Three Carbon Removal Strategies That Can Strengthen Your Climate Commitments

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is no longer a future bet—it’s a critical part of today’s climate strategy. Whether you’re exploring your first carbon removal purchase or expanding an existing portfolio, there are practical ways to take action now, leveraging strong carbon removal strategies that build long-term value and impact.

Here are three carbon removal strategies where real progress is possible.

🌱 1. Start Small, Think Long-Term

Most of the headlines in CDR focus on large, high-dollar commitments from pioneering buyers. But for the majority of organizations, starting small and scaling gradually is the more realistic (and strategic) path forward. Even a few tons can lay the groundwork for future action.

Why it matters:
Smaller, well-structured purchases build institutional knowledge, reduce risk, and establish credibility. They also help expand the market by bringing in a more diverse set of buyers.

Tips for buyers:

• Source from trusted providers, like our portfolio of CDR solutions, which have met the Climate Vault Tech Chamber’s rigorous standards for quality, permanence, and innovation.
  
• Use small initial purchases to build internal momentum and buy-in, foster education, and inform future budget planning.
  
• Establish a clear growth roadmap that aligns with your climate commitments and business priorities.

Tips for suppliers and intermediaries:

• Offer starter packages with lower volume minimums, blended pricing, and optional scaling clauses.
  
• Provide onboarding resources to support first-time buyers, including FAQs and project information packages. 

How we help:

We match buyers with CDR projects that are rigorously vetted against the Tech Chamber Standards, like Carbon Lockdown and Octavia Carbon, making it easy to start small without compromising on quality or integrity.

📋 2. Smarter Milestones, Simpler Management

Performance milestones are an important tool in multi-year CDR contracts, but they can quickly become a management burden when each project requires a different framework. Standardization and third-party support can make a big difference.

Why it matters:
Consistent milestone structures help buyers track project development and monitor delivery and payment triggers while reducing administrative burden for both sides.

Tips for buyers:

• Where possible, align milestone frameworks across similar technologies and projects to streamline tracking and reduce complexity.
  
• Purchase from a respected organization, like Climate Vault Solutions, where the performance milestones, project documentation and verification are already taken care of across their portfolio.
  
• Build flexibility into your contracts to accommodate the pace of early-stage technologies without sacrificing accountability.

Tips for suppliers:

• Develop and share standardized milestone packages for common buyer concerns (e.g., permitting, storage validation, volume thresholds).
  
• Consider publishing anonymized examples of milestone documentation to accelerate buyer onboarding.

How we help:
We serve as a trusted intermediary between buyers and suppliers in our CDR portfolio, managing milestones, overseeing reporting, and ensuring buyers and suppliers stay aligned through each phase of the agreement.

⚒️ 3. Bridging the Registry Gap

Many new buyers assume that every CDR credit must be listed on a recognized registry before purchase, but that’s not always possible. In many cases, registry standards haven’t yet been developed for innovative technologies, or for projects that align with an existing standard, the onboarding process can be extensive and the timeline uncertain. In both cases, there is a gap in which projects may be actively removing carbon, but are unable to tap into critical carbon removal credit revenue streams because their credits are not yet listed on a registry.

Why it matters:
Off-registry credits can still be credible if they are tracked, validated, and eventually transitioned into a registry system, once the methodology exists and the project is approved against the standard. Supporting these companies now, before they are registry-listed can be extremely catalytic.

Tips for buyers:

• Include clear language in purchase agreements around how off-registry credits will be tracked, verified, and ultimately transferred onto the registry, once the project is able to list.
  
• Prioritize suppliers working with Climate Vault Solutions, who are vetted against the Tech Chamber Standards and adhere to rigorous tracking and transition protocols.
  
• Ask for regular reporting and third-party oversight to build confidence in early-stage credits.

Tips for suppliers:

• Develop a transparent ledger system to serialize and track off-registry credits and their associated data.
  
• Collaborate with standards organizations or industry groups to prepare for eventual registry eligibility.
  
• Be proactive in addressing double-counting risks through legal language and open reporting.

How we help:
We work closely with our suppliers to ensure that off-registry credits are transparently tracked, safeguarded against double-counting, and ready for registry transition when eligible.

The Bottom Lin

Carbon removal is evolving but that doesn’t mean you need to wait. By starting small, standardizing where possible, and working with trusted partners, organizations can take credible, meaningful action today.

At Climate Vault Solutions, we make it easy to get started, whether you’re buying your first ton or managing a multi-year portfolio. From sourcing trusted CDR projects to milestone oversight and off-registry management, we’re here to help you vault into action with confidence.

Ready to make your next move? Let’s talk.