Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation), released the Australian Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Roadmap in November 2025 explaining the potential for a novel CDR industry that guides the country to reach its net zero target by 2050.
Beyond the climate benefits, the roadmap signals a growing landscape of business opportunities to make carbon removal as a strategic consideration for businesses planning for the future.
What carbon dioxide removal (CDR) actually is
Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is all about taking CO₂ (carbon dioxide) out of the atmosphere simultaneously with its release and locking it away for the long term. Storing it in geological, land or ocean reservoirs, or even products. Think of it as cleaning up the existing CO₂ emission in the atmosphere, not just stopping new emissions.
To meet the Paris Agreement goals, cutting emissions alone is not enough. According to CSIRO, CDR is necessary for balancing out emissions from burning fossil fuels and industries that are hard to fully eliminate.
All efforts and strategies are needed to reduce emissions to 62–70% below 2005 levels by 2035 and reach net zero by 2050.
Inside CSIRO’s CDR roadmap
CDR roadmap brings integrated CDR solutions for Australia and represents major global collaborations to reach net zero goal.
Australia’s next climate frontier
To reach net zero, Australia will need to remove 133–200 megatonnes of CO₂ each year to 2050, depending on the volume of emissions reduced. Both conventional and novel CDR approaches will be required.
Conventional CDR techniques, such as afforestation, reforestation, and soil carbon sequestration, are already contributing to Australia’s progress on climate change and supporting nature at the same time. But these approaches have limits because they need a lot of land, can compete with farming and other uses, and are affected by droughts or bushfires.
By contrast, novel CDR approaches offer the chance to remove much larger amounts of CO₂ using less land and storing it for much longer. The technologies are still being developed and might come with higher costs, but they are likely to be a key part of reaching net zero.
New technologies gaining momentum
CSIRO’s roadmap looks at several promising CDR technologies options, including:
- direct air capture
- biomass-based carbon removal
- ocean alkalinity enhancement
- and enhanced rock weathering.
The combined technologies are projected to remove up to 330Mt of CO₂ per year by 2050, which is more than enough to meet Australia’s expected carbon removal needs.
Even though some of these technologies are still at an early stage of development, we are still well placed to support large-scale deployment. Thanks to the strong geographic advantages like vast mineral resources and abundant renewable energy there are ample opportunities for scaling up the novel technologies. Further advances, such as mineral carbonation, could add even more benefits.
Leading novel CDR
As Dr Andrew Lenton, Director of CSIRO’s CarbonLock initiative and a co-author of the report, notes, “Australia’s natural resources and renewable energy assets provide a unique value proposition for large-scale deployment.”
Australia has all the right foundations to lead the world in novel CDR with rich natural resources, a strong industrial base, a skilled workforce, and trusted global partnerships. Novel CDR could help Australia to:
- meet its own net zero targets while supporting global climate goals
- create new industries that diversify the economy and strengthen regional communities
- boost international competitiveness in emerging climate technologies
- open up new opportunities in global carbon markets
- play a leading role in global climate action.
From roadmap to real opportunity for Australian business
The roadmap sets out key milestones and actions needed over the next two decades for building a novel CDR industry in Australia.
More than just a climate tool, CDR approaches show major economic opportunities waiting to grow in Australia. This scale opens the door for Australia to participate in international carbon markets and build entirely new value chains around low‑carbon industries.
For businesses, this shift means it’s time to start thinking about where CDR fits into long‑term planning. The roadmap points to the need for new infrastructure, early deployment sites, and strong supply chains that later create real opportunities for businesses ready to get involved.
How to take advantage of this opportunity
As CDR shifts from concept to commercial landscape, businesses will need clear, practical guidance on how these technologies fit into their net zero strategies. This is where Arche adds value.
With deep experience across energy, infrastructure and project due diligence, Arche works with businesses to turn the complexity of CDR into clear, actionable steps to stay ahead for the next generation of climate solutions.