July 2026
An introduction to CDR for policy makers
To meet international, national and subnational net zero targets, durable atmospheric carbon dioxide removals (CDR) must grow rapidly alongside sustained emissions reductions and land sector carbon sinks.
This paper provides policymakers with an introduction to CDR. It examines why CDR is an essential component of net zero, outlines the principal CDR pathways, and explores the policy, investment and governance frameworks needed to support their responsible scale-up. The paper is intended to establish a shared foundation of knowledge to inform policy development and decision-making.
The paper accompanies the Net Zero Futures Policy Forum Carbon Dioxide Removal Community of Practice (CDR CoP), synthesising key insights from expert presentations, policymaker discussions and Q&A sessions to support continued capability building across government and industry.
Leading indicators for effective carbon removal policy
By Alana Hollestelle, Koby Baron, Henry Adams
This insights paper introduces a practical framework to help policymakers track and assess progress on the deployment of atmospheric CDR. It provides a set of leading indicators that enable the consistent comparison of policy and industry progress across jurisdictions, covering targets, financial mechanisms, deployment, and accounting.
This report accompanies CRI’s Atmospheric Carbon Removal Policy Dashboard, an interactive tool that tracks CDR deployment progress across national and subnational jurisdictions. Together, the framework and Dashboard support policy makers to identify gaps, benchmark progress and inform the design of policies that support a credible, scalable CDR industry.
January 2026
Expanding revenue models for CDR
This discussion paper aims to help governments, industry and civil society expand the range of policy options that can help fund the scale of durable carbon dioxide removal (“CDR”) required to meet climate goals.
As governments, industry and civil society around the world start to consider how to move beyond voluntary markets to meet CDR requirements, they often look to policy entrepreneurs in leading jurisdictions for a roadmap. However, policies that work in one jurisdiction might seem insurmountably difficult to consider in another due to very different local fiscal positions, administrative capacity, legislative powers or political values.
This paper takes a step back to seek inspiration from the broad diversity of revenue and expenditure mechanisms used internationally to drive the delivery of other kinds of public goods and services.
The role of policy in first-of-a-kind carbon removal projects
By Alana Hollestelle, Henry Adams, Matthew Clark
First-of-a-kind (FOAK) carbon removal projects are essential to building a durable carbon removal industry at the pace and scale required to meet climate targets.
This report examines why FOAK projects are inherently more costly and complex than later deployments, and why targeted government policy is critical to unlocking learning, reducing risk and accelerating cost declines. Drawing on lessons from the energy transition and early carbon removal deployments, the report outlines how financial and non-financial policy tools can be combined to lower barriers, create revenue confidence, and maximise spillover benefits for future projects and local industry development.
June 2025
Atmospheric carbon removal: getting started
By Alana Hollestelle, Henry Adams
Atmospheric carbon removal is now a necessary complement to deep emissions reductions to achieve net zero and, ultimately, net negative emissions.
This report provides policymakers with a practical starting point for designing carbon removal policy in their jurisdiction. It sets out how to estimate carbon removal requirements based on residual emissions, assess a jurisdiction’s potential across land-sector and durable removal options, and identify the policy building blocks needed to scale the industry.
The report is designed as a step-by-step guide to help governments move from high-level ambition to implementable policy frameworks that can deliver carbon removal at speed and scale.
May 2024
Atmospheric carbon removal: building a new industry
By Alana Hollestelle, Henry Adams, Heath Hasemer
To avoid dangerous global warming, we now not only must achieve deep reductions in emissions, but also drawdown historical emissions through atmospheric carbon dioxide removal.
Delivering carbon removal at a Paris Agreement-aligned scale involves building an entirely new industry. The actions needed to achieve these outcomes are different from the primary net zero task of decarbonising existing industries.
This White Paper sets out key insights on the imperative, opportunity and the actions needed to catalyse a safe and equitable carbon removal industry at the necessary speed and scale in Australia.
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