Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Removal: A Physical Science Perspective

Novel carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies are increasingly being considered as potentially useful tools to combat climate change. For specific atmospheric carbon dioxide management targets to be achieved, large-scale CDR strategies may be needed, even with aggressive efforts to reduce carbon d...

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Main Authors: Washington Taylor, Brad Marston, Robert Rosner, Jonathan Wurtele
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2025-01-01
Series:PRX Energy
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PRXEnergy.4.017001
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author Washington Taylor
Brad Marston
Robert Rosner
Jonathan Wurtele
author_facet Washington Taylor
Brad Marston
Robert Rosner
Jonathan Wurtele
author_sort Washington Taylor
collection DOAJ
description Novel carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies are increasingly being considered as potentially useful tools to combat climate change. For specific atmospheric carbon dioxide management targets to be achieved, large-scale CDR strategies may be needed, even with aggressive efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the coming decades. This American Physical Society report breaks down the physical requirements necessary for large-scale implementation of CDR technologies, demonstrating the challenges inherent to incorporating CDR into any carbon dioxide management portfolio. It also provides a technical overview of new and current CDR approaches and evaluates their fundamental physical constraints. Based on the technical overview, the report makes several recommendations for the U.S. federal government and industry. These include ensuring that the potential for CDR does not compromise ongoing actions to reduce carbon emissions. The report observes, however, that while large-scale CDR technologies require a lot of energy and material resources, they might be needed in combination with emission reduction strategies to achieve specific climate goals. Research and development on CDR should be selectively pursued, despite the many challenges described in the report.
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spelling doaj-art-601a7dada86b412f987f4df8f61e11822025-02-07T17:11:16ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPRX Energy2768-56082025-01-014101700110.1103/PRXEnergy.4.017001Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Removal: A Physical Science PerspectiveWashington TaylorBrad MarstonRobert RosnerJonathan WurteleNovel carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies are increasingly being considered as potentially useful tools to combat climate change. For specific atmospheric carbon dioxide management targets to be achieved, large-scale CDR strategies may be needed, even with aggressive efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the coming decades. This American Physical Society report breaks down the physical requirements necessary for large-scale implementation of CDR technologies, demonstrating the challenges inherent to incorporating CDR into any carbon dioxide management portfolio. It also provides a technical overview of new and current CDR approaches and evaluates their fundamental physical constraints. Based on the technical overview, the report makes several recommendations for the U.S. federal government and industry. These include ensuring that the potential for CDR does not compromise ongoing actions to reduce carbon emissions. The report observes, however, that while large-scale CDR technologies require a lot of energy and material resources, they might be needed in combination with emission reduction strategies to achieve specific climate goals. Research and development on CDR should be selectively pursued, despite the many challenges described in the report.http://doi.org/10.1103/PRXEnergy.4.017001
spellingShingle Washington Taylor
Brad Marston
Robert Rosner
Jonathan Wurtele
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Removal: A Physical Science Perspective
PRX Energy
title Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Removal: A Physical Science Perspective
title_full Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Removal: A Physical Science Perspective
title_fullStr Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Removal: A Physical Science Perspective
title_full_unstemmed Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Removal: A Physical Science Perspective
title_short Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Removal: A Physical Science Perspective
title_sort atmospheric carbon dioxide removal a physical science perspective
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PRXEnergy.4.017001
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AT bradmarston atmosphericcarbondioxideremovalaphysicalscienceperspective
AT robertrosner atmosphericcarbondioxideremovalaphysicalscienceperspective
AT jonathanwurtele atmosphericcarbondioxideremovalaphysicalscienceperspective