Scientific literature on carbon dioxide removal revealed as much larger through AI-enhanced systematic mapping.

Journal: Nature communications
Published Date: Jul 18, 2025

Abstract

Carbon dioxide removal plays an important role in any strategy to limit global warming to well below 2 °C. Keeping abreast with the scientific evidence using rigorous evidence synthesis methods is an important prerequisite for sustainably scaling these methods. Here, we use artificial intelligence to provide a comprehensive systematic map of carbon dioxide removal research. We find a total of 28,976 studies on carbon dioxide removal-3-4 times more than previously suggested. Growth in research is faster than for the field of climate change research as a whole, but very concentrated in specific areas-such as biochar, certain research methods like lab and field experiments, and particular regions like China. Patterns of carbon dioxide removal research contrast with trends in patenting and deployment, highlighting the differing development stages of these technologies. As carbon dioxide removal gains importance for the Paris climate goals, our systematic map can support rigorous evidence synthesis for the IPCC and other assessments.

Authors

  • Sarah Lück
    Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, Germany. sarah.lueck@pik-potsdam.de.
  • Max Callaghan
    Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, Germany.
  • Malgorzata Borchers
    Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany.
  • Annette Cowie
    New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Armidale 2351, Australia; School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale 2351, Australia.
  • Sabine Fuss
    Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, Germany.
  • Matthew Gidden
    International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria.
  • Jens Hartmann
    Institute for Geology, University Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
  • Claudia Kammann
    Department of Applied Ecology, Hochschule Geisenheim University, Geisenheim, Germany.
  • David P Keller
    GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
  • Florian Kraxner
    International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria.
  • William F Lamb
    Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, Germany.
  • Niall Mac Dowell
    Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, London, UK.
  • Finn Müller-Hansen
    Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change, EUREF Campus 19, Torgauer Straße 12-15, Berlin, 10829, Germany.
  • Gregory F Nemet
    La Follette School of Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA.
  • Benedict S Probst
    Net Zero Lab, Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition, Munich, Germany.
  • Phil Renforth
    Research Centre for Carbon Solutions, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK.
  • Tim Repke
    Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, Germany.
  • Wilfried Rickels
    Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Kiel, Germany.
  • Ingrid Schulte
    Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, Germany.
  • Pete Smith
    Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
  • Stephen M Smith
    Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, UK.
  • Daniela Thrän
    Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany.
  • Tiffany G Troxler
    Florida International University, Department of Earth and Environment and Institute of Environment, Miami, FL, USA.
  • Volker Sick
    Global CO2 Initiative, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
  • Mijndert van der Spek
    Research Centre for Carbon Solutions, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK.
  • Jan C Minx
    Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, Germany. jan.minx@pik-potsdam.de.

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