Letter on carbon: Weathering the CO₂ storm

Policymakers should consider backing enhanced weathering as a CDR technique with benefits to the agricultural sector

The carbon dioxide removal (CDR) sector is a hotbed of innovation. Research into engineered and nature-based techniques is gathering momentum as developers eye the potential to generate carbon credits and governments widen their search for ways to meet their net-zero commitments. One of the CDR techniques making an increasingly convincing case for private sector and government backing is enhanced weathering (EW). In most cases, the process works as follows: pulverised rock dust is spread on large areas of agricultural land, which is then rained on. Rainwater contains atmospheric carbon dioxide, and when water is put together with carbon dioxide this forms carbonic acid and free protons. The