CDR Methods
There are multiple CDR methods available today. A detailed overview of the main methods can be found in the following BCG Report and Carbon Gap website.
In general, CDR methods are grouped into two broad categories:
Nature-based removals (also referred to as "conventional CDR" in the State of CDR Report), which rely on biological processes to capture and store carbon.
Durable (engineered or geochemical) removals (also referred to as "novel CDR" in the State of CDR Report), which rely on industrial, chemical, or geological processes to store carbon for centuries to millennia.
Some emerging methods combine both biological and technological elements and can be considered hybrid methods, although they are often classified within the two main categories above. The table below offers a high-level differentiation between nature-based and durable CDR methods.
Table 1: Nature-Based vs Durable Removals Comparison
| Dimension | Nature-Based Removals | Durable / Engineered Removals |
|---|---|---|
| Permanence | Typically 20–100 years | ~100 to 10,000+ years, depending on the method |
| MRV (measurement) | Often modeled or proxy-based | Directly measurable and auditable |
| Co-benefits | Biodiversity, soil quality, community impacts | Innovation, infrastructure, energy systems |
| Lead times | Shorter (months–years) | Longer (years) |
| Cost | Low to moderate | High today, expected to fall over time |
| Examples of methods | Afforestation/Reforestation Soil Carbon Sequestration Blue Carbon Management | Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) Biochar Direct Air Carbon Capture and Sequestration (DACCS) Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Sequestration (BECCS) Direct Ocean Removal |