The leader in the space is Swiss company Climeworks, which operates a Direct Air Capture plant and actually performs the process of CO₂ removal and underground storage based on your purchase. Read on for instructions on giving carbon removals, plus other great environmentally friendly gift ideas this holiday season. First things first, what exactly are we talking about here? Carbon removal is such a mainstay of media coverage and corporate talking points that it can be easy to lose track of what exactly the various technologies are, and why they’re being deployed as a tool in the climate change fight. Also: The best green phones Direct air capture (DAC) is a technology able to capture carbon dioxide directly from the air and, when it is combined with storage (DAC+S), it is possible to physically remove the CO₂ from the atmosphere, as it is pumped deep underground safely and permanently. This technology can be used anywhere in the world and, when powered by renewable energy, it’s one of the purest forms of carbon dioxide removal. You may have heard of Swiss company Climeworks from its first-generation business model, which involved reselling CO₂ to soda companies like Coca-Cola. The company has shifted its operations to DAC+S, which it considers a crucial move in combating climate change. This year Climeworks raised $650 million to support its operations. Part of its business model? Selling carbon removal to conscientious private consumers, including as giftable credits.
How to give carbon removal credits this holiday season
Is carbon capture a viable solution?
There is compelling criticism of carbon capture, which is that it actually enables industries to ramp up carbon emissions while still hitting emissions targets. Ultimately, even many supporters of carbon capture don’t tout it as a solution, but rather a mitigation technology (and a fairly complicated one to boot) to help redress some of the damage caused by carbon-burning industries. How efficiently does it do that? It’s actually pretty impressive. Here’s a great rundown from MIT you might want to check out. Climeworks also offers monthly plans for ongoing supporters. To date, about 17,000 people have signed up for one of the plans. Also: The best indoor plants And you know what else captures CO₂ from the air? Trees! Give the gift of trees planted in U.S. National Forests. The Trees Remember is a nonprofit that makes planting trees in National Forests a priority. Alternatively, One Tree Planted gives gifts of newly planted trees in multiples of 1, 20, 50, and more. Or maybe you’re old-school and want to put something shiny under the tree? Gifting transportation technologies like bikes and e-bikes can help reduce reliance on cars for quick chores and even longer commutes. And since exposure to the outdoors is often a catalyst for environmental stewardship, nothing beats a pair of hiking boots or awesome camping tech. Also: The 5 best electric bikes
Are these gifts tax-deductible?
A Climeworks gift card is not tax-deductible, as Climeworks isn’t a qualifying nonprofit organization. However, if you donate to one of the non-profit organizations listed in the alternatives section above, your donation is likely tax-deductible for those who itemize deductions on their tax return.
Are there any tools for calculating your carbon footprint?
Yup, there are many out there, including ones from Climeworks. The biggest polluters by far remain fossil fuel-burning industries, but you might be surprised how much of an impact individuals have.
