AUTHOR=Markusson Nils , von Rothkirch Juanita , Dooley Kate 
  
TITLE=Beyond ‘doing both’—framing carbon removal carefully
  
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Climate
  
VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2026
  
YEAR=2026
  
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/climate/articles/10.3389/fclim.2026.1744296
  
DOI=10.3389/fclim.2026.1744296
  
ISSN=2624-9553
  
ABSTRACT=There is a common framing in communications about carbon dioxide removal (CDR) which amounts to saying ‘we need to do both’ CDR and emissions reductions, but without explaining further what this means or how to achieve it. This leaves the impression that such framing is empty and performative, doing little to counteract the risk of mitigation deterrence, i.e., that the pursuit of CDR undermines and delays emission reductions, which the framing is meant to address. This article substantiates and illustrates this claim, and develops recommendations for how to frame CDR more carefully. Such careful framing crucially involves indicating the relatively minor role CDR can play compared to emissions reductions on the path to net zero. Finally, we reflect on the barriers to and importance of these recommendations being taken up.