"Think Negative"

Zentrum Liberale Moderne (LibMod), Deutscher Verband für negative Emissionen e.V. (DVNE), and Helmholtz Earth and Environment hosted the parliamentary breakfast "Think Negative" at the Käfer Roof Garden Restaurant on April 8, 2025. The topics included the status quo of active CO2 removal in Germany and political options for action for the next legislative period.

The event began with a warm welcome from Lukas Daubner of the Zentrum Liberale Moderne. This was followed by an introduction to Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) methods by Prof. Dr Helmuth Thomas from the Helmholtz Centre Hereon. Stefanie Gerhart (ecoLocked) and Carla Glassl (Ucaneo) then shared fascinating insights into the business models of CDR companies. The session concluded with a panel discussion with Andreas Jung, MdB (CDU) and Dr. Anton Hofreiter, MdB (BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN).

In the subsequent lively discussion, the focus was on the ongoing coalition negotiations, CO2 transport, the inclusion or exclusion of gas-fired power plants for CCS, and natural carbon sinks such as peatland rewetting, reforestation, and seagrass meadows. Participants from politics, business, research, and government agencies expressed great appreciation for the opportunity to address the topic of negative emissions and CO2 removal, quite literally at the top level, in the Bundestag at such a crucial moment in the coalition talks.

The highly engaging and constructive exchange was organized by the Deutscher Verband für negative Emissionen e.V. (DVNE), the Zentrum Liberale Moderne, and the Helmholtz SynCom Coordination Office.