Research priorities for negative emissions

Carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere (CDR) —also known as ‘negative emissions’—features in most 2 °Cscenarios and has been under increased scrutiny by scientists, citizens, and. Critics argue that ‘negative emission technologies’ (NETs) are insufficiently mature to on them for climate stabilization. Some even argue that 2 °Cis no longer feasible or might have social and environmental costs. Nonetheless, the Paris Agreement endorsed an goal of limiting global warming to even lower levels, arguing that climate impacts— for vulnerable nations such as small island states—will be unacceptably severe in a 2 °C. While there are few pathways to 2 °Cthat do not rely on negative emissions, 1. 5 °Cscenarios barely conceivable without them. Building on previous assessments of NETs, we identify some research needs to provide a more complete picture for reaching ambitious climate targets, and role that NETs can play in reaching them.