In order to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, we need to dramatically reduce emissions. However, current decarbonisation efforts alone will not get us to net zero. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are already too high. We must also directly remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

CSIRO is developing carbon dioxide removal technologies. We’re part of a global effort to remove atmospheric carbon dioxide and lock it up on permanent timescales.

We are Australia’s leading carbon dioxide removal (CDR) program. CarbonLock brings together research spanning engineering, biology and chemistry to search for integrated CDR solutions.

To avoid the catastrophic impacts of climate change and keep global warming to no more than 1.5 °C, global emissions need to reach net zero by 2050.

The most important part of reaching net zero is that emissions are deeply reduced. However, if we are to meet net zero emissions targets, large amounts of carbon dioxide will also need to be removed from the atmosphere and permanently stored.

This means that deliberate and accelerated removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, in parallel to decarbonisation efforts, provides the only legitimate means to reach net zero.

Carbon dioxide removal needs to occur fast and at scale to prevent serious climate risks.

So what’s holding us back? Current carbon dioxide removal technologies are expensive and slow. They also lack resilience in the face of increasing ecological disasters like bushfires and drought.

We know that there is still time to turn things around.

That’s why Australia’s national science agency is turning its focus to smart innovation and leaning into the technologies of tomorrow.

At CSIRO we are working to develop the cornerstone technologies that are fast, scalable, responsible, as well as cost-effective and permanent systems for capturing and storing carbon that could help the world limit further warming.

Our main focus is engineering novel ways to accelerate solutions already found in nature with the help of innovative science and technology.

To date, we have delivered an initial set of scoping, modelling and investigative projects to inform our future research activities. These projects helped lay foundations for more intensive research in our current research portfolio.

Our researchers are searching our land, seas and skies to find new carbon dioxide removal technologies. We are exploring all possible avenues to design technologies that have potential to permanently sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Australia has the opportunity to take full advantage of growing carbon international markets and to identify opportunities for the export and deployment of novel technologies.

As these technologies reach maturity over the coming decades, we stand ready to help scale and deploy them to the rest of the world.