Frequently Asked
Questions

Put simply, net zero means cutting all emissions to as close to zero as possible. In a little more depth, we can say that reaching net zero requires greenhouse gas removals to balance out greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere.

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It is an ambitious but necessary goal if we want to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. Failing to achieve it could result in disastrous consequences such as a rise in sea levels, rendering large regions unlivable, heightened extreme weather events with devastating impacts, and various other perilous outcomes. At its core, achieving net zero emissions is not just a matter of numbers; it's a crucial call to take bold action against climate change. Net zero companies don't limit their efforts to their own operations; they actively promote decarbonization on a broader scale. Imagine a world where every company achieves net-zero emissions - it would mean a net-zero world.

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Net zero is sometimes used interchangeably with the term “carbon-neutral”. However, climate neutrality focuses on balancing out the overall effect of human intervention on the climate, including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, water use, waste management, and much more. Overall, climate neutrality is a critical strategy in the global effort to combat climate change. Find out more here.

Durable carbon removal, also known as carbon dioxide removal (CDR), refers to intentional human actions to take CO2 out of the atmosphere and securely store it in places where it won't easily return to the air. We achieve this by locking carbon away for hundreds to thousands of years in geological formations, deep ocean layers, soil, or certain materials. It involves technologies like Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR) and Enhanced Weathering (EW) but doesn't include the natural absorption of CO2 that happens without human interference. Learn more here.

CO2 reduction efforts are measures to reduce emissions within one's own operations or value chain. This includes, for example, moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy or cutting the use of CO2-heavy technologies.

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CO2 avoidance encompasses initiatives that compensate for own emissions by avoiding the creation of new emissions elsewhere - for example by paying for regenerative farming, sponsoring clean cookstoves, or protecting forests. These activities, however, do not remove emissions from the atmosphere and are therefore not suited to counter-balance fossil emissions.

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CO2 removal activities remove existing, historic CO2 from the atmosphere and durably store it – for example in geological, terrestrial, or ocean reservoirs, or in products. They can be used to counter-balance emissions from sectors that are difficult to decarbonize, so-called hard-to-abate emissions from for example aviation, aluminum, concrete and cement, shipping, steel, and trucking. Removing more carbon from the atmosphere than is being emitted would ultimately create net negative emissions.

To achieve the Paris Climate goals and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, we must take decisive action to reduce fossil emissions. The reduction of emissions is the biggest, most important part of the puzzle. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that emission reductions alone are no longer enough. Since the start of industrialization, our society has emitted a huge amount of greenhouse gases which are still accumulated in the atmosphere, causing global warming. Besides reducing emissions and avoiding new ones, the active removal of existing emissions is key to reaching our joint climate goals. Learn more here.

Leading organizations, such as the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), recommend that climate mitigation efforts use methods that actively remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it in a durable form, using processes that can be verified. Therefore, only the most promising durable carbon removal methods (i.e., where the carbon is not re-emitted into the atmosphere) will be highlighted in this answer.

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Methods differ in terms of removal process, timescale of carbon storage, technological maturity, mitigation potential, cost, co-benefits, adverse side-effects, and governance requirements. Durable carbon removal solutions to date are Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR), Carbonated Building Materials, Bioenergy with Carbon Capture & Storage (BECCS), Direct Air Carbon Capture & Storage (DACCS), Enhanced Weathering (EW), and Ocean Carbon Removal.

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Among the durable technologies, Biochar Carbon Removal stands out as it is available today, scalable in low- and high-tech facilities, co-benefit-rich, and ready to be used for immediate climate action.

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Find out more about all of the technologies listed above on our carbon removal insights page.

First of all, it is important to recognize that not all removals are of high quality, durability, and verifiability, and simply relying on promising new technologies for effective CDR alone is insufficient to guarantee real climate impact.

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Without trust, it becomes nearly impossible to overcome the challenges of scaling carbon removal and unlocking its full potential. That is why at Carbonfuture, we have developed a strategic and intentional approach to operationalize trust, guided by the five dimensions of transparency, quality, impact, innovation, and collaboration (find out more about these core values here.) By prioritizing these dimensions and making them the root of our products, we aim to build a CDR industry that is not only effective but also robust, scalable, and equitable.

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So, how can we ensure the real impact of our carbon removal credits?

