Dear fellow UPTAKErs,
In a policy brief published recently by the CDR-PoEt project, a part of the CDRterra research project, we studied the implications of equity considerations on Germany’s CDR obligation. This highlights what a fair-share contribution could be to limit warming to 1.5°C relative to pre-industrial levels, considering both historical and projected CO2 emissions. Based on our analysis, to achieve this goal, our main takeaways are that:
- Germany emitted above 16 Gt CO2 over an equal per capita basis between 1990 and 2023.
Going forward, it plans to emit a further 2.3 Gt CO2 until its neutrality goal in 2045. This is Germany’s historical and projected future “carbon debt,” respectively. - However, Germany’s “fair” CDR contribution is much larger due to its responsibilities as a historical emitter and its capability to do more to remove carbon – reflecting the principles of the Paris Agreement.
- We calculate that Germany should deploy 6.4 Gt CO2 of CDR up to 2045 to align with the Paris Agreement objectives. This is 5.6 Gt CO2 more than its current plans for 0.8 Gt CO2.
- To minimise its future carbon debt, and therefore future CDR deployment, Germany must also seek to undertake more stringent emissions reduction efforts.
Read the full policy brief here: CDR-PoEt Policy Brief: Germany's carbon debt, and how it can be managed down with carbon dioxide removal deployment.