Mar 11, 2025
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.