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The key lies in digital monitoring, reporting, and verification, known as dMRV. “You can’t manage what you can’t measure” also applies to climate action. With Carbonfuture MRV+, we’ve developed a data-powered solution that brings trust to every stage of the carbon removal process. It seamlessly integrates the entire lifecycle of carbon removal, from project support and due diligence to tracking of the physical carbon, as well as verification, and certification. This way, we can translate durable climate action into trustworthy carbon removal credits thanks to a product that is built to provide visibility into the impact of your investments.

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With the leading marketplace for durable CDR, Carbonfuture Marketplace provides exclusive access to meticulously curated portfolios of high-quality carbon removal credits. Therefore, all credits sold via the Carbonfuture Marketplace must originate from projects that are part of Carbonfuture MRV+. All credits on the Carbonfuture Marketplace have gone through our rigorous due diligence process, are certified by established third-party Standards, and have been validated by accredited third-party validators and auditors.

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For us, trust is not just a buzzword – it is a core value that permeates everything we do.

MRV stands for "Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification." It's a set of processes and protocols used to track, measure, report, and verify the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) removed or sequestered from the atmosphere through carbon removal projects or activities.

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Here's a breakdown of each component:

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1. Monitoring: This involves collecting data and quantifying the amount of CO2 that is being removed or sequestered by a carbon removal project. It requires accurate measurement techniques and tools to assess the impact of the project.

2. Reporting: Once the data is collected and the carbon removal is measured, it needs to be reported transparently. This includes providing information on the methodology used, the amount of CO2 removed, and any relevant project details.

3. Verification: Verification is a critical step to ensure the accuracy and integrity of reported carbon removal data. Independent third-party verifiers assess the data, methodologies, and processes used in a project to confirm that it meets the stated standards and criteria for carbon removal.

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MRV is essential for creating trust in carbon removal markets. It ensures that the claimed carbon removal benefits are real, quantifiable, and verifiable, which is crucial for buyers, investors, and regulators. By following MRV practices and standards, the carbon removal industry can establish credibility and transparency in its efforts to combat climate change. You can find out more about MRV and its ecosystem role in this blog post we recently published.

Double claiming occurs when two entities (businesses or countries) count the same carbon claim towards their climate action goals. “No double claiming” is one of the basic principles of carbon accounting, and states that emissions removals shall only be counted once towards achieving mitigation targets (Source) to ensure integrity and accurate reporting. At Carbonfuture, double counting is mitigated both during the initial project due diligence and throughout the project's entire crediting period. With the Carbon Removal Tracking component of Carbonfuture MRV+, we ensure that climate action claims are based on verifiable data and accurately reflect the amount of carbon removed from the atmosphere, and therefore that claims are made only once.

When our suppliers sell their carbon credits on the Carbonfuture Marketplace, they are essentially selling the right to claim the carbon removal benefit. With that, they agree not to claim or advertise the climate benefits of that specific batch of product (biochar, for example) themselves because the climate benefit (carbon removal claim) now belongs to the buyer of the credit. This separation ensures that the carbon removal is only claimed once, preventing double counting of climate benefits.

Corporations that have carbon removal activities within their value chains can “inset” the emissions from their business’s operations. In this case, the climate action claim is re-coupled with the project’s products, and corporations can associate claims with their products that include the climate action claim (for example, “we produce climate-neutral compost by mixing it with biochar”).

Carbonfuture MRV+ is our product offering to suppliers of carbon removal projects. MRV+ has three primary components: Carbon Removal Supplier Services, Due Diligence, and Carbon Removal Tracking. Carbon Removal Tracking via our digital monitoring, reporting, and verification (dMRV) showcases project data from the entire lifecycle of carbon removal, from carbon capture to durable storage, to translate climate action into carbon removal credits that can be sold via the Carbonfuture Marketplace.

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Read more about Carbonfuture MRV+ here.

Developers of projects working with durable (100+ year) carbon removal technologies can work to become a supplier with Carbonfuture. Durable removal methods ensure that carbon is captured and safely stored for hundreds of years to provide both immediate and long-lasting effects for the planet. Therefore, a basic Carbonfuture MRV+ requirement is that all projects must operate with durable removal technologies, such as biochar carbon removal (BCR), enhanced weathering (EW), bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS), or direct air capture (DAC). All projects must also clearly demonstrate the sustainability and social responsibility of their projects, which we evaluate in the Due Diligence process.

