Directs federal agencies to boost carbon dioxide removal solutions
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet joined U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, and six of their Senate colleagues in introducing the Carbon Dioxide Removal Research and Development (CDR R&D) Act, legislation to fight climate change by helping remove heat-trapping carbon dioxide pollution from the Earth’s atmosphere. The bill directs agencies across the federal government to boost research and development efforts into carbon removal solutions and calls for increased international coordination.
“To address the climate crisis from all angles we need to remove carbon from our atmosphere,” said Hickenlooper. “This bill allows us to lessen the impacts of climate change now while we build our clean energy future.”
“To fight climate change and achieve net-zero, America must cut emissions and expand research into effective and affordable carbon removal technologies,” said Bennet. “This bill would strengthen support for carbon removal solutions across the federal government and help America lead the world in the fight against climate change.”
The Carbon Dioxide Removal Research and Development (CDR R&D) Act would direct nine federal departments and agencies to fund and conduct research, development, and demonstration of carbon dioxide removal activities and techniques over ten years. Carbon removal research priorities include a broad range of technological pathways and technologically enhanced natural processes like direct air capture, carbon uptake in forests and agriculture, ocean-based carbon removal, carbon mineralization, geologic sequestration, and carbon utilization.
The Carbon Dioxide Removal Research and Development Act is supported by Carbon180, Clean Air Task Force, Environmental Defense Fund, LTC Action (Linden Trust for Conservation), and National Wildlife Federation.
Full text of the bill is available HERE.
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