UBS collaborates with neustark and Climeworks for removing CO₂ from the atmosphere

As part of UBS’s commitment to achieving net-zero energy-emissions from its own operations by 2025, the firm is collaborating with the two Swiss companies Climeworks and neustark, which are both pioneering new carbon removal technologies. These long-term commitments provide planning security for this important industry, help to scale these technologies and also send a strong signal to the market.

Over the next 13 years, the aim is to remove 39,500 tonnes of CO₂ from the atmosphere

neustark, the ETH Zurich university spin-off and startup, specializes in the petrification of atmospheric CO₂ in recycled concrete. Powered solely