From Diverse Perspectives to Informed Policymaking – An Interdisciplinary Perspective on the Assessment of DACCS and Other Terrestrial CDR Technologies

Implementing, integrating, and upscaling carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies is fundamental to meeting climate goals. To ensure climate benefits and avoid burden-shifting, CDR technologies need to be systematically assessed. This study presents key performance indicators and "showstoppers" for the assessment of CDR technologies considering the technical, environmental, economic, and social dimensions. From a literature review, we tailor an assessment framework specific to direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS). Based on the knowledge gained from the tailored indicator set for DACCS, we derive KPIs and "showstoppers" that shall serve as an initial starting point for further comprehensive comparative assessment frameworks of CDR technologies in general. We integrate learnings such as data availability gaps that can restrict indicator assessment, the partly limited scope of CDR technology assessments in literature as well as the most relevant hotspots of CDR technologies described in CDR technology assessments. The DACCS-tailored assessment framework and the CDR technology KPIs and "showstoppers" are intended to guide assessments of CDR technologies, and DACCS in particular, and to help evaluators reflect on the choice of assessment indicators. The CDR technology KPIs and "showstoppers" also highlight critical aspects that need to be considered in feasibility assessments and political decision-making processes. Finally, we derive recommendations for improving the accessibility of the identified KPIs and "showstoppers". The presented review aims to facilitate the systematic assessment of CDR technologies to be able to then inform the effective, efficient, and sustainable deployment of CDR technologies.