Community Carbon Removal Challenge

Are you wondering how we can reverse climate change; not just keep it from getting worse? If so, this unique event is for you. Human activity has left a legacy of roughly 1.8 trillion tons of excess CO₂ in the atmosphere and ocean— more than 40 times the amount the world emits in a single year. Nature will not clean up that legacy climate pollution on a human timescale. Much of it will remain in the atmosphere–ocean system for thousands of years unless we deliberately remove it. Removing legacy CO2 emissions is essential to restoring climate stability and safeguarding our future. Catalyzing that removal is why we are here today. The Climate Center, 4Corners Climate Coalition, and the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability have organized the Carbon Removal Challenge. This community event aims to educate, stimulate discussion, and allocate pre-raised funds for carbon dioxide removal. At this lively interactive event, participants will explore the major pathways for removing carbon using biology, rocks and minerals, oceans, and the atmosphere. They’ll examine real-world projects, consider potential community benefits, and hear from climate leaders working to advance effective policy and responsible deployment. The Community Carbon Removal Challenge is unique because it culminates in caucasing and community action. After a thorough introduction to carbon dioxide removal, participants will act as an informed public caucus — deliberating together and deciding how pre-raised funds will be used to purchase real carbon removal from actual projects. At a Glance • Keynote presentation by California Senator Josh Becker • What is responsible Carbon Dioxide Removal and why do we need it? • What are the benefits and goals of CDR • How do we remove CO2 and what do we do with it? • Presentations and discussions with companies doing CDR now • Caucus-style voting conducted among participants to decide how pre-raised funds will be allocated • Identify opportunities for continued local engagement and building informed public support for effective carbon-removal policy and action Through presentations, questions, discussion, and collaborative exercises, participants will learn how to evaluate carbon-removal approaches: How much carbon will they remove? How securely and durably will it be stored? What are the costs, risks, tradeoffs, and potential benefits? Which projects deserve support? Details on caucasing As participants, you will be asked to collectively determine how available funds should be allocated. To do that, you will be prepared to ask tough questions. For example: How much carbon can each pathway remove? How securely will the removed carbon be stored? What are the costs, risks, tradeoffs, and potential benefits? Through caucasing, you will convert that knowledge into decisions that will allocated pre-raised funds to purchase real carbon removal. Join us October 17 at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainabilityfor this interactive 5-hour event comprising presentations, questions, discussion, and collaborative exercises. Lunch is included. Supporting Partners include: City CDR Initiative, Open Air Collective, Terraset