Carbon Direct Unveils First Empirical Baseline on Carbon Dioxide Removal and Environmental Justice in the US

First-of-its-kind analysis provides critical insights for equitable climate action as CDR scales nationwide

NEW YORK – (BUSINESS WIRE) – Carbon Direct, in collaboration with McKnight Foundation, today announced the release of its landmark report, Carbon Dioxide Removal and Environmental Justice in the United States: A landscape analysis of race, class, and environmental burden metrics. This is the first comprehensive study to empirically assess the intersection of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) project siting and environmental justice (EJ) in the U.S., providing essential data to inform future climate policy, investment, and project development.

Read the Report ->

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Key Findings:

• No Systematic Pattern of Environmental Injustice in CDR Siting: Carbon Direct’s analysis of 342 CDR projects found no evidence that these projects are disproportionately located in low-income or BIPOC communities—a sharp contrast to legacy infrastructure such as hazardous waste facilities, which have historically burdened frontline communities.

• Place-Based Impacts Remain Critical: While no overarching pattern exists, individual CDR projects, including nature-based, hybrid, and engineered pathways, are sited near some communities with high environmental burdens. This underscores the need for nuanced, place-based engagement and robust safeguards to prevent harm and ensure benefits.

• A Narrow Window to Embed Equity: With the CDR sector still in its infancy, and because most removal credits have yet to be delivered, there is a unique opportunity to proactively shape siting, engagement, and benefit-sharing practices that prevent future injustice.

• A Baseline for Environmental Justice in CDR: This report establishes the first empirical baseline for understanding how CDR projects interact with frontline communities, providing foundational data to guide the sector’s equitable growth.

• Philanthropy and Private Sector Leadership Needed: As federal priorities shift, philanthropy and private actors can fill critical gaps by investing in community capacity, supporting technical assistance, and setting equity expectations for CDR projects.

A Critical Moment for Carbon Removal and Equity

Meeting the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target will not only require rapid emissions reductions, but also the large-scale removal of carbon dioxide, up to 10 billion tonnes annually by 2050. As CDR technologies move from theory to implementation, the question of whether these projects will scale equitably or repeat past patterns of environmental injustice is paramount.

"Infrastructure for a clean and healthy society has too often come at the expense of frontline communities," said Dr. Grant Gutierrez, Head of Community Impacts at Carbon Direct and lead author of the report. "Our analysis shows that CDR projects do not yet follow these harmful patterns. The choices made today will shape the social fabric of carbon removal for generations."

Implications for Policy, Industry, and Communities

• For Policymakers and Advocates: The report offers data-driven insights to inform advocacy, policy development, and the design of evaluation frameworks that prioritize equity in CDR deployment.

• For Project Developers and Investors: Findings establish baseline expectations and highlight the importance of community engagement and equitable benefit-sharing as the sector scales.

• For Philanthropy and Private Sector: The research identifies under-resourced communities likely to be engaged in future CDR development, guiding targeted support for technical assistance and community-led planning.

"This report provides an incredibly important first step to ensure that emerging climate technologies like carbon dioxide removal are centering people, equity, justice, and community engagement," said Sarah Christiansen, Director of Strategic Climate Initiatives at McKnight Foundation. "As we build exciting new climate solutions and a clean economy, we have the power to build projects with communities, not at their expense—that’s how we’ll make this transition truly just."

A Foundation for Future Research and Action

While the study finds no current disproportionate impact of CDR projects on frontline communities, it highlights the importance of ongoing research and vigilance as the industry evolves. The report calls for:

• Supporting community-led CDR initiatives that prioritize local leadership and tangible benefits.

• Building technical and advocacy capacity in frontline communities to ensure meaningful engagement and protections.

• Examining the full spectrum of CDR impacts, including economic, environmental, and social dimensions, to ensure net positive outcomes.

Read the report: Carbon Dioxide Removal and Environmental Justice in the United States ->

Read the blog: Is carbon removal siting equitable? A landscape analysis ->

Report Methodology

Carbon Direct analyzed 342 CDR projects registered in seven major voluntary carbon market (VCM) registries across the United States, combining these project data with EJScreen data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to explore the question: are CDR projects disproportionately located in frontline communities in the U.S.? By layering project locations with demographic and environmental burden data and examining the census tracts surrounding these CDR projects—specifically evaluating indicators such as race, income, and pollution burden—the study aimed to assess potential patterns of environmental injustice.

About Carbon Direct

Carbon Direct is the leader in science-based carbon management, helping emerging and established climate leaders like Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, American Express, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, JetBlue, and The Russell Family Foundation drive scalable and just impact through deep decarbonization strategies and carbon dioxide removal. With Carbon Direct’s scientific approach, organizations can confidently set targets and measure their emissions, implement reductions across their operations and supply chain, and build high-quality carbon dioxide removal into their climate plans to accelerate impact. To learn more visit: www.carbon-direct.com.

About McKnight Foundation

The McKnight Foundation, a Minnesota-based family foundation, advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive. Established in 1953, the McKnight Foundation is deeply committed to advancing climate solutions in the Midwest; building an equitable and inclusive Minnesota; and supporting the arts and culture in Minnesota, neuroscience, and global food systems. McKnight is also committed to creating a net zero endowment by 2050, and to date has over half of its endowment aligned with its mission, including a \$500 million climate solutions portfolio. To learn more visit: www.mcknight.org.