Carbon reduction projects can be grouped into two main categories: carbon removal and carbon avoidance projects. They both can generate carbon credits (if certified) and are equally important in the fight against climate change.
This article will allow you to better understand the difference between the two and their specificities. Contact us for more information.
Carbon removal projects can take place in two ways:
Technological carbon removal: specialized technology extracting carbon from the atmosphere, such as Direct Air Capture (carbon is being removed from the atmosphere through chemical processes). For more effectiveness, carbon needs to be intercepted directly where it is released, often nearby industrial sites. You might also have heard of Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS), which refers to the process of capturing CO2 and either storing it permanently or converting it into valuable products (such as methanol).
Natural carbon removal: enhancing the capacity of a forest to pull carbon out of the atmosphere through photosynthesis by preserving existing carbon sinks and creating new ones: reforestation and afforestation. Mangroves also have high carbon absorption capacities. Other projects include agricultural projects.
There are five main project typologies that fall into the category of avoidance projects:
One should not be promoted at the expense of the other. They are both essential to achieve a net-zero future. However, it is certainly true that only supporting removal projects doesn’t address the initial problem of greenhouse gas emissions being released into the atmosphere.
We need to reduce our emissions and find innovative ways to limit the damage already done. In addition existing carbon sinks need to be protected while new ones are created.
For more information on Carbon Removal Methods, download our guide.
At ClimateSeed, we offer both removal and avoidance projects in our portfolio. We have dedicated experts that ensure projects are of the highest quality, and have passed our robust three-level verification process. Our unique approach maximizes your positive environmental and social impacts, and offers risk mitigation backed by top-tier financial expertise.
Contact us for more information.