A new State of Carbon Dioxide Removal report finds the world removes about 2.2 billion tons of CO2 annually, mostly from conventional methods like tree planting. Novel approaches such as direct air capture and biochar account for less than 1 percent of total removals and would need to scale to 70 million tons by 2030 to support net zero goals. The report warns that the gap between current carbon removal and what is required is widening. Direct air capture facilities in Iceland operated far below capacity in 2025. Researchers stress that carbon removal cannot replace steep cuts in fossil fuel emissions. Without immediate reductions, the amount of carbon that must be removed will keep growing, increasing risks of extreme heat, storms, and wildfire.
