Carbon sequestration: Utrecht
For the province of Utrecht, New Economy explored whether carbon sequestration can strengthen the economy, nature and climate. The market exploration shows that carbon sequestration can become an organising principle for the Utrecht economy: proven and affordable natural sequestration linked to biodiversity, nitrogen and water quality. The report is part of the national carbon sequestration market exploration.
Do not compensate, create
The strongest gains come from a sequestration strategy alongside emission reduction, with proven, affordable and directly applicable natural sequestration connected to biodiversity, nitrogen and water quality. In that role, carbon sequestration becomes an organising principle for the Utrecht economy.
Key points for Utrecht
For Utrecht, the report states that a sequestration strategy is needed alongside the reduction strategy. This means giving priority to proven, affordable and directly applicable forms of natural green carbon sequestration, while carefully assessing which technological grey options are genuinely relevant.
An integrated approach is essential. Carbon sequestration needs to connect with urgent provincial tasks such as biodiversity, nitrogen and water quality. Cooperation between public and private parties is central to using the economic and ecological potential.
Active methods
The provincial report uses the same ten IPCC-based method categories as the national exploration. Natural sequestration receives priority because these methods are proven, affordable and directly applicable. Technological options such as CCS, CCU, BECCS and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) require careful assessment of relevance, permanence and spatial fit.
Related explainer: CCS, CCU, BECCS and CDR explained.
Downloads and source files
This report translates the Dutch market exploration on carbon sequestration into opportunities and policy questions for Utrecht.
The report recommends a sequestration strategy alongside emission reduction, with priority for proven, affordable and directly applicable natural carbon sequestration connected to biodiversity, nitrogen and water quality.
The report uses ten IPCC-based methods and distinguishes natural green sequestration from technological grey sequestration such as CCS, CCU, BECCS and carbon dioxide removal (CDR).
The provincial report uses the national market exploration figures: around €31 billion in estimated societal value per year, around 36 Mton CO₂ sequestration potential per year and €429 billion in cumulative value up to 2050.