Priorities for Policy Design

Abstract

Results from integrated assessment models (IAMs) have made it increasingly evident that atmospheric greenhouse gas removal (GGR), namely carbon dioxide removal (CDR), otherwise known as negative emissions, is critical to delivering the Paris Agreement. The high levels of deployment of negative emissions technologies (NETs) anticipated in IAMs are in stark contrast with their early stage of development and deployment globally. Some CDR methods are yet to be proven as technically feasible at scale owing to insufficient research, development and demonstration (RD&D). Others, such as BECCS and DACCS, have failed to achieve commercialisation because of high costs and the significant uncertainties surrounding the wider environmental, social and political implications of their large-scale deployment. Furthermore, the necessary policy and regulatory frameworks that encourage technological innovation in NETs have not been implemented. Failure to design appropriate policies to encourage the commercialisation of NETs risks foregoing a portfolio of technologies that appear critical to the climate change mitigation challenge. This chapter discusses the innovation ecosystem of GGR and NETs and proposes policy measures that facilitate different aspects of innovation including RD&D, financing, niche markets, regulation and governance, and public acceptability.