Stephanie Arcusa
@sarcusa.bsky.social
Climate scientist, carbon removal expert, measurement-monitoring-reporting-verification-remediation (2MRVR), carbon accounting. Based in Phoenix Arizona USA. Check out my research groups website: https://csm-rg.weebly.com/
@worldfuturecouncil.org @longnow.org @cser.bsky.social @coenergyoffice.bsky.social @microsoft.com #FutureGenerations #Carbonremoval
October 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Our conclusion: Societies may decide not to incorporate these principles into their policies. Current state of affairs which allows for short-term storage that is orphaned within decades implicitly has abandoned intergenerational equity at least in the context of climate change and its consequences.
October 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Our conclusion: Societies may decide not to incorporate these principles into their policies. Current state of affairs which allows for short-term storage that is orphaned within decades implicitly has abandoned intergenerational equity at least in the context of climate change and its consequences.
None of this is against short-term storage. Short-term storage can certainly be certified as storing C, but it needs to be understood that it does not eliminate the climate impact of a C emission, it delays it. Short-term storage may still be useful if followed by subsequent storage. buff.ly/jQLZbFR
Geological Net Zero and the need for disaggregated accounting for carbon sinks - Nature
Including passive CO2 uptake as an anthropogenic removal in greenhouse gas accounting systems could undermine the Paris Agreement; measures to address this include acknowledging the need for…
www.nature.com
October 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
None of this is against short-term storage. Short-term storage can certainly be certified as storing C, but it needs to be understood that it does not eliminate the climate impact of a C emission, it delays it. Short-term storage may still be useful if followed by subsequent storage. buff.ly/jQLZbFR
Beneficiaries: current generation, fossil fuel industry, users, and managers of short-term storage. Losers: future generation, competitors to fossil fuels and managers of long-term reservoirs. Payers: all of us or the fossil industry? Deciders: standardization cycle and advocates for the future.
October 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Beneficiaries: current generation, fossil fuel industry, users, and managers of short-term storage. Losers: future generation, competitors to fossil fuels and managers of long-term reservoirs. Payers: all of us or the fossil industry? Deciders: standardization cycle and advocates for the future.
The lack of standards that embrace such long timescales raises the question of what are the obstacles and how could they be overcome. We look at who benefits and loses from temporary storage, who pays and who decides.
October 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
The lack of standards that embrace such long timescales raises the question of what are the obstacles and how could they be overcome. We look at who benefits and loses from temporary storage, who pays and who decides.
What we really contribute is the articulation of why this matters and to us it boils down to (1) intergenerational equity and (2) the polluter-pays principle. A world that commits to these two principles into the distant future must assure that excess C is stored for climate-relevant timescales.
October 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
What we really contribute is the articulation of why this matters and to us it boils down to (1) intergenerational equity and (2) the polluter-pays principle. A world that commits to these two principles into the distant future must assure that excess C is stored for climate-relevant timescales.
We consider the climate commitment of excess C, including C released from storage, and repeat the observation made by many that societies will have to decide whether they accept responsibility for the impact on people and the environment, across social groups, geographic regions, and generations.
October 6, 2025 at 6:25 PM
We consider the climate commitment of excess C, including C released from storage, and repeat the observation made by many that societies will have to decide whether they accept responsibility for the impact on people and the environment, across social groups, geographic regions, and generations.
Note: this is not a dig at Microsoft or Stripe. They are currently one of the largest purchasers of carbon sequestration. Besides, it is hard to tell volunteers they are not doing enough. Permanence defined on climate-relevant timescales is better suited for regulation and compliance regimes.
October 6, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Note: this is not a dig at Microsoft or Stripe. They are currently one of the largest purchasers of carbon sequestration. Besides, it is hard to tell volunteers they are not doing enough. Permanence defined on climate-relevant timescales is better suited for regulation and compliance regimes.
For example, Microsoft and Stripe received proposals for carbon sequestration totaling 142 million tons in 2020 and 2021. Tallying the length of time indicated by each proposal for how long the operator would look after the storage reveals how quickly the carbon would be orphaned: 50% in 30 years.
October 6, 2025 at 6:25 PM
For example, Microsoft and Stripe received proposals for carbon sequestration totaling 142 million tons in 2020 and 2021. Tallying the length of time indicated by each proposal for how long the operator would look after the storage reveals how quickly the carbon would be orphaned: 50% in 30 years.
We also review a handful of entities for their definition of permanence. FYI this paper goes much more in depth on standards: buff.ly/nDKXj5e We find a large gap between science and standards.
Definitions and mechanisms for managing durability and reversals in standards and procurers of carbon dioxide removal - Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change
Carbon markets are expanding to include various forms of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR). Standards used in the certification of CDR must define the durability of removals and implement mechanisms to…
buff.ly
October 6, 2025 at 6:25 PM
We also review a handful of entities for their definition of permanence. FYI this paper goes much more in depth on standards: buff.ly/nDKXj5e We find a large gap between science and standards.
Science tells us (1) excess CO2 is the primary cause of climate change and (2) excess C is a millennial problem. The timescale is at a min several thousand years if we only worry about excess CO2 in the atmosphere and >>10,000 years if we include excess C in the ocean-biosphere-atmosphere system.
