NRDC Launches Responsible Carbon Removal Principles

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) publication released today emphasizes the need for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies and outlines NRDC’s vision for responsibly removing the greenhouse gas directly from the atmosphere. This announcement signals the organization’s shifted posture in support of a wider array of solutions to combat the climate crisis.  

The following is a statement from Julie Cerqueira, Chief Program Officer at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council): 

“In this era of climate overshoot, we must use all the tools in our toolbox to address the ever-worsening impacts of the climate crisis, and reducing future greenhouse gas emissions will no longer be enough. Carbon dioxide removal is a necessary complement to -- not a replacement for -- tackling the emissions driving the climate crisis.

“We developed these principles to serve as a north star for responsible carbon dioxide removal. While there has historically been some skepticism of carbon dioxide removal, the United Nations’ climate overshoot report highlighted the necessity of new technologies to slash carbon in the atmosphere. Now is the time for environmental advocates and policymakers to step into this space to make responsible CDR a reality.”

For more, see the full report here.

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).