Overview
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Energy Earthshots Initiative aims to accelerate breakthroughs of more abundant, affordable and reliable clean energy solutions within the decade.
Achieving the Energy Earthshots will help America tackle the toughest remaining barriers to addressing the climate crisis, and more quickly reach the U.S. Government’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 while creating good-paying union jobs and growing the economy.
Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) has a critical role in helping the United States address the climate crisis and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. CDR refers to approaches that capture carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the atmosphere and store it in geological, biobased and ocean reservoirs or in value-added products to create negative emissions. To reach our global climate goals, gigatons of atmospheric CO2 must be removed every year by mid-century, alongside aggressive decarbonization.
To advance the development of this emerging and necessary industry, DOE launched Carbon Negative Shot—the U.S. Government’s first major effort in CDR.
Carbon Negative Shot is an all-hands-on-deck call for innovation in CDR pathways that will capture CO2 from the atmosphere and store it at gigaton scales for less than $100/net metric ton of CO2-equivalent. This effort is being deployed to achieve a net-zero carbon economy and eventually remove legacy carbon pollution to help address the climate crisis, with dedicated focus on doing so in a just and sustainable manner.
Impact
Achieving the Carbon Negative Shot goal will help spur innovation and position U.S. enterprises as leaders in research, manufacturing and deployment in a CDR industry that must have rapid, global ramp-up by mid-century.
It will also position America to lead the way to net-zero on a global scale, eventually remove legacy greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere, create good-paying job opportunities that build on the skillsets of the fossil fuel workforce and ensure that climate and environmental justice for local communities remain a priority.
Stakeholder Engagement
In alignment with the U.S. Government’s numerous efforts around equity, justice and communities, Carbon Negative Shot will center justice and equity and support a CDR industry that accounts for diverse place requirements.
As a driver for this necessary and emerging industry, Carbon Negative Shot prioritizes information sharing and engagement with communities that could participate in or be affected by CDR, including environmental and climate justice organizations, tribal nations, labor groups, industry and academia. Carbon Negative Shot also supports a whole-of-government approach and seeks alignment in federal, state and local areas.
Learn more about the Carbon Negative Shot Summit.
