In a recent peer-reviewed article published in Nature Portfolio NPJ Climate Action, Professor Noah Planavsky of Yale University emphasized the critical need for “radical transparency” in the field of carbon dioxide removal (CDR). This call for transparency comes as the world faces the urgent challenge of scaling CDR efforts to billions of tons per year by mid-century to meet climate goals.
Professor Planavsky, a member of the Yale Climate and Energy Institute’s Scientific Leadership Team, explained that while CDR can play a significant role in mitigating climate change, current efforts are still in their infancy. “Our work over the next ten to fifteen years is to identify solutions that are safe, effective, scalable, and affordable,” he remarked. The ultimate aim is to foster an environment where investments in CDR lead to enhanced capacity and understanding of what approaches can effectively remove carbon while providing benefits to communities.
Understanding Radical Transparency
Professor Planavsky defined “radical transparency” as the comprehensive sharing of data related to carbon removal processes, including costs and methodologies. He pointed out that much of the investment in CDR has thus far been directed toward commercial enterprises, which often prioritize profit alongside carbon removal. He noted, “If we want to learn from this ongoing investment, we need to ensure that companies share data about their full process.”
The professor expressed concern that without this level of transparency, the CDR community will struggle to achieve the scale necessary for meaningful impact. He highlighted the importance of sharing information about how carbon removal rates are calculated and the resources required for these processes. “This is not a radical ask; it is necessary for progress,” he added.
The Path Forward for CDR
Achieving multi-gigatonne scale carbon removal will involve a diverse array of solutions, each still a work in progress. For instance, effective reforestation and regenerative agriculture projects need to be designed to ensure sustained carbon storage while mitigating reversal risks. Similarly, coastal restoration projects require a better understanding of greenhouse gas fluxes from ecosystems such as mangroves and salt marshes.
Professor Planavsky’s research focuses on geochemical CDR methods, such as enhanced weathering and ocean alkalinity enhancement. He acknowledged that while carbon removal is measurable in academic settings, there is a pressing need for robust monitoring, reporting, and verification systems capable of functioning at large scales. “We need to develop high-integrity MRV that is financially operable at multi-megatonne to gigatonne scale,” he stated.
The professor also noted the potential co-benefits of these approaches, such as agricultural yield improvements from enhanced weathering. With a plethora of knowledge still to be uncovered, he stressed that transparency could significantly accelerate learning, enabling the integration of research objectives into commercial deployments where most CDR investments are currently flowing.
As CDR initiatives garner increased attention, the challenge remains to balance the commercial need for confidentiality with the broader societal benefits that transparency could provide. Professor Planavsky, who has co-founded two CDR startups, Lithos Carbon and CREW Carbon, understands the pressures from venture capitalists to protect intellectual property. Nevertheless, he argued that transparency should not be viewed as detrimental to business strategy. “Robust removals at reasonable costs with documented benefits will attract investment,” he asserted.
Ultimately, he believes that CDR is a public good, and relying solely on market forces will not achieve the necessary scale. Strong policy support will be crucial in fostering a landscape where corporations are compelled to purchase carbon credits. In the coming decade, investments in CDR will likely stem from both voluntary corporate initiatives and increasing government support, necessitating a willingness among startups and project developers to embrace transparency in exchange for scaling opportunities.
Professor Planavsky concluded with a strong message: “Radical transparency won’t happen on its own. The CDR research community will need to insist on it.” The call to action underscores the importance of transparency not only for the advancement of carbon removal technologies but also for building public trust in these critical climate solutions.
