A newly published Carbon Removal Readiness Assessment (CRRA) report by Carbon Gap and Global Factor finds significant potential for scaling these technologies in Spain, as long as policymakers act rapidly on supportive frameworks, backed by investment in infrastructure and projects.
According to the assessment, through a range of different carbon dioxide removal (CDR) pathways, Spain could remove up to 69 Mt CO2 each year on top of the country’s natural sink, reaching a 2x volume than its target of reducing emissions to 29 Mt CO2 per year by 2050.
As explained in the report, if Spain combines bold emissions reductions with proactive CDR development, the country could become net-negative before 2050, helping other EU member states advance on climate goals.
While ridden with CDR scaling potential, Spain is currently facing limited progress in this direction. The climate strategy put together by the country’s government, the report notes, includes only nature-based and temporary CDR approaches, while other European countries are challenged by declining natural CO2 sinks.
The CRRA report finds that Spain’s CDR potential is among the highest in the EU, based on theoretical potential per year, but the country is also the least advanced on strategy and policy that would support scaling.
Additionally, the country has a significant capacity for carbon transport and geological storage, two critical elements for the development of CO2 removal technologies, yet these domains remain largely underdeveloped.
Under the CRRA project, Carbon Gap and Global Factor also engaged with stakeholders and Spanish citizens, identifying a broad lack of CDR awareness in the country, with no structured community or public discussion on this topic.
Relevant: Carbon Gap CDR Readiness Project Is Outlining The Potential In Five New EU Countries
The report states that Spain can build a robust CDR portfolio by supporting a variety of mixed approaches, including ecosystem enhancement and investment in permanent CDR value chains.
Highlighting that Spain’s recently published Climate Emergency Plan is a missed opportunity for a structured approach to developing CDR, the report says that the decisions made between 2026 and 2035 will determine whether carbon removals are omitted or become a vital element of Spain’s climate strategy.
Read more: New Report: US CDR Uncertainty Paves Way For Europe And UK To Take The Lead
