Which statement about Direct Air Capture (DAC) is true?

• A. It removes methane from the atmosphere.
• B. It captures CO2 only from natural gas leaks.
• C. It uses photosynthesis to remove CO2.
• D. It removes CO2 directly from ambient air and stores or uses it.

Answer: (D)

Direct Air Capture focuses on pulling carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere, rather than from a specific emission source. It uses chemical sorbents or solvents to capture CO2 from air, then moves to concentrate and release the CO2 for storage underground or for use in products. This is different from removing methane, which is a separate greenhouse gas, or limiting capture to natural gas leaks, which would not address CO2 present in the wider atmosphere. It also isn’t based on photosynthesis, which is a biological process in plants. The defining point is that CO2 is removed from ambient air and then stored or utilized, making that statement the true description of Direct Air Capture. Note that the climate benefit depends on using low-carbon energy to power the process, given its energy intensity.