The 2026 edition of The State of Carbon Dioxide Removal offers a useful moment to reassess China’s role in the global carbon dioxide removal (CDR) landscape. The picture is more nuanced than a simple story of leadership or lagging behind. China is already central to current global CDR, but mostly through conventional, land-based removals. Its next challenge is to move from large-scale forestry-based removals toward a more diversified, durable and policy-supported CDR portfolio. 1 | China is already a major CDR actor — but mainly through conventional CDR China is one of the world’s largest emitters, but it is also one of the largest contributors to current global CDR. This reflects the structure of today’s CDR system: global removals are still overwhelmingly dominated by conventional methods, especially afforestation and reforestation. In this sense, China’s CDR position is not marginal. Bookkeeping models suggest that China contributes more than 500 MtCO₂ per year through afforestatio...
Carbon dioxide removal is becoming an important part of climate policy, carbon markets, and net-zero discussions. This glossary is a simple guide to the key concepts behind carbon dioxide removal. It is designed for readers who want to understand the basic vocabulary before reading reports, policy documents, or market updates on CDR. This page will be updated regularly as new terms, technologies, and policy discussions emerge. Core Concepts Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Human activities that remove CO₂ from the atmosphere and store it durably in geological, terrestrial, ocean reservoirs, or products. Emissions Reductions Actions that reduce new greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere. CDR does not replace emissions reductions; it complements them. Net Zero CO₂ Emissions A state in which CO₂ emissions are balanced by CO₂ removals, so net CO₂ emissions equal zero. Gross CO₂ Emiss...