Removal carbon credits

In the world of carbon credits, there is a fundamental difference between avoiding emissions and removing carbon from the atmosphere. Removal credits belong to this second category: they are certificates generated when we capture and store CO₂ equivalent directly from the atmosphere.

How does carbon removal work?

Most removals today are based on photosynthesis:

• Plants and trees capture CO₂ from the air and store it in biomass and soil.

These projects, generally forestry or agroforestry, have dominated the removal market. A real example: a project with 800 trees per hectare can generate around 10 carbon credits per year.

But how much CO₂ does a tree remove?

Let's consider an average growing tree in the Atlantic forest:

• A growing adult tree removes about 13 kg of CO₂e per year.

• It would take about 76 trees growing for 1 year to generate one credit (1,000 kg of CO₂e).

Of course, this varies depending on the species, climate, soil type, and management. But this number gives an idea of the necessary scale.

Technological removals: the future

Despite photosynthesis being the dominant form, there are promising technologies to capture carbon:

• DAC (Direct Air Capture): machines that suck CO₂ and store it underground.

• Accelerated weathering: use of crushed rocks that chemically react with CO₂.

• CO₂ concrete: recycling concrete using CO₂ as an input.

These methods are still in the experimental phase or at a very small scale. The potential is huge, but costs are still high.

Why is it important to distinguish removal?

Because the market values differently:

• Removal credits are seen as more "definitive" because they remove carbon from the atmosphere.

• Reduction credits avoid future emissions but do not reverse what has already been emitted.

Therefore, in terms of climate quality, removal tends to be more valued.

In summary:

• Removal credits are generated by removing CO₂e from the atmosphere.

• Most today come from forestry projects, via photosynthesis.

• Removal technologies are growing, but still incipient.

• These credits are crucial for a net zero future, where it is necessary to remove more than we emit.

In the next post, we will explore reduction credits, which are also essential in the transition to a low-carbon economy.