No compromise in efficiency from the co-application of a marine and a terrestrial CDR method

Abstract Modelled pathways consistent with the Paris Agreement goals to mitigate warming typically include the large-scale application of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR), which can include both land- and marine-based CDR methods. However, the Earth system responses and feedbacks to scaling up and/or co...

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Main Authors: Yiannis Moustakis, Hao-Wei Wey, Tobias Nützel, Andreas Oschlies, Julia Pongratz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59982-x
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author Yiannis Moustakis
Hao-Wei Wey
Tobias Nützel
Andreas Oschlies
Julia Pongratz
author_facet Yiannis Moustakis
Hao-Wei Wey
Tobias Nützel
Andreas Oschlies
Julia Pongratz
author_sort Yiannis Moustakis
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Modelled pathways consistent with the Paris Agreement goals to mitigate warming typically include the large-scale application of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR), which can include both land- and marine-based CDR methods. However, the Earth system responses and feedbacks to scaling up and/or combining different CDR methods remain understudied. Here, these are assessed by employing two Earth System Models, with a multifactorial setup of 42 emission-driven simulations covering the whole spectrum of Afforestation/Reforestation (0-927 Mha) and of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (0-18 Pmol) over the 21st century. We show that global carbon flux responses scale linearly when different CDR methods are scaled up and/or combined, which suggests that the efficiency of CDR is insensitive to both the amount of CDR and the CDR portfolio composition. Therefore, combining CDR methods, which seems beneficial for diversifying risks and remaining below sustainability thresholds, does not compromise the efficiency of individual applications.
format Article
id doaj-art-e63fcff126e84cf992c0fa32afcb73ce
institution OA Journals
issn 2041-1723
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spelling doaj-art-e63fcff126e84cf992c0fa32afcb73ce2025-08-20T01:53:23ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-59982-xNo compromise in efficiency from the co-application of a marine and a terrestrial CDR methodYiannis Moustakis0Hao-Wei Wey1Tobias Nützel2Andreas Oschlies3Julia Pongratz4Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in MunichGEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research KielLudwig-Maximilians-Universität in MunichGEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research KielLudwig-Maximilians-Universität in MunichAbstract Modelled pathways consistent with the Paris Agreement goals to mitigate warming typically include the large-scale application of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR), which can include both land- and marine-based CDR methods. However, the Earth system responses and feedbacks to scaling up and/or combining different CDR methods remain understudied. Here, these are assessed by employing two Earth System Models, with a multifactorial setup of 42 emission-driven simulations covering the whole spectrum of Afforestation/Reforestation (0-927 Mha) and of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (0-18 Pmol) over the 21st century. We show that global carbon flux responses scale linearly when different CDR methods are scaled up and/or combined, which suggests that the efficiency of CDR is insensitive to both the amount of CDR and the CDR portfolio composition. Therefore, combining CDR methods, which seems beneficial for diversifying risks and remaining below sustainability thresholds, does not compromise the efficiency of individual applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59982-x
spellingShingle Yiannis Moustakis
Hao-Wei Wey
Tobias Nützel
Andreas Oschlies
Julia Pongratz
No compromise in efficiency from the co-application of a marine and a terrestrial CDR method
Nature Communications
title No compromise in efficiency from the co-application of a marine and a terrestrial CDR method
title_full No compromise in efficiency from the co-application of a marine and a terrestrial CDR method
title_fullStr No compromise in efficiency from the co-application of a marine and a terrestrial CDR method
title_full_unstemmed No compromise in efficiency from the co-application of a marine and a terrestrial CDR method
title_short No compromise in efficiency from the co-application of a marine and a terrestrial CDR method
title_sort no compromise in efficiency from the co application of a marine and a terrestrial cdr method
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59982-x
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