Sharing emissions and removals for meeting the Paris Agreement through a distributive and corrective justice lens
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Li, Mingyu
Wang, Rui
Zheng, Xinzhu
Wang, Can
Rogelj, Joeri
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is critical for achieving net-zero and net-negative CO2 emissions that can halt and potentially reverse global warming, respectively. However, reliable CDR is still costly and comes with considerable technological and ecological uncertainties. Despite the centrality of equity in the Paris Agreement, no integrated framework exists to equitably allocate responsibilities for CDR and residual emissions among countries. Here, we present a justice-based framework that separates out ethical considerations for equitably allocating gross emissions and gross CDR, addressing how these contributions shift before and after reaching global net-zero CO2 emissions. The framework distinguishes between CDR delivered as a common good to reach a collective global climate outcome, and CDR that is used to pay off carbon debts due to emissions overconsumption. We offer a new perspective for how nations with substantial historical responsibilities and emerging economies with increasing capacities can collaborate and equitably share the CDR burden, enhancing both international cooperation and national-level climate action.
Date Issued
2025-10-01
Date Acceptance
2025-08-26
Citation
Environmental Research Letters, 2025, 20 (10)
ISSN
1748-9326
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Journal / Book Title
Environmental Research Letters
Volume
20
Issue
10
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
License URL
Subjects
carbon dioxide removal
CARBON-DIOXIDE REMOVAL
CLIMATE MITIGATION
corrective justice
distributive justice
Environmental Sciences
Environmental Sciences & Ecology
fair sharing
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Physical Sciences
PRINCIPLES
Science & Technology
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
104028
Date Publish Online
2025-09-11