Climate change is no longer a distant problem—it’s here, and it’s accelerating. While cutting emissions remains essential, scientists agree that removing carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere is now unavoidable. That’s why today’s announcement of the Carbon XPRIZE is such a big deal.
The Carbon XPRIZE is a bold, global competition designed to jump-start an entirely new industry: durable, scalable carbon dioxide removal. Sponsored by the Musk Foundation and run by XPRIZE, this four-year, $100 million prize challenges teams around the world to prove they can remove CO₂ from the air or oceans—at real scale, with real science behind it.
At Climatewise Living, we see this as one of the most important climate initiatives of the decade.
Why the Carbon XPRIZE Exists
Carbon dioxide makes up more than two-thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions, and excess CO₂ is the main driver of climate change. Even if emissions were cut dramatically tomorrow, the CO₂ already in the atmosphere would continue to warm the planet for decades.
To avoid the worst impacts—rising seas, prolonged droughts, and increasingly extreme weather—the world must develop carbon removal systems that work at massive scale. That means not just ideas, but technologies that can operate reliably, affordably, and safely.
The Carbon XPRIZE was created to force that leap from theory to reality.
What Teams Must Prove to Compete
This is not a paper competition. Teams must demonstrate real carbon removal in the real world.
To qualify, teams must:
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Remove at least 1,000 metric tons of CO₂ per year
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Store that carbon durably for 100 years or more
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Account for all emissions, including energy use and expected re-emissions
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Show net carbon removal, not just gross capture
Only carbon removal that would not happen without intervention counts. In other words, no credit for business-as-usual processes.
Carbon can be stored as CO₂ itself (for example, underground) or converted into another stable form, such as minerals or biochar—but it must remain safely locked away for at least a century.
How “Net Carbon Removal” Is Measured
One of the most important aspects of the Carbon XPRIZE is its strict accounting rules.
Teams must calculate net removal by:
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Measuring total CO₂ captured
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Subtracting expected re-emissions over 100 years
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Subtracting emissions from the process itself, such as energy use
This ensures that only true climate benefits are rewarded—not accounting tricks or offset-style claims.
A Focus on Transparency and Science
To advance in the competition, teams must submit detailed technical documentation, including:
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Process flow diagrams
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Mass and energy balances
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Lifecycle emissions analysis
Each team must also demonstrate a key component of its system—such as CO₂ capture, mineral deployment, biomass cultivation, or durable storage—and operate it long enough to prove stable performance.
Most importantly, all claims must be verified by independent third-party experts who have no financial or technical ties to the teams they evaluate. These verifiers assess everything from data quality to environmental impacts, ensuring the competition maintains scientific credibility.
What Kinds of Solutions Are Expected?
The Carbon XPRIZE is intentionally open-ended. Teams can pursue a wide range of approaches, including:
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Capturing CO₂ directly from the air
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Removing CO₂ from surface ocean water
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Converting CO₂ into rock or minerals
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Using plants, algae, or biomass to lock away carbon
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Deploying minerals that chemically bind CO₂
The only requirement is that the carbon removal is measurable, durable, and scalable.
Why This Matters for the Future
This competition is about more than awarding prize money. It’s about building trust in carbon removal at a time when skepticism is justified.
By demanding transparency, third-party verification, and long-term durability, the Carbon XPRIZE aims to:
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Separate real solutions from hype
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Lower costs through deployment and learning
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Create a foundation for a legitimate carbon removal market
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Accelerate technologies that could remove gigatons of CO₂ per year
In short, it’s designed to turn carbon removal from a niche idea into a climate-critical industry.
The Big Picture
The Carbon XPRIZE signals a shift in how the world approaches climate action. Cutting emissions remains essential—but removing legacy carbon is now unavoidable.
By setting clear rules, demanding real-world proof, and rewarding scalable solutions, this competition could reshape how humanity responds to climate change.
At Climatewise Living, we’ll be following the Carbon XPRIZE closely—because understanding what works, what doesn’t, and what scales will matter for everyone navigating a changing climate in the years ahead.
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