A new analysis from Clean Air Task Force argues that voluntary carbon markets, even with large buyers like Microsoft, cannot scale durable carbon removal to the billions of tons needed each year. The piece lays out why corporate purchases alone are insufficient and calls for stronger government policy to support CDR deployment. The article details existing policy building blocks in the U.S., including the 45Q tax credit, the Direct Air Capture Hubs program, and state-level efforts in California and Colorado. It argues that advocates and developers need to focus on public procurement, infrastructure, and consistent standards rather than relying solely on voluntary credit purchases.
