Drivers & Barriers for Corporate Adoption of Engineered Carbon Dioxide Removals

Sammanfattning

The Paris Agreement established the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, and most mitigation pathways consistent with this target rely on significant deployment of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) to address emissions that are hard to eliminate. As a growing number of corporations commit to net-zero targets, CDR is increasingly positioned as a necessary tool for neutralising the emissions that remain once internal reductions have been exhausted. Yet the market for engineered CDR remains at an early stage, and corporate engagement with these solutions is limited despite rising expectations. This thesis examines how Nordic high-emitting firms address and engage with engineered CDR, and what drivers and barriers shape their adoption. The study draws on an exploratory qualitative research design, comprising 19 semi-structured interviews across seven sectors, analysed through a thematic approach. Across the sample, three companies had already engaged with engineered CDR, while 16 had not at the time of the interviews. The empirical findings show that firms broadly position engineered CDR as a complement to internal emission reductions, relevant in the future rather than the present. Among the factors motivating engagement, four driver themes were identified: climate commitments, external pressure, internal conviction, and strategic positioning. On the barrier side, five themes were identified: economic constraints, strategic hesitation, credibility concerns, market uncertainty, and internal complexity. For most firms, these barriers currently outweigh the drivers, meaning that the future necessity of engineered CDR is broadly acknowledged while active engagement remains limited. The study offers an empirical account of the buyer-side perspective on engineered CDR and contributes to research on sustainability transitions and technology diffusion.