CALGARY — JORDEN DYE, director of the Pembina Institute’s Carbon Dioxide Removal Centre (CDR Centre), made the following statement in response to the Government of Canada and the Government of Australia signing the Australia-Canada Clean Energy Partnership, which includes carbon dioxide removal as a pillar of bilateral cooperation.
"This has been a significant week for Canadian carbon removal. The Australia-Canada Clean Energy Partnership and the launch of the Advance Carbon Removal Coalition (ACR) are two meaningful signals that Canada's CDR sector is earning serious attention from governments, industry and international partners alike. The CDR Centre welcomes both developments.
“Governments and industry need to seize the momentum and continue to drive CDR forward in Canada. And the conditions for doing so are coming together. Alberta and Saskatchewan have active protocols for durable CDR. The federal government is developing its first direct air capture protocol, and Quebec's new framework for underground carbon storage means that 90% of Canadian emissions are now covered by storage rules. What will ultimately determine Canada's success in this space is demand, and that's exactly why coalitions like ACR, international partnerships like this one, and corporate buyers stepping forward all matter so much.
“Every credible demand signal makes it easier for the next project to get financed, and the next buyer to say yes. Our research shows that 65% of companies considering CDR say clearer regulation is the single biggest factor that would prompt them to act. Signals like this week are how that clarity emerges.
"Canada has the geology, the workforce and the renewable energy resources to become a global hub for carbon removal. This week shows the market confidence to match is starting to arrive. The CDR Centre looks forward to seeing that progress continue and supporting emerging buyers as they pursue net-zero.
Jorden Dye, director of the CDR Centre, is available for comment.
Quick facts
- 89% of corporate Engaged Buyers in Canada plan to purchase CDR credits within the next five years, with 67% aiming to do so before the end of 2026, according to the Pembina Institute’s 2025 CDR buyer scan.
- Canada is already home to 78 CDR companies and 48 active and planned CDR projects, with investments from major players including Microsoft, Amazon and Shopify.
- The global CDR market could be worth as much as $1.2 trillion USD by 2050, according to McKinsey & Company.
- In 2025, buyers announced commitments to purchase over 497,354 tonnes of carbon dioxide removal from Canadian projects.
- The Advance Carbon Removal Coalition, launched March 5, 2026, aims to mobilize $100 million in new support for Canadian CDR by 2030. Founding members include the Government of Canada, RBC, BMO and Shopify, which have collectively contributed over $75 million to the Canadian CDR ecosystem to date.
- The CDR industry is a potential economic powerhouse that could create 95,000 to 130,000 jobs per year if we removed the equivalent of just 15 per cent of Canada’s annual emissions, according to a Rhodium Group report.
- The federal government has committed to purchasing at least $10 million in CDR by 2030, an important demand signal for the industry.
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Contact
Jean Todea
Senior Communications Lead, Pembina Institute
403-863-6560
