Everest - Model ERW -Removes Carbon

Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) offers a cost-effective and high-quality approach to carbon removal, marked by its permanence and verifiability:

• Geologic storage duration: ERW converts atmospheric carbon into stable carbonate alkalinity, locking it away for tens of thousands of years and mitigating the climate impact of atmospheric carbon dioxide for the long term (Beerling et al., 2024, Brunner et al., 2024).
• Little risk of reversal: Unlike other natural carbon removal methods, ERW ensures that once carbon is sequestered, it remains stored in stable geochemical form, without the risk of re-release through natural disasters or biological degradation.
• Verifiable: Measuring additional alkalinity export enables us to deliver direct empirical evidence of carbon removal at scale.

Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) not only removes atmospheric carbon but also delivers significant agricultural benefits, enhancing productivity and soil health, and fosters regenerative practices:

• Increased crop yields: ERW has been shown as an effective natural fertilizer in multi-year trials, increasing staple crop yields by 10%, improving soil fertility, and decreasing soil acidification (Beerling et al., 2024), with some studies showing yields increase by as much as 47% (Haque et al., 2024).
• Enhanced soil health: Scientific studies have shown improved soil health, increased water retention capacity, as well as enhanced stress and pest resistance for crops (Beerling et al., 2020).
• Enabling regenerative agriculture: As a partial or full substitute for agricultural lime, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides, ERW is a complimentary cornerstone of modern regenerative agricultural practices, which is especially impactful in often nutrient-depleted soils in the global south (Manning and Theodoro, 2020).

Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) truly stands out among carbon removal pathways through its scalability and resource efficiency:

• High capacity: With the potential to sequester up to 4 GtCO₂ per year globally, ERW ranks among the most impactful carbon removal methods available (Fuhrmann et al., 2023).
• Rapid and cost-effective scale-up: ERW leverages existing infrastructure for transport and farmland application, making it a "drop-in" solution that can be deployed rapidly and affordably building on established agricultural practices and existing equipment with levelized costs below $100/tCO₂ at scale (Beerling et al., 2020).
• Resource efficiency: Unlike many other carbon removal technologies, ERW does not require land use changes, uses limited energy and water, and efficiently integrates into existing agricultural systems without competing for resources (Eufrasio et al., 2022).

Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) strengthens global food security, supports community resilience, and aids ecological restoration:

• Resilient food chains: ERW minerals enhance crop resilience to drought and pests, both crucial co-benefits as climate pressures mount on global food supplies (Manning and Theodoro, 2020).
• Empowered communities: ERW offers vital support for farmers, particularly in vulnerable areas, helping rural communities in the global south withstand climate impacts. By boosting agricultural stability and income, ERW contributes to local prosperity and long-term resilience.
• Ecological restoration: ERW enriches soils and restores natural cycles, regenerating the ecosystems that are essential to maintaining a habitable planet. This large-scale restoration benefits both the environment and future generations.