A new study changes the timeline for enhanced weathering
Everyone's favorite rock-based carbon removal technique has been attracting VC dollars, but it’s unclear how quickly climate benefits will result from these investments. According to a recent experiment, it can take thousands of years for crushed rocks spread on agricultural fields to draw carbon down from the atmosphere — hundreds of times slower than other observational and modeling studies suggested. But it’s too early to throw in the towel on enhanced weathering. This study highlights an important, but unsurprising, reality: Soils are complex systems. The rate of carbon removal through enhanced weathering depends on a range of local variables, like moisture and soil pH. Some geographies are much better suited for this process than others, so implementation cannot be one-soil-fits-all. It also points to a growing need in the sector for MRV — up-to-date monitoring, reporting, and verification protocols to ensure practices are generating real climate benefits.
— Anu Khan, C180 Deputy Director of Science and Innovation
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