State of the Science Fact Sheet: Carbon Dioxide Removal

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) refers to strategies that remove CO2 from the atmosphere for long-term storage in reservoirs on land or in the ocean. CDR aims to draw down atmospheric CO2, thereby directly addressing the major underlying cause of climate change. CDR is distinct from carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), which captures CO2 at the source of the emissions (from the stack) to reduce further carbon emissions into the atmosphere. CDR is part of NOAA’s Climate Mitigation portfolio. NOAA’s observational networks, modeling capabilities, and research programs position the agency to lead in evaluating the efficacy of CDR methods and their potential impacts on the marine ecosystem.