Climate Restoration Initiative

About the Initiative

Climate change is impacting Virginia, the home of the University, in profound ways. There are solutions. UVA researchers are partnering with organizations and decision-makers across the state to determine how the Commonwealth can cut emissions and help the state get to net zero. Launched in 2020 by the Environmental Institute, the Climate Restoration Initiative (CRI) convenes members to consider and recommend ways Virginia can meet its net zero targets while identifying economically profitable and sustainable new industries for Virginia.

The CRI is focused specifically on carbon removal strategies, which are deliberate, large-scale efforts to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.

There are a number of different ways in which carbon removal can be accomplished in Virginia, some as simple as planting new forest while others are as involved as installing large scale units that perform direct air capture (separation of CO2 from the atmosphere followed by injection deep below ground). Other approaches the CRI team is considering include coastal management, agricultural soil additives that improve carbon storage and production, and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage.

This collaboration and work is carried out with the intention of developing a web-based tool that can help decision-makers at the state and county levels know how they can create paths to decarbonization and a net zero Virginia.

The CRI is administered by the Environmental Institute and funded in part by Jefferson Trust.

Go in Depth

Virginia’s Carbon Capture Potential: A Roadmap to Climate Restoration.

The Environmental Institute's Climate Restoration Initiative harnesses bottom-up data analysis to inform community action.

Learn More