The Carbon Management Challenge (CMC) is a joint effort and call to action by countries worldwide to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture, removal, use, and storage technologies. Participating countries recognize that limiting warming to 1.5°C with minimal overshoot requires a dramatic increase in the pace and scale of deployment of carbon management technologies and infrastructure.
Twenty countries plus the European Commission have joined the CMC to-date, which was launched at the April 2023 Major Economies Forum, to accelerate the scale up of carbon capture, utilization and storage and carbon dioxide removal as necessary complements to aggressive deployment of other zero-carbon technologies and energy efficiency.
The Need for a Carbon Management Challenge
Global rates of carbon management deployment are far below those in modelled pathways limiting global warming to 1.5°C or 2°C, according to recent analyses by international authorities. The science is clear that even as we strive for deep decarbonization and to scale renewable energy and energy efficiency, carbon management at gigaton scale -- that is, collectively managing 1Gt or more of CO2 annually, achieved as soon as possible – will play a vital role in addressing our shared climate challenge. 
To put the scale of the challenge ahead of us in clearer terms, the current inventory of carbon management projects in operation globally are only mitigating 0.05 Gt of CO2 annually – a tiny of fraction of the amount scientists say is necessary. We cannot bridge this gap without significant public and private leadership right now.
Participants in the CMC agree on the need to accelerate carbon management technologies to address emissions that cannot otherwise be avoided and to help enable a broader zero-emissions energy portfolio. Participants recognize the urgency of deploying carbon management technologies at scale beginning this decade to address the significant gap
What is Carbon Management?
Carbon management refers collectively to carbon capture, use, and storage, which consists of capturing carbon dioxide emissions at a source such as an industrial facility, and carbon dioxide removal, which removes already emitted carbon directly from the atmosphere. In both approaches, the carbon is used in products and/or permanently and safely stored in a way that prevents it from being released.
Reaching Gigaton Scale
Participants aim to raise ambition by supporting a global goal of advancing carbon management projects that will reach gigaton scale by 2030 -- that is, collectively managing 1Gt or more of CO2 annually -- to ensure our actions align with the science. Participants call on other governments to join the CMC and on the private sector to play a leadership role in deploying carbon management technologies and infrastructure.
Carbon Management to Address Our Shared Climate Challenge
Participants acknowledge that carbon management is not a substitute for accelerating other mitigation efforts, including vast deployment of clean energy and electrification technologies, elimination of net deforestation, and non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Nonetheless, capturing carbon dioxide at large emission sources is required, both to reduce emissions in sectors where alternative low emission technologies are expensive or lacking, such as heavy industrial process emissions, and to help enable a broader low or zero emissions energy portfolio that also supports the economic aspirations of developing countries in the Global South.
Removing carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere through technological approaches is required to counterbalance unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions from sectors such as agriculture and aviation, where it may be too challenging to completely decarbonize. Advancing these carbon capture and carbon removal pathways responsibly will require robust monitoring, reporting and verification systems; prioritizing meaningful public participation; and maximizing safety and co-benefits for surrounding communities.
Participants in the Carbon Management Challenge:
- Will carry the message that carbon management, in addition to traditional mitigation efforts, is integral to keeping pathways that limit warming to 1.5°C within reach.
- Agree on the urgent need to scale up carbon management, striving towards gigaton scale, a global goal of advancing projects by 2030 that will collectively manage at least 1 Gt CO2 annually.
- Aim to take action, as appropriate, to support scale up, such as pursuing or planning to pursue one or more of the following opportunities:
Opportunities to Advance Carbon Management
Participating governments may choose to take action, under the auspices of the Carbon Management Challenge, such as in the following ways:
Joining Collaborative Efforts:
- Advocate for advancing policies and efforts that support carbon management technology and infrastructure development.
- Participate in multilateral initiatives such as the MI CDR Mission, MI Net Zero Industries Mission, CEM Industrial Deep Decarbonization Initiative, and CEM CCUS Initiative.
Building Project Demonstration:
- Announce progress on demonstrations and deployments of carbon capture, use, and storage and/or carbon removal projects.
Setting National Targets or Initiatives:
- Set cumulative or annual carbon capture deployment and/or carbon removal project targets by 2030.
- Update or clarify nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to include specific expectations for carbon capture, use, and storage and/or carbon removal milestones.
- Quantify the role of carbon management technologies in national long-term development strategy.
- Set targets for percentage of total CO2 emissions permanently stored by 2030.
Developing Policy:
- Provide resources and funding for carbon management initiatives, including for CO2 transport and storage infrastructure hubs and measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification.
- Expand incentives for carbon capture, use, and storage and/or carbon removal projects.
- Improve permitting of CO2 storage and transport projects.
- Establish comprehensive legal and regulatory frameworks for carbon capture, use, and storage and/or carbon removal projects.