Periodic Reporting for period 1 - UPTAKE (Bridging current knowledge gaps to enable the UPTAKE of carbon dioxide removal methods)
Reporting period: 2023-09-01 to 2025-02-28
Meeting the Paris Agreement's climate targets—limiting global warming to 1.5°C or 2°C—demands unprecedented scaling of carbon dioxide removal (CDR). With nations and industries lagging behind net-zero commitments, the need for effective CDR solutions has never been more critical. Concurrently, the CDR landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by growing engagement from policymakers, technology developers, and investors.
The UPTAKE project responds to this global challenge by developing fair, resilient, and scalable CDR pathways to position the EU as a leader in responsible carbon removal. Beyond fulfilling climate obligations, UPTAKE integrates CDR into economic and social equity frameworks, ensuring the transition to climate neutrality advances both environmental sustainability and inclusive growth.
UPTAKE addresses critical barriers to CDR adoption by providing science-based assessments and implementation strategies. The project focuses on:
1. Comprehensive CDR Method Evaluation
- Mapping knowledge networks and governance frameworks
- Conducting comparative assessments of technological, economic, social, and environmental impacts
-Developing a harmonized inventory of CDR approaches
2. Enhanced Modeling for Informed Decision-Making
- Improving CDR representation in Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs)
- Incorporating Earth system feedbacks into climate projections
-Assessing regional deployment potential and cost-supply dynamics
3. Policy and Governance for Accelerated Uptake
- Designing equitable policy frameworks and governance structures
- Establishing realistic boundary conditions for deployment
- Creating resilient roadmaps for large-scale CDR implementation
By advancing these objectives, UPTAKE ensures CDR becomes a viable, scalable, and just component of global decarbonization efforts—turning climate necessity into sustainable opportunity.
The UPTAKE project responds to this global challenge by developing fair, resilient, and scalable CDR pathways to position the EU as a leader in responsible carbon removal. Beyond fulfilling climate obligations, UPTAKE integrates CDR into economic and social equity frameworks, ensuring the transition to climate neutrality advances both environmental sustainability and inclusive growth.
UPTAKE addresses critical barriers to CDR adoption by providing science-based assessments and implementation strategies. The project focuses on:
1. Comprehensive CDR Method Evaluation
- Mapping knowledge networks and governance frameworks
- Conducting comparative assessments of technological, economic, social, and environmental impacts
-Developing a harmonized inventory of CDR approaches
2. Enhanced Modeling for Informed Decision-Making
- Improving CDR representation in Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs)
- Incorporating Earth system feedbacks into climate projections
-Assessing regional deployment potential and cost-supply dynamics
3. Policy and Governance for Accelerated Uptake
- Designing equitable policy frameworks and governance structures
- Establishing realistic boundary conditions for deployment
- Creating resilient roadmaps for large-scale CDR implementation
By advancing these objectives, UPTAKE ensures CDR becomes a viable, scalable, and just component of global decarbonization efforts—turning climate necessity into sustainable opportunity.
During its initial phase, the UPTAKE project has made significant strides in establishing the knowledge base and tools needed for effective CDR governance and implementation. Our work has focused on three key areas:
1. Stakeholder Engagement and Knowledge Synthesis
- Established the CDR Stakeholder Forum, creating a vital platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange
- Conducted systematic literature reviews mapping CDR co-benefits, challenges, and limitations
- Developed the UPTAKE Scenario Explorer (internal beta) for comprehensive CDR scenario analysis
2. Techno-Economic and Scientific Advancements
- Completed a landmark techno-economic assessment of BECCS costs
- Evaluated performance potentials for major CDR methods including DACCS, BECCS, ERW, and OAE
- Enhanced Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) with improved CDR representations and Earth system feedbacks
3. Policy and Implementation Frameworks
- Analyzed market-based and regulatory instruments to accelerate CDR adoption
- Mapped existing business models and governance frameworks
- Incorporated social science research to understand public perceptions of CDR technologies
These achievements have created a robust foundation for developing CDR strategies that balance technological feasibility, economic viability, and social acceptability. By integrating technical assessments with humanities research, UPTAKE ensures its governance frameworks and implementation roadmaps are both scientifically rigorous and socially sustainable.
The project's interdisciplinary approach - combining cutting-edge modeling with stakeholder engagement and policy analysis - positions it as a leader in developing practical, scalable solutions for carbon removal in the EU and beyond.
1. Stakeholder Engagement and Knowledge Synthesis
- Established the CDR Stakeholder Forum, creating a vital platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange
- Conducted systematic literature reviews mapping CDR co-benefits, challenges, and limitations
- Developed the UPTAKE Scenario Explorer (internal beta) for comprehensive CDR scenario analysis
2. Techno-Economic and Scientific Advancements
- Completed a landmark techno-economic assessment of BECCS costs
- Evaluated performance potentials for major CDR methods including DACCS, BECCS, ERW, and OAE
- Enhanced Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) with improved CDR representations and Earth system feedbacks
3. Policy and Implementation Frameworks
- Analyzed market-based and regulatory instruments to accelerate CDR adoption
- Mapped existing business models and governance frameworks
- Incorporated social science research to understand public perceptions of CDR technologies
These achievements have created a robust foundation for developing CDR strategies that balance technological feasibility, economic viability, and social acceptability. By integrating technical assessments with humanities research, UPTAKE ensures its governance frameworks and implementation roadmaps are both scientifically rigorous and socially sustainable.
The project's interdisciplinary approach - combining cutting-edge modeling with stakeholder engagement and policy analysis - positions it as a leader in developing practical, scalable solutions for carbon removal in the EU and beyond.
The UPTAKE project has made significant strides in advancing the understanding and implementation of CDR methods. By establishing the CDR Stakeholder Forum the project has successfully facilitated stakeholder engagement well beyond the scope of immediate beneficiary of the project. The Forum has provided a platform for not only sharing information about the project, but also providing latest scientific and business updates on CDR development around the world.
The project has also comprehensively assessed various CDR technologies, such as BECCS, DACCS, ERW, and OAE, providing valuable insights into their performance, potential, and environmental impacts. Enhanced modelling frameworks have been developed, integrating CDR methods into Integrated Assessment Models (IAM) and incorporating Earth system feedback into climate models. This has improved the accuracy of global decarbonisation assessments and informed policy decisions on effective CDR strategies.
Policy analysis and governance frameworks have been mapped and analysed, offering guidance on the regulatory and institutional arrangements needed to support CDR implementation. The project has also reviewed existing business models for CDR technologies, highlighting the financial and regulatory support mechanisms required to scale these technologies effectively.
The project has also comprehensively assessed various CDR technologies, such as BECCS, DACCS, ERW, and OAE, providing valuable insights into their performance, potential, and environmental impacts. Enhanced modelling frameworks have been developed, integrating CDR methods into Integrated Assessment Models (IAM) and incorporating Earth system feedback into climate models. This has improved the accuracy of global decarbonisation assessments and informed policy decisions on effective CDR strategies.
Policy analysis and governance frameworks have been mapped and analysed, offering guidance on the regulatory and institutional arrangements needed to support CDR implementation. The project has also reviewed existing business models for CDR technologies, highlighting the financial and regulatory support mechanisms required to scale these technologies effectively.