The role of negative CO₂ emissions for reaching 2°C -- insights from integrated assessment modelling

This requires unprecedented rates of decarbonization even in the short-run. The availability of the option of net negative emissions, such as bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) or reforestation/afforestation, allows to delay some of these emission reductions.

In the paper, we assess the demand and potential for negative emissions in particular from BECCS. Both stylized calculations and model runs show that without the possibility of negative emissions, pathways meeting the 2°C target with high probability need almost immediate emission reductions or simply become infeasible. The potential for negative emissions is uncertain.