RESCUE: investigating bold solutions to clean the air and secure our climate future

The race towards net-zero ambitions by 2050 is ongoing, however cutting emissions alone may not be enough. That’s where RESCUE comes in. Funded by Horizon Europe, RESCUE efforts are set to explore efficiency and impact of hypothetical large-scale deployment of cutting-edge carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies. 

RESCUE – short for Response of the Earth System to overshoot, Climate neUtrality and negative Emissions – is exploring a wide spectrum of CDR options. Think forests and healthy soils, but also innovative technologies like direct air capture or boosting the ocean’s ability to absorb CO₂. Each of them offers opportunities but also risks and trade-offs.

One of the project’s key findings so far is that there is no single miracle solution. Instead, a combination of different approaches will be needed. Natural methods offer potential quick benefits due to their low costs of implementation, while high-tech solutions promise long-term carbon storage but still face high costs. RESCUE is carefully modelling these options to comprehensively assess how they interact with land, water, biodiversity and people’s lives.

The project is also probing the risks of “overshoot” – what happens if we go beyond safe temperature limits before pulling CO₂ back down. Overshoot is receiving increasing attention by policymakers, still our understanding of its potential impacts is limited. The sobering insight: while carbon removal can lower greenhouse gases, some impacts, like sea level rise or species loss, may be impossible to reverse. This makes early action more valuable than ever.

RESCUE is not just about science; it is a call to action for all citizens. Through policy briefs, open data initiatives, and the engaging RESCUE Climate Challenge game (an interactive game that invites everyone to play a role in tackling climate change), the project puts together scientific insights with public engagement. By engaging citizens, schools, businesses and decision-makers, the project is making climate science accessible and relevant.

Its central message is clear: carbon removal is no excuse to delay cutting emissions, but it can be a vital part of the solution. Thanks to RESCUE, Europe is gaining the knowledge and tools to make smart choices and keep the path to a safe climate future alive, aligning with the European Commission's priority of crafting a new plan for Europe's sustainable prosperity and competitiveness.

For more information, please see the EU factsheet.

_{Article published on February 2026.}