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In addition, all carbon removal projects must be certified according to a third-party Standard. Carbonfuture is independent from these Standards, and our Carbon Removal Supplier Services can help determine the best standard for your project.

We’re here to help you select a desired third-party Standard, determine eligibility, and apply to become certified. If you haven’t yet started this process, our team can assist with our expertise and guidance. For biochar carbon removal, the third-party Standards we currently work with are Carbon Standards International (CSI), Puro.earth, and Verra.

We will need a variety of carbon removal technologies in order to reach our target of one gigatonne of CO2 removal per annum by mid-century. So far, biochar carbon removal (BCR) is currently one of the most efficient technologies in terms of scalability and volume. However, Carbonfuture’s Technology Infrastructure can accurately map a variety of carbon removal approaches. We are consistently adding technologies to our portfolio as they mature and as methodologies by third-party Standards are published. Examples of emerging carbon removal technologies include:

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• Carbonated building materials is a technology to store CO2 in recycling concrete, which is used for new buildings.
• Enhanced rock weathering is a highly scalable and permanent technology where silicate rock is ground and spread on suitable farmland. Though the process is well understood, challenges persist in measuring carbon removal in the field. Research efforts focus on quantifying weathering mechanisms and the fate of resulting carbonates, but a reliable measurement method is yet to be established.
• Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) shows great promise, especially with existing bioenergy plants. However, the availability of suitable storage sites varies, and the sustainability of biomass feedstocks is a concern.
• Direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS) is crucial for carbon removal, but its viability depends on surplus renewable energy availability, without relying on fossil energy.
• Ocean-based solutions are important but complex due to uncertainties and regulatory obstacles. Monitoring carbon removal from the dispersed ocean is challenging, and long-term economic implications are uncertain.

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In summary, these technologies are in the early stages, and their full potential and environmental impacts are still being studied and refined.

The focus of Carbonfuture is solely on carbon removal credits. We do not deal with the physical biochar. However, through our activities, we have forged a strong network in the biochar sector and may be able to connect you to specific actors dealing with biochar offtake/sales.

Insetting is a term used to describe the practice of funding climate protection projects within a company's own value chain, such as incorporating biochar-based carbon sinks within a building’s construction materials. Additional insetting examples include the ability to clearly reduce or store emissions using waste streams from a supply chain, which results in a positive impact on the communities, landscapes, and ecosystems connected to the company's operations.

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Carbonfuture MRV+ allows for you to easily manage insetting credits within your company’s business operations. We ensure that your own carbon asset generation consistently meets the highest quality standards, and help your company demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability. Carbonfuture MRV+ can conveniently manage and allocate your insetting credits inter-company within your group.

Once checking the initial Carbonfuture MRV+ eligibility requirements above, the first step to becoming a supplier for Carbonfuture is to fill out the supplier eligibility form here. You'll be asked questions on your business operations, technology and project readiness, and certification plans. One of our supply managers will get in contact with you to provide project support, guidance with certification, and give general market insights.  

Any company that fulfills our selection criteria can apply to become part of the Carbonfuture Catalyst program. If you are pursuing a carbon removal venture that provides long term carbon storage, is scientifically and ecologically sound and has the capacity to scale to megatonnes, we want to hear from you. Apply here.

We are technology-agnostic and interested in long term CDR solutions that are scientifically robust and measurable. We are quite excited that the CDR space is a hub for creativity so let us know what innovation you’ve come up with! Apply here.

Yes, the Catalyst supports carbon removal ventures at all stages of development. If you’re further along that’s amazing, we can help you evaluate certification options and fine tune your measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) processes as needed. We want to help you ensure your credits are high-value, scientifically defensible, and robust at scale.

Catalyst is powered by Carbonfuture and has a dedicated team behind it. Carbonfuture is the Trust Infrastructure for durable carbon removal and provies a vetted marketplace and a comprehensive MRV solution that unlocks rapid scaling of the high-quality carbon removal industry.

Reach out to discuss a partnership with Carbonfuture Catalyst for the pre-purchase of credits from the most promising upcoming CDR projects.

Buyers can engage with Carbonfuture Catalyst via pre-purchase agreements, enabling them to buy credits in advance with flexibility on the delivery date. We also support the RfP process, pairing buyers with Catalyst participants based on buyer criteria.