October 6, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Science tells us (1) excess CO2 is the primary cause of climate change and (2) excess C is a millennial problem. The timescale is at a min several thousand years if we only worry about excess CO2 in the atmosphere and >>10,000 years if we include excess C in the ocean-biosphere-atmosphere system.
This chapter was made possible by the leadership of Josh Burke and Ingrid Schulte in addition to important work by co-authors Leo Mercer and Dianne Hondeborg. #MRV
January 28, 2025 at 4:29 PM
This chapter was made possible by the leadership of Josh Burke and Ingrid Schulte in addition to important work by co-authors Leo Mercer and Dianne Hondeborg. #MRV
3) The chapter analyzed the interconnectedness of CDR protocols—who references whom. Most protocols seem to converge, with top references being the 2006 IPCC Guidelines, CDM, ISO 14064-2, WRI GHG Protocol, & Verra (cited by 2/3 of docs). Yet, 1/3 of protocols (mainly compliance) stand alone.
January 28, 2025 at 4:29 PM
3) The chapter analyzed the interconnectedness of CDR protocols—who references whom. Most protocols seem to converge, with top references being the 2006 IPCC Guidelines, CDM, ISO 14064-2, WRI GHG Protocol, & Verra (cited by 2/3 of docs). Yet, 1/3 of protocols (mainly compliance) stand alone.
2) An expert assessment of MRV across CDR methods reviewed metrics like quantification accuracy, confidence, research depth, protocols, and regulatory oversight, highlighting varied progress. While insightful, it’s important to note that assessments can be subjective, with differing conclusions.
January 28, 2025 at 4:29 PM
2) An expert assessment of MRV across CDR methods reviewed metrics like quantification accuracy, confidence, research depth, protocols, and regulatory oversight, highlighting varied progress. While insightful, it’s important to note that assessments can be subjective, with differing conclusions.
I was fortunate to co-author a chapter on monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) and reported on the big picture trends. 1) Over the last 20 years, most protocols have been developed for conventional methods, including afforestation, reforestation, and enhancement of land sinks.
January 28, 2025 at 4:29 PM
I was fortunate to co-author a chapter on monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) and reported on the big picture trends. 1) Over the last 20 years, most protocols have been developed for conventional methods, including afforestation, reforestation, and enhancement of land sinks.
Read more about carbon storage obligations from Carbon Balance: https://buff.ly/3Wshzfe
Carbon Balance Initiative
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January 21, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Read more about carbon storage obligations from Carbon Balance: https://buff.ly/3Wshzfe
The evolving CDR certification landscape involves many actors working to prove carbon is being removed to fight climate change. This brings opportunities for innovation, research, and business—but also great responsibility. Robust certification is key to ensuring carbon removal’s success. #CDR
January 14, 2025 at 4:29 PM
The evolving CDR certification landscape involves many actors working to prove carbon is being removed to fight climate change. This brings opportunities for innovation, research, and business—but also great responsibility. Robust certification is key to ensuring carbon removal’s success. #CDR
Tank Chen & Nadine Walsh @cdrfyi.bsky.social provided another update, focusing on "durable" CDR. They documented 35 protocols within this critical sector! Read their insights here: https://buff.ly/4fQrJ0c #CarbonRemoval #DurableStorage
Standards, Methodologies, and Protocols of Durable Carbon Removal
CDR.fyi is the reporting platform for the durable carbon removal market.
www.cdr.fyi
January 14, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Tank Chen & Nadine Walsh @cdrfyi.bsky.social provided another update, focusing on "durable" CDR. They documented 35 protocols within this critical sector! Read their insights here: https://buff.ly/4fQrJ0c #CarbonRemoval #DurableStorage
Leo Mercer & Josh Burke picked up the torch, publishing this excellent report: https://buff.ly/4fHyYqY 🌱 They later remade the map: https://buff.ly/4fHyXmU 🌍 Now documenting 65 protocol providers across 21 CDR activities! #MRV #NetZero
Strengthening MRV standards for greenhouse gas removals to improve climate change governance - Grantham Research Institute on climate change and the environment
This report seeks to identify the factors underpinning the monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of greenhouse gas removal (GGR) across the spectrum of biological, chemical and geochemical…
www.lse.ac.uk
January 14, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Leo Mercer & Josh Burke picked up the torch, publishing this excellent report: https://buff.ly/4fHyYqY 🌱 They later remade the map: https://buff.ly/4fHyXmU 🌍 Now documenting 65 protocol providers across 21 CDR activities! #MRV #NetZero
When I first published the CDR standards landscape, I worried it would be outdated before the ink dried—this space evolves so fast! But I needn’t have worried—others have built on this work, keeping it current and advancing the conversation. 🙌 #CarbonRemoval
January 14, 2025 at 4:29 PM
When I first published the CDR standards landscape, I worried it would be outdated before the ink dried—this space evolves so fast! But I needn’t have worried—others have built on this work, keeping it current and advancing the conversation. 🙌 #CarbonRemoval