Frequently asked questions
Process
The Vancouver Process is a voluntary, non-binding international forum that helps governments learn, coordinate, and collaborate on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) policy and implementation.
The process focuses on practical questions governments are increasingly facing as CDR scales, including regulation, standards, monitoring and verification (MRV), procurement, infrastructure planning, finance, public engagement, and institutional capacity.
The Vancouver Process does not negotiate treaties or make binding decisions. Its purpose is to support learning, coordination, and cooperation among governments and public institutions.
Scientific assessments by the IPCC, UNEP, and others indicate that achieving long-term climate goals will require both deep emissions reductions and large-scale carbon dioxide removal. At the same time, governments increasingly recognize that CDR cannot scale through markets and technology development alone.
The Vancouver Process was created to help governments better understand and address the policy, governance, and institutional challenges associated with scaling CDR responsibly.
The long-term goal is to strengthen international cooperation on carbon dioxide removal by helping governments develop the policies, institutions, standards, financing approaches, and implementation pathways needed to deploy CDR at climate-relevant scales.
No.
The Vancouver Process is not a treaty, convention, protocol, or legally binding agreement. Participation is entirely voluntary and creates no legal obligations.
No.
The Vancouver Process is an independent initiative. It seeks to complement and support existing international climate efforts, including those undertaken through the United Nations system, but it is not affiliated with or governed by the United Nations.
No.
The Vancouver Process is technology-neutral. Participants may discuss a wide range of carbon dioxide removal approaches, including biological, engineered, mineralization-based, ocean-based, and hybrid methods.
Participation does not imply support for any particular technology or deployment pathway.
Declaration
The Vancouver Declaration on Carbon Dioxide Removal is a voluntary, non-binding declaration that serves as the founding framework for the Vancouver Process.
It outlines a shared vision for international cooperation on carbon dioxide removal while recognizing that governments may pursue different policy approaches and priorities.
The Declaration was developed through CDRANet, an international network of experts working across climate science, policy, industry, and civil society.
Contributors include individuals with experience in climate research, government, international organizations, carbon management, and related fields.
No.
The Declaration creates no legal obligations, financial commitments, regulatory requirements, or enforcement mechanisms.
No.
Governments may participate in the Vancouver Process without signing the Declaration.
Likewise, governments may endorse the Declaration without participating in any specific working group, initiative, or future activity.
The Policy Framework is a companion document that explores possible areas for future cooperation on CDR.
It is not part of the Declaration itself, is not binding, and is not formally endorsed when governments sign the Declaration. It serves as a living reference document intended to support discussion and learning.
Participation
Participation is primarily intended for governments, government agencies, intergovernmental organizations, and other public institutions.
The Vancouver Process also engages researchers, civil society organizations, industry representatives, and other stakeholders whose expertise can help inform discussions.
Participation is flexible.
Participants may contribute through workshops, consultations, written exchanges, technical discussions, working groups, conferences, or other collaborative activities.
There are no mandatory meetings, deliverables, or participation requirements.
No.
Participation in the Vancouver Process does not require membership fees or financial contributions.
Yes.
Institutions may join, expand, modify, or withdraw their participation at any time.
Governance
The Secretariat provides administrative, logistical, and coordination support for the Vancouver Process.
It does not establish policy positions on behalf of participants or make decisions for governments.
CDRANet (the Carbon Dioxide Removal Action Network) is an international network that supports dialogue and collaboration on carbon dioxide removal policy, governance, and deployment.
CDRANet helped convene the development of the Vancouver Declaration and currently supports the Vancouver Process through an interim secretariat.
The Vancouver Process is designed to complement—not replace—existing climate agreements, institutions, and initiatives.
Many organizations are already making important contributions to carbon dioxide removal through scientific assessment, innovation, market development, project deployment, investment mobilization, capacity-building, and diplomatic engagement. Examples include the Paris Agreement, Mission Innovation, UNEP, the Climate High-Level Champions, the Carbon Management Challenge, GONE, and numerous research and civil society organizations.
The Vancouver Process focuses on a different but closely related challenge: helping governments prepare themselves to coordinate, govern, finance, and implement carbon dioxide removal at scale.
As CDR moves from concept to deployment, governments increasingly face practical questions around regulation, standards, monitoring and verification (MRV), infrastructure planning, procurement, institutional capacity, public engagement, and international coordination. While other initiatives address important aspects of these issues, the Vancouver Process provides a dedicated forum for governments and public institutions to learn from one another, compare approaches, identify common challenges, and explore opportunities for collaboration.
The Vancouver Process seeks to strengthen and connect existing efforts by helping governments translate scientific knowledge, innovation, investment, and political ambition into effective long-term implementation.
Governments, public institutions, researchers, civil society organizations, and other interested stakeholders are encouraged to contact the Secretariat for additional information regarding participation opportunities, events, working groups, and future activities.