Negative emissions—Part 2: Costs, potentials and side effects

Summary

This systematic literature review presents bottom-up assessments of costs, potentials, and side-effects for seven negative emissions technologies identified as relevant to IPCC 1.5 °C and 2 °C pathways. The authors synthesise published literature to derive sustainable global potential estimates ranging from 0.5–5 GtCO₂ yr⁻¹ for most technologies by 2050, with wide variation in costs and permanency. The review concludes that a portfolio approach combining multiple technologies will be necessary, as no single NET can sustainably meet the carbon uptake demands of low-warming scenarios.

UK applicability

The findings are applicable to UK climate policy and agricultural planning, particularly regarding soil carbon sequestration and afforestation/reforestation potential on UK land. However, the global cost and potential estimates will require downscaling and contextualisation to UK-specific land availability, soil types, and economic conditions.

Key measures

CO₂ removal costs (USD per tonne), sustainable global potentials (GtCO₂ yr⁻¹ in 2050), permanency characteristics, cumulative potentials beyond 2050, and environmental side-effects

Outcomes reported

The study presents systematic bottom-up cost and potential estimates for seven negative emissions technologies (BECCS, afforestation/reforestation, DACCS, enhanced weathering, ocean fertilisation, biochar, and soil carbon sequestration) and qualifies them with assessments of permanency, side-effects, and scaling feasibility. It reports sustainable global potential ranges for each technology by 2050 and concludes that no single technology can meet the carbon uptake rates required for 1.5 °C pathways.

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