Climate policy for a net-zero future: ten recommendations for direct air capture

Abstract

Direct Air Capture with Carbon Storage (DACCS) technologies represent one of the most significant potential tools for tackling climate change by making net-zero and net-negative emissions achievable, as deemed necessary in reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the European Green Deal. We draw from a novel and original dataset of expert interviews (N=125) to distil ten recommendations for future DACCS policy. After providing a literature review on DACCS and explaining our methods of data collection, we present these recommendations as follows: (1) follow governance principles that ensure "negative" emissions; (2) prioritize long-term carbon storage; (3) appreciate and incentivize scale; (4) co-develop with capture, transport, and storage (5) phase in a carbon price; (6) couple with renewables; (7); harness hub deployment; (8); maintain separate targets; (9) embrace certification and compliance; and (10) recognize social acceptance. All ten recommendations are important, and all speak to the urgency and necessity of better managing and shaping the potentially impending DACCS transition.