The GGR Evaluation Framework
Welcome to the CO2RE Evaluation Framework, a science-based framework for the sustainable scale-up of carbon dioxide removal.
Cutting corners on carbon is not an option. Credible carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects are critical to balancing residual greenhouse gas emissions.
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Diagram of the Evaluation Framework
Holistic appraisal for sustainable robust and credible removals
The CO2RE Evaluation Framework was co-developed with our stakeholders to assess and compare CDR projects on a credible, coherent and consistent basis. It consists of four sustainability dimensions and three overarching governance dimensions.
The framework enables a granular and context-sensitive evaluation of CDR methods at the project level. This can be useful to navigate the trade-offs, co-benefits, and implementation challenges of different CDR options.
Overview of dimensions
The CDR evaluation framework brings together a set of harmonised, science-based indicators and evaluation criteria to evaluate how much CO₂ projects remove, for how long and whether these projects can sustainably scale-up.
Four “sustainability dimensions” focus on ensuring that carbon removal is genuinely viable for the planet and for society. The sustainability indicators test for: credible CO₂ removal; impacts and/or benefits for the natural environment; social perceptions of value; and interactions with the built environment, energy systems and materials.
Delivering on these four sustainability dimensions depends on three cross-cutting governance levers. Our governance indicators assess the robustness of monitoring, reporting, and verification, the legal regimes that support or control CDR, and the viability and sustainability of business models. See more detail on each dimension below and visit the Evaluation page for how we assess each dimension.
Sustainability dimensions
GHG Removals
Environmental impacts and co-benefits
Public perceptions
Human-made systems
Governance dimensions
Monitoring, Reporting and Verification
Legal regimes
Business models
Application examples
Data for CDR strategies varies in its availability and robustness depending on the type of CDR pursued and even the stage within a CDR project’s life cycle. Similarly, the co-benefits and tradeoffs associated with a CDR method can vary. We have assessed several CDR methods using our framework to determine potential for sustainable scale-up, and to identify where evaluation data is robust and where it is lacking.
Direct air carbon capture and storage
Technology that extracts CO₂ from the atmosphere and stores it in geological formations.
Data quality & availability across life cycle
More coming soon
Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage
Capture of CO₂ from growing biomass, harvest of biomass for energy production with carbon capture, and final geological storage of captured CO₂.
Data quality & availability across life cycle
More coming soon
Science-based framework co-developed with stakeholders
The framework has been co-produced with a wide variety of stakeholders, to derive a robust set of dimensions and indicators that are relevant to various decision-makers. Co-production of the evaluation framework has taken place over two key phases. In the first phase, indicators were tested for soundness and completeness at five stakeholder workshops, prior to the publication of the first version in May 2022 (α-testing). In a second phase (β-testing), further stakeholder workshops and a public workshop provided additional opportunities to co-evolve the indicators. During this second phase the indicators were also tested on actual projects through technical workshops with each of the five GGR-D demonstrator projects and with six projects from DESNZ’s GGR innovation programme. This allowed data availability across dimensions to be mapped. A second version of the evaluation framework is scheduled for August 2025.
Other research and engagement activities have fed into specific parts of the evaluation framework, including a stakeholder workshop on MRV in July 2023 and workshops on regulatory mapping during 2025. A cross-GGR-D programme working group on LCA-MRV has carried out detailed mapping of data quality for the Removal and Environmental dimensions. The work has had broader value: the data collection has enabled integration of GGR into the UK-Times model, while the wider LCA-MRV discussions fed into CO₂RE support to the UK government on Mission Innovation: MI-CDR LCA technical track and informed BSI’s minimum standards.
The development and improvement of indicators will continue over the duration of the GGR-D Programme, until October 2025, when the programme begins to wrap up. See below some key dates.
Team behind the Evaluation Framework
The evaluation framework development is coordinated by Dr Isabela Butnar, UCL. Each of these evaluation dimension is led by a member of CO2RE, in charge of ensuring that the indicators are scientifically sound and that the latest science is incorporated as we learn from our five Demonstrator projects and other GGR demonstration and use and in the UK and abroad. The leads are also coordinating the testing of each indicator set with a comprehensive set of stakeholders, to remain relevant over time.
Dr Isabela Butnar
UCL
Removal, and Evaluation Framework lead
Prof Stuart Hazeldine
University of Edinburgh
Permanence
Dr Jo House
University of Bristol
Environment and MRV
Dr Rob Bellamy
University of Manchester
Social
Prof Niall Mac Dowell
Imperial College London
Systems
Dr Aoife Brophy
University of Oxford
Business models
Navraj Singh Ghaleigh
University of Edinburgh
Legal