from traditional energy finance to leading a company revolutionizing concrete production. With over 30 years in finance across energy, mining, and retail, Kaye now heads a firm that injects captured CO2 directly into concrete, permanently storing it while improving economics for producers. "The concrete industry runs on very lean, tight margin profitability, and we can't ask them to adopt technology that would hinder their livelihood," she explains. CarbonCure has deployed 700+ systems across 35 countries, serving major clients like Amazon while targeting the massive opportunity ahead—over 100,000 concrete plants globally remain untapped. How does economics drive adoption in traditionally conservative industries?"
"Achieving the EU’s aspirational 2030 target of 5 MtCO₂-e in permanent removals per year requires an €2.4–6.7 billion in investment. Fast forward to 2040, we’ll need to reach 75 Mt – or even as high as 280 Mt – according to Carbon Gap. The policy, funding, and market implications are enormous.A well-designed EU purchasing programme can have a significant impact on making it happen.Recently, the EU Commission released three (!) major reports charting the course for the forthcoming EU purchasing programme for permanent carbon removals. One of these reports provides an in-depth policy assessment and puts forward a policy blueprint for the programme, building on the spring workshop that we featured at CDR Policy Scoop back in May.We’re honoured to welcome our guest, Hugh McDonald, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institut and the lead author of the report. Hugh has unmatched insights to dissect all the details.Join in as co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart get the inside track on how the purchasing programme could be implemented."
YOUTUBE VIDEOSAccelerating Carbon Dioxide Removal Through Enhanced Mineralization: Global Best Practices | Academy 32 "Join global leaders and experts in carbon management for an in-depth discussion on enhanced mineralization as a breakthrough method for carbon dioxide removal (CDR). This webinar, organized by KACST, CSIRO, and the Mission Innovation Carbon Dioxide Removal Mission, explores best practices, pilot project insights, and the future potential of mineralization in global carbon removal efforts."
First time carbon removal *confirmed* at COP30 in Brazil!!! | Tito - AirMiners "Our vision is a thriving human civilization on Earth.We exist to empower risk takers to reverse climate change.AirMiners provides the catalytic infrastructure for innovators working to remove a billion tons of carbon dioxide by 2030."
Principles for SLCP Mitigation and CO2 Compensation | Remove and Reflect Podcast | Remove and Reflect Podcast "This episode covers a report that outlines five Principles for Responsible Use of Short-Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP) Mitigation for CO2 Compensation, exploring the challenges of treating gases like methane as directly equivalent to long-lived CO2 in climate accounting. The authors argue that while reducing SLCPs is crucial for achieving near-term warming reductions, doing so without proper guardrails risks creating accounting loopholes that undermine long-term decarbonization goals. Key principles include independently tracking SLCPs from CO2 and ensuring that radiative forcing matches the climate claim over the full duration of CO2's impact. Ultimately, the paper provides a high-level framework to ensure that using SLCP mitigation to offset CO2 emissions is scientifically sound, transparent, and paired with credible, long-term strategies to prevent future climate liability."
Day 4 at the 2025 North American Biochar Conference | Biochar Today "This vlog from day 4 of the US Biochar Initiative conference in Minneapolis features visits to the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) Organics Recycling Facility, operated by Great River Greening. Plus a short visit to the future site of the fist city-owned and operated biochar facility in North America."
Day 3 at the 2025 North American Biochar Conference | Biochar Today "This vlog from day 3 of the US Biochar Initiative conference in Minneapolis features short interviews with Hugh McLaughlin (Biochar Impact Company), Annie Nichols (Mangrove Systems), Joel Dulin (Jozana Grant Services), Jason Aramburu (Applied Carbon), William Hessert (Blusky Carbon), Varsha Ramesh Walsh (Offstream), and Patrick Sherren (Metzler Forest Products)"
Day 2 at the 2025 North American Biochar Conference | Biochar Today "Check out our second vlog from the US Biochar Initiative conference in Minneapolis this week, featuring short interviews with Riki Franco (Prime 6), Daniel Giesbrecht (BioMass Energy Techniques Inc), and Joshua Dalby (Ricardo plc)."
Day 1 at the 2025 North American Biochar Conference | Biochar Today "Featuring Mark Whitlatch (Purecycle Water), Jim Doten (City of Minneapolis), Chris Wiberg (Biomass Energy Lab), Brooklyn Legg (Robinson Lumber Company), and Matthew Eshed (Biosystems Engineering)"
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