Only 14 Online Shops Sell This Crucial Climate Solution
A new investigation reveals a surprising hurdle in the fight against climate change: it's incredibly difficult for individuals and small businesses to purchase certified carbon removal (CDR) certificates online. Despite widespread agreement on the urgent need for more climate action and buyers, a recent comprehensive sweep found only 14 online shops out of hundreds actually facilitate direct purchases. This stark reality contradicts the industry's call for increased demand, effectively locking the door on potential climate contributions. Making it easier to invest in carbon removal is vital for accelerating our transition to a sustainable future.
One year after an initial attempt to buy carbon removal (CDR) certificates highlighted significant barriers, a new, more extensive study confirms the problem persists. Using an AI agent to scan hundreds of CDR companies listed on major registries like Isometric, Puro.earth, and Rainbow, researchers found a mere 14 online stores where anyone could buy certified carbon removal with a credit card today. This is a tiny fraction—just 2 in 100—of the roughly 650 companies checked.
This situation presents a clear contradiction: an industry that frequently discusses the need for more buyers simultaneously makes it nearly impossible for them to make a purchase. Most companies require sales calls, offer quote forms, or even access codes to unlock their 'buy' buttons, rather than facilitating direct transactions.
The challenge hasn't significantly improved over the past year. While some shops closed their online sales, new ones emerged, keeping the overall number stagnant. Interestingly, one of the new entries is a reseller, Remove Carbon Today, a small, independent venture that steps in to handle individual purchases because larger suppliers often don't. This points to a gap where the small-scale economics of individual sales, like payment and verification fees, deter bigger players.
However, the idea that there's no demand for small purchases is misleading. An earlier initiative by the same researchers spent approximately €8,700 on social media ads, successfully driving over 11,000 visitors to a directory of shops. This effort demonstrated that customers can be acquired at reasonable costs, similar to many online subscription businesses. The issue isn't a lack of interest, but rather the industry's reluctance to make the sales process accessible. Making carbon removal easy to buy is crucial for accelerating our collective climate action and achieving a truly sustainable future.