Carbon180 Unveils Industry-First Framework for Responsible Carbon Removal

New CORE framework sets standards for equitable, community-centered climate action as carbon removal industry scales rapidly

Apr. 14, 2026 at 6:38pm

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An abstract, highly structured painting in soft, earthy tones of green, blue, and brown, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conveying the interconnected natural systems and cycles of carbon capture and storage.A conceptual illustration capturing the holistic, community-centered approach of the CORE framework for responsible carbon removal.Washington Today

Carbon180, a leading non-profit working across carbon removal pathways, has unveiled the Community-Informed, Open Access, Reviewed, and Evaluated (CORE) Carbon Removal Framework. This first-of-its-kind framework sets clear expectations for how carbon dioxide removal (CDR) policies, funding programs, and projects engage communities and deliver durable, measurable results. The CORE framework outlines 8 fundamental values and 11 operational practices to guide the full CDR life cycle, strengthening the justice, equity, transparency, accountability, and impact of carbon removal.

Why it matters

As the CDR industry rapidly expands with nearly $12 billion in funding and dozens of projects worldwide, clear definitions for how these programs are built, evaluated, and held accountable have been lacking. The CORE framework aims to fill this critical gap, ensuring the communities living next to CDR projects have actual power over what happens and that the industry builds something people can trust for decades to come.

The details

The CORE framework includes key elements such as Community Agency Mechanisms to promote community power and influence, Community Benefits Mechanisms to co-identify and deliver local benefits, Full System Carbon Accounting to measure and verify emissions, Environmental Health safeguards, and Enforcement Mechanisms for oversight and compliance. Carbon180 has also created an interactive resource hub with case studies, templates, and recommendations to help policymakers, developers, communities, purchasers, and funders navigate carbon removal using the CORE framework.

  • Carbon180 unveiled the CORE framework on April 14, 2026.

The players

Carbon180

A non-profit working across every carbon removal pathway, with a mission to fundamentally rethink carbon and build an industry around carbon removal to scale solutions equitably for decades to come.

Ugbaad Kosar

Director of Equity and Justice at Carbon180.

Noah McQueen

Director of Science and Innovation at Carbon180.

Erin Burns

Executive Director of Carbon180.

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What they’re saying

“Carbon removal is being built right now, in real places, around real people. CORE is about making sure the communities living next to these projects have actual power over what happens. That's what it takes to build something people can trust.”

— Ugbaad Kosar, Director of Equity and Justice

“We're at the point in carbon removal where the decisions we make now are going to shape the field for decades to come. It's a short window, and we don't get a do-over. CORE gives developers, funders, and policymakers a shared set of expectations to work from, so the projects and programs getting built today are the ones we'll still be proud of decades from now.”

— Noah McQueen, Director of Science and Innovation

“Every fast-moving industry eventually has to answer the question of what it stands for. Carbon removal is answering that question now, on its own terms, before anyone else answers it for us. CORE is our contribution to that answer.”

— Erin Burns, Executive Director

What’s next

Carbon180 plans to continue promoting the CORE framework and providing resources to help policymakers, developers, communities, purchasers, and funders implement the standards for responsible carbon removal.

The takeaway

The CORE framework establishes a clear set of values and practices to guide the rapidly growing carbon removal industry, ensuring these critical climate solutions are developed in an equitable, community-centered, and environmentally responsible manner. As the industry scales, this framework will help build public trust and deliver meaningful outcomes for climate, ecosystems, and communities.