The Nordics as Europe’s carbon removal hub

The global climate deficit is growing fast, necessitating urgent action to avoid the worst effects of climate change. While emission reductions remain crucial, large-scale deployment of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) has become an essential complement. The Nordics are uniquely positioned to lead in this field, leveraging their natural endowments, strong regulatory frameworks, and early engagement in CDR.

An Implement Consulting Group study commissioned by the Nordic Carbon Removal Association examines the potential for scaling a robust CDR ecosystem in the Nordic region, providing a blueprint for Nordic action.

Key findings of the study

• Economic growth and job creation: Successfully scaling a Nordic CDR ecosystem could contribute up to EUR 17 billion to Nordic GDP and support 148,000 high-quality jobs annually by 2050. This would position the Nordics as a major removal hub for Europe.
• Strategic advantages: The Nordic region combines access to geological storage of CO2, abundant renewable energy, well-developed district heating networks, making it ideal for scaling CDR methods such as BECCS, DACCS, biochar, DOC, and ERW.
• Policy recommendations: We propose nine targeted actions for policymakers to position the Nordics as Europe’s leading carbon removal hub. These include establishing clear roles for CDR, harnessing the voluntary carbon market, supporting the initial CDR value chains, and promoting a coordinated strategy for transport infrastructure.

The Nordics have the opportunity to lead Europe in carbon removal, driving economic growth and achieving climate targets more cost-efficiently. Collaborative efforts across the region will be essential in realising this potential and defining the global carbon removal landscape.