Contributions of countries without a carbon neutrality target to limit global warming

Abstract

Abstract Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is a key negative emission technology in future climate mitigation. Some countries have made no commitment to carbon neutrality, but they are viewed as potential candidates for BECCS. Here we analyze the contribution of these countries with respect to BECCS and ask the question of how much would be lost for global climate change mitigation if these countries decide not to adopt BECCS. The cooling effect due to carbon-dioxide removal (CDR) through switchgrass cultivation and carbon capture in these countries is largely counterbalanced by its biophysical warming, but the net effect is still an extra cooling. These countries play a more important role in the low-warming scenario than the overshoot scenario, despite the inequality of temperature change among countries. Our study highlights the importance of efforts from all countries in global climate mitigation.