General objectives

RESCUE will expand existing knowledge on CDR methods, to design a suite of new global temperature stabilization scenarios at several target values to achieve the first objective. New model developments will deliver improved climate projections with explicit representation of CDR portfolios for these scenarios. The analyses will be devoted to finding suitable pathways to climate neutrality considering multiple aspects of the Earth system response: mean climate and extremes, sea-level rise, global carbon cycling, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Particular attention will be paid to the reversibility of induced changes by comparing scenarios with and without temperature overshoot. The second objective will be achieved by analyzing the scenario outcomes to identify the factors which determine overall effectiveness, impacts and co- benefits of CDR portfolios. These factors include CDR-specific CO2 uptake, CDR-induced biogeophysical climate feedbacks, CDR-derived non-CO2 radiative forcers, and the interaction between socio-economic and environmental impacts (e.g., biodiversity). Moreover, a dedicated research effort will provide key criteria for developing a monitoring system for the effectiveness of CDR portfolio deployments and their potential side effects. Stakeholders will be closely engaged throughout the project to ensure policy relevance and final update of the results which will be made freely available via existing climate services.

CMCC role

CMCC participates in WP3, WP4, WP5, WP6 and WP7

Activities

ODA:  Earth system model simulations with interactive CDRs for selected scenarios (Lead of WP3); Climatic and environmental consequences of scenarios to achieve climate neutrality including net negative emissions (WP4); Recommendations for improving global observing systems to monitor collective CDR effectiveness (WP5); Dissemination, policy dialogue and exploitation for climate services (WP6); Project Management (WP7- Task 7.4. Data Management Plan).

CSP: Participation in Earth system model simulations with interactive CDRs for selected scenarios (WP3); Climatic and environmental consequences of scenarios to achieve climate neutrality including net negative emissions (WP4); Recommendations for improving global observing systems to monitor collective CDR effectiveness (WP5); Dissemination, policy dialogue and exploitation for climate services (WP6)

Expected results

ODA: Projections of CDR portfolios that enable to reach climate neutrality with full quantification of Earth System feedbacks and identification of the role of the ocean in terms of carbon and heat buffer as well as acidification. 

CSP: Projections of land CDR portfolios aiming at climate neutrality; quantification of Earth System feedbacks; identification of indexes to evaluate CDR effectiveness; identification of the role of land in terms of carbon storage.