Carbon Dioxide Removal: Challenges and Opportunities in El Salvador
Keywords:
mitigation, Central America, climate change, multilevel analysis, carbon dioxide removalAbstract
Considering its institutional and policy conditions, this article examines the potential for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) in El Salvador. Using a case study approach and a multi-level analysis, it adapts the analytical framework proposed by Schenuit et al. (2021) to assess CDR policy in the country. The findings show that El Salvador prioritizes the Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector in its mitigation strategies, while other CDR technologies lack explicit regulation. The delayed implementation of mitigation instruments and political transitions has negatively impacted the continuity and transparency of government actions regarding carbon removal. Despite the ambitious targets outlined in the Nationally Determined Contribution, the country has no registered CDR-specific projects, only direct emission reduction initiatives in the voluntary market. The study concludes that significant barriers hinder the effective implementation of CDR, emphasizing the need for a more robust regulatory framework, policy stability, and access to advanced technologies and scientific knowledge. Overcoming these challenges is crucial to strengthening mitigation efforts and ensuring El Salvador meets its climate commitments.
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