Carbon Removal

Even with aggressive emission cuts, the math likely requires removing CO2 from the atmosphere to hit Paris targets. Natural solutions: reforestation, soil carbon sequestration, and wetland restoration. Technological solution: direct air capture — machines that filter CO2 from ambient air.

Carbon removal raises a dangerous moral hazard. If people believe technology will clean up the mess later, the urgency to cut emissions now drops sharply. Removal is meant to supplement deep emission cuts, not replace them.