In a bid to combat climate change, several companies have taken the initiative to extract carbon dioxide from the air and store it underground. While this new technology holds promise, challenges lie ahead in scaling it up to a level where it becomes affordable and effective in curbing the rise of global temperatures.

The process of carbon removal involves large-scale machines that function like stationary vacuum cleaners, extracting CO2 from the air. At Climeworks' Orca plant in Iceland, the captured gas is mixed with water and injected into porous rocks underground, where it undergoes a transformation into carbonate minerals. Similarly, at the Heirloom plant in California, carbon dioxide is combined with calcium oxide powder to produce limestone.

It is crucial to understand the distinction between carbon offsets, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and carbon removal. While carbon offsets are used to mitigate carbon-intensive activities, such as air travel, they have faced criticism for overstating emission reductions. CCS, on the other hand, captures CO2 emitted from smokestacks. Carbon removal, also known as "direct air capture" (DAC), is not dependent on emissions sources and can be implemented anywhere. Unlike offsets, carbon removal offers a measurable and precise reduction in carbon emissions.

Prominent figures like Bill Gates have expressed support for direct air capture. Gates has confirmed that he purchases the gold standard of funding from Climeworks, specifically for direct air capture, which exceeds his family's carbon footprint.

Climeworks provides a variety of monthly subscription options for individuals to purchase carbon removal. The most affordable subscription costs $28 per month and removes approximately as much carbon as 11 average-sized trees do in a month (20 kg of CO2). Customized plans are also available. Climeworks' Orca plant successfully removes around 4,000 tons of CO2 annually, and their service has gained significant popularity, leading to it being sold out. Customers who buy carbon removal credits from Climeworks are prepaying for carbon removal that will take place when a new plant opens next year. This upcoming facility is expected to remove an impressive 30,000 tons of CO2 per year.

The urgency to address carbon emissions becomes evident when considering that the United States alone emitted 6.34 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents in 2021.

While carbon removal may be more expensive compared to offsets, experts emphasize that the impact on climate is remarkably different. Brian Marrs, Microsoft's senior director of energy and carbon, highlighted the significance of paying for carbon removal, stating that it delivers substantial climate benefits.

As companies ramp up efforts to scale up carbon removal technology, there is hope that this innovative approach will contribute significantly to mitigating climate change. By capturing and storing CO2 from the air, these forward-thinking initiatives are tackling the global climate crisis one step at a time.