Estimates range on the amount of CO₂ that humans must remove from the atmosphere annually to limit warming to 1.5°C or below, but all estimates target billions of tons annually. This is an enormous quantity of CO₂ – and any approach to DAC that is meaningful from a planetary perspective must have the ability to scale to billion-ton removal. Because time is of the essence with climate change, technologies should be able to scale within 10 years.

There’s little point capturing CO₂ only to cause it to be re-emitted or stored in a way that makes it vulnerable. Capture6’s process mineralizes CO₂ – locking it away irreversibly for millennia. 

Purchasers of CO₂ want a clear accounting trail that can be verified. Basic chemistry governing the relations between inputs (CO₂) and outputs (mineralized carbonates) allows us to easily quantify and prove the amount of CO₂ captured. A transparent and verifiable chain of custody and ledger prevents double-counting.

The social costs of carbon are very high and the costs of DAC must be benchmarked against the costs of inaction. The duration of carbon removal from the atmosphere determines its impact – a ton of CO₂ sequestered for one thousand years has greater value than a ton of CO₂ sequestered for 20 years. That said, the efforts that can scale and get traction quickly must be cost-effective in the near-term with the possibility of further driving the cost down over time.

Unfortunately, climate change is not the only major environmental crisis humans face. Capture6 DAC approaches are designed with co-benefits including addressing ocean acidification and air pollution. Land-based installations can improve water resources for agriculture.  Restoring planetary health as part of DAC is crucial to preventing underrepresented communities from shouldering a disproportionate burden from climate change.

Climate change is largely an unintended side-effect of the industrial revolution and the economic growth of nations. In seeking to address climate change, DAC projects must be careful not to create new negative environmental and social problems, particularly those that affect underrepresented communities. Any assessment of a DAC project must include a full life-cycle analysis of the process – also known as a cradle to grave analysis. Such an analysis must also consider the scarcity of resources the DAC project utilizes, including arable land and freshwater. 

Any DAC effort must be compliant with relevant national and international regulations. Facilities must be operated in a safe manner that actively mitigates negative impact to local environments and communities, including health and livelihoods.  As a nascent industry with often scant legal frameworks, DAC efforts must earn and maintain social license from ongoing stakeholder dialogue. As a Public Benefit Corporation, we prioritize our mission to increase global carbon capture while growing our business.