intro

CDRANet is the convener behind the Athens Declaration. Released in May 2025, this declaration is the first-ever international policy agreement focused specifically on carbon dioxide removal. Developed collaboratively by a group of 275 experts and institutions from around the world—spanning 20 stakeholder groups, 35 countries, and over 200 institutions—the declaration provides a science-based, action-oriented roadmap for responsible CDR implementation. It is a nonbinding agreement that complements, rather than replaces, other climate frameworks, and is intended as a practical tool for governments, institutions, and civil society to use and adapt.

why its needed

Despite growing interest and investment in CDR, no existing treaty or agreement offers a comprehensive approach to its governance. Most international frameworks either omit carbon removal entirely or treat it as a peripheral issue. The Athens Declaration changes that. It places CDR at the center of climate repair and provides a structured yet flexible policy roadmap for aligning national and global actions.

how it differs

Unlike the Paris Agreement or Kyoto Protocol, the Athens Declaration is not a binding treaty. It functions as a “soft-law” instrument—meant to align and guide rather than regulate. It is also unique in its breadth, covering not just targets and technologies, but ethics, finance, governance, and equity. It is a true multi-stakeholder framework designed for an evolving policy space.

two parts

The Athens Declaration is a high-level, values-based statement of shared principles and political intent. It affirms the need for urgent, equitable, and responsible carbon removal, much like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights framed common values before legal codification. The companion Athens Declaration Policy Framework is a separate and more detailed document. Also nonbinding like the declaration, the policy framework is the first draft of a policy recommendation (designed by CDRANet) to help governments, institutions, and communities turn the declaration’s principles into action. The next steps for this framework will involve getting broader global feedback and building a coalition of country and institution partners to begin building and testing the implementation framework.

TOP 10 POLICY FRAMEWORK PRIORITIES

CDR must be fully integrated into the global climate agenda—reflected in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), national strategies, and international agreements—as an essential complement to emissions reduction, both to stabilize global temperatures and eventually restore our climate to safe conditions. See also Ch. 2, Sec. 3, Art. 1 and Ch. 3, Sec. 1, Art. 1.

Governments at all levels—including through public-private partnerships—must play a central role in scaling CDR. This includes de-risking early deployment, investing in first-of-a-kind (FOAK) projects, supporting enabling infrastructure, streamlining permitting, addressing legal and regulatory barriers, and embedding CDR in policy frameworks. See also Ch. 2, Sec. 2, Art. 1–2; also Ch. 2, Sec. 3, Art. 4 and Ch. 3, Sec. 1, Art. 2 and 5.

We need a coherent international framework to align standards, facilitate data sharing, enable oversight, and avoid fragmentation. Global coordination is critical for the efficiency, equity, and legitimacy of CDR. Built-in mechanisms for accountability and progress review must be core to this effort. See also Ch. 2, Sec. 1, Art. 3 and Ch. 3, Sec. 1, Art. 2–3.

Carbon removal markets must evolve from fragmented voluntary initiatives to robust, high-integrity systems—including regulated and, where feasible, mandatory mechanisms. These should prioritize real removals aligned with climate goals. Broader financial reforms (e.g., insurance, credit, public finance) must also adapt to support CDR. See also Ch. 2, Sec. 2, Art. 1–6.

A harmonized system for monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) is essential for transparency, trust, and enforcement. MRV frameworks should cover full carbon lifecycles, operate across jurisdictions, ensure data accessibility, and distinguish between emissions reductions, removals and avoidance. See also Ch. 2, Sec. 1, Art. 1 and 3; Ch. 2, Sec. 2, Art. 3; and Ch. 2, Sec. 4, Art. 3–4.

Scaling CDR can drive job creation, industrial innovation, community resilience, and sustainable development. Public and private investment should be aligned to maximize these benefits and support just economic transitions. See also Ch. 2, Sec. 2, Art. 6 and Ch. 3, Sec. 2, Art. 4.

CDR governance must weigh the risks of various approaches against the escalating risks of climate inaction. Adaptive, opportunity-aware policies are needed to safeguard against harm without slowing critical progress. See also Ch. 2, Sec. 4, Art. 1–4.

Equity must guide decisions about financing, access, and benefit-sharing. Transparent engagement with communities—especially those historically marginalized—is essential to earn public trust and ensure legitimacy in CDR development. See also Ch. 2, Sec. 4, Art. 6 and Ch. 3, Sec. 2, Art. 1 and 5.

All scientifically credible CDR methods should be eligible for support under clear, accountable rules. Policy frameworks should preserve technology neutrality while enforcing rigorous environmental and social safeguards. See also Ch. 2, Sec. 1, Art. 2–3.

CDR must supplement, not undermine, urgent efforts to cut emissions. Policies must guard against moral hazard, and prevent misleading claims about climate impact, or excessive reliance on removals or avoidance. See also Ch. 1, Sec. 2, Art. 1; Ch. 2, Sec. 2, Art. 3; and Ch. 2, Sec. 3, Art. 2.

implementation

We’re currently turning our focus to helping governments, institutions, and communities put the Athens Declaration into practice. Our strategy includes five priorities:

  1. Support for National and Regional Strategies: We assist governments and subnational actors in aligning their CDR policies with the Athens Declaration, building shared capacity across borders.
  2. Policy Tools and Templates: CDRANet is developing adaptable legal frameworks, MRV protocols, and governance templates that can be used or adapted by jurisdictions at different stages of readiness.
  3. Pilots and Demonstration Programs: We identify, support, and promote early projects that test governance principles and institutional arrangements in real-world settings.
  4. Partnership Building: We connect funders, developers, communities, researchers, and civil society groups to foster collaboration and avoid duplication.
  5. Global Learning and Transparency: We support open access to knowledge through workshops, convenings, case studies, and platforms for shared progress tracking

tHE ATHENS DECLARATION

Our planet’s climate is changing rapidly. Rising temperatures are altering the natural systems that support life, human society, and our global economy.

To confront these changes with the urgency and effectiveness they demand, we must complement our carbon dioxide reduction efforts with carbon dioxide removal as soon as possible.

The best available science behind this course of action is clear:

  • The past decade has been the warmest in recorded history. In 2024, our planet’s average surface temperature measured 1.55 °C above pre-industrial levels, likely the first full year above the 1.5 °C threshold set by the Paris Agreement. Without immediate and sustained intervention, temperatures will continue to rise.
  • The social, economic and environmental impacts of rising temperatures are already severe and will only intensify in coming years.
  • Greenhouse gases—especially carbon dioxide—are the main drivers of global warming. Excessive amounts of carbon dioxide have accumulated in our atmosphere over the past two centuries and will continue to trap heat for generations.
  • Reducing emissions remains an essential part of our long-term climate strategy, but emissions reduction alone is not enough. The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has advised for decades that carbon dioxide removal (CDR) must also play a critical role.

CDR is essential, and will help us achieve net zero emissions more rapidly, while also helping us restore long-term balance to our planet’s altered natural systems. But CDR technologies and systems are still emerging. Refining and scaling our CDR capabilities will require significant time, investment, and international cooperation.

By this declaration, and on behalf of all people everywhere, we pledge to engage in this global challenge together, across borders and in common cause, to develop CDR as a critical complement to emissions reduction. We will support ongoing climate action while advancing research, accelerating innovation, and building the infrastructure, institutions, and governance mechanisms needed for the urgent, responsible, and equitable removal of excess carbon dioxide from our planet’s atmosphere.

We further pledge to help develop a flexible, sustainable global plan for this carbon dioxide removal effort. The companion to this declaration—the Athens Declaration Policy Framework—offers a first draft of this plan, outlining key areas for coordination across research, finance, industry, government, and civil society. The Athens Declaration Policy Framework is a starting point, and will evolve over time through our ongoing global dialogue and lessons of experience.

We have reached a pivotal point in human history—one that calls for trust in science, global solidarity, shared responsibility, and bold, united action, without which the human experience on our planet will become uniquely challenging. By this declaration, we choose to act now so we can protect our present, and preserve a livable future for generations yet to come.

upcoming