Expanding carbon removal to the Global South: Thematic concerns on systems, justice, and climate governance

Abstract

Conversations on how to assess, innovate, and develop policies for carbon removal are for now largely confined to the Global North – reflecting a concentration of academic interest (and concern), innovation capacity, early funding initiatives, and policy path-dependence in climate, energy, and land-use. However, future population growth, emissions trajectories, and even concentrations of economic (and technological power) are shifting to the Global South. Here, after explaining the positionality of the author, this paper summarizes the perspectives and concerns of 90 key academics, technologists, and policy entrepreneurs on expanding carbon removal assessment, innovation, and policy beyond early foci within (northern) Europe, the US, Japan, and Australia. It explores how concerns about systems (coupling and infrastructure deployment), justice (equity and inclusion), and governance (including pledges, funding, and offsets) markedly differ across Global North and Global South dynamics. It discusses how such issues intersect with each other, and concludes with insights for research and policy.