Systemic carbon removal scaling requires equitable governance and cross-sector collaboration to meet 1.5°C targets
Original framing: “Experts: Why carbon removal needs a ‘major scale up’ to return warming to 1.5C” — Carbon Brief
Indigenous communities have long practiced land stewardship that enhances carbon sequestration through agroforestry, controlled burns, and biodiversity management. These practices are often dismissed as 'traditional' rather than integrated into modern climate solutions, despite their proven efficacy and cultural continuity.
To effectively scale carbon removal while aligning with 1.
5°C targets, we must move beyond a technocratic and extractive framing toward a systemic approach that integrates Indigenous land stewardship, scientific rigor, and community-led innovation. Historical patterns show that without addressing the power imbalances embedded in climate policy, carbon removal risks becoming a tool of techno-optimism that displaces responsibility from fossil capital. Cross-cultural dialogue and transparent governance are essential to ensure that these technologies do not replicate colonial patterns of environmental exploitation. By centering marginalized voices and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, we can develop carbon removal strategies that are not only effective but also just and sustainable.