In an article published by the World Resources Institute, ‘4 Takeaways from California’s Carbon Dioxide Removal Policies’ a group of researchers led by Katie Lebling have investigated the CDR policy landscape in California.
California is the US state with the most ambitious CDR policies and measures. In fact, the CDR schemes it has proposed or employed during the last few years have never been contemplated in the US context and can provide a benchmark for other US states seeking to find original and effective solutions for climate change by implementing CDR solutions. In a setting where the federal government’s backing of CDR is ambiguous, the path set by California is of crucial significance.
Key takeaways:
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The entity with regulatory authority over air pollution in California has adopted a plan demonstrating how California can achieve its net zero target no later than 2045. Lacking legally binding force, the plan provides guidance for public institutions. Accordingly, to achieve its net zero goal, California should respectively remove 7 million metric tons and 75 million metric tons of CO2 by 2030 and 2045. Notwithstanding the plan’s exclusive focus on direct air capture and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, a wider range of CDR methods should be taken into account as part of efforts to scale CDR in California.
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A proposed legislation introduced the “like-for-like” concept whereby the anticipated duration of CDR and the timeframe within which the GHG it removes remained in the atmosphere should align. The instrument would have had a pioneering effect had it entered into force given that the latter equivalence has been recommended by various CDR scholars and stakeholders.
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The CDR targets encompass both natural and engineered CDR methods. That said, since the annual target set for natural CDR methods until 2045 is 1.5 million metric tons of CO2, the majority of the removals necessary for reaching the overall CDR targets for 2030 and 2045 are anticipated to originate from engineered CDR methods.
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California’s cap-and-trade system has been established to operate until the end of 2030. If the cap-and-trade system is employed after 2030 in order to facilitate the achievement of California’s climate goals, it may encompass sweeping reforms that may impact CDR activities.
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Under the California Climate Crisis Act, California is required to reach net zero by 2045 and net-negative emissions after 2045. To ensure that CDR does not postpone emission reductions, it requires the emissions to be reduced by at least 85 % by 2045 compared to 1990. New York and Washington have also established similar emission reduction goals.
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In addition to setting particular emission reduction targets, other states with net-zero goals can also set CDR specific goals related to the anticipated amount of residual emissions that can be offset by carbon removal and separate objectives for natural and engineered CDR methods.
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The California Global Warming Solutions Act establishes goals for increasing the land carbon capture for 2030, 2038 and 2045 and activities increasing the ability of lands to capture carbon are monitored through a registration.
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The Californian Air Resources Board has established a program in California for facilitating the deployment of CDR. The presence of a single instrument covering critical issues such as permitting and monitoring related to CDR is essential for ensuring the safety of and responsible engagement with CDR activities.
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A proposal made for a legislation requiring the quantification of lifecycle emissions originating from the conversion of the use of biomass from wildfire mitigation to CDR and assessment of creating a carbon credit protocol for biomass CDR is currently under consideration.
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To increase CDR demand, a program setting apart $50 million for purchasing CDR credits until the end of 2035 from projects meeting minimum criteria has been established in California. Under the program, the amount dedicated to a given CDR method cannot exceed $25 million and a given entity engaging in a CDR activity cannot receive more than $12.5 million. These rules have been introduced to ensure that the program can benefit from the involvement of different CDR methods and suppliers. Once implemented, the program is expected to support CDR activities providing benefits for the local communities.
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Under the Carbon Dioxide Removal Market Development Act, introduced in 2023 and ultimately failed to enter into force after a revision, certain emitters are required to finance CDR activities removing the amount of carbon they emit. The act would have facilitated both emission reductions and CDR had it entered into force without being revised.
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Another proposed legislation seeks to strengthen the research and comprehension of marine CDR methods, an important effort in a context where the role of the federal government in governing CDR is diminishing.
Read the article here: Lessons From California’s Carbon Dioxide Removal Policies | World Resources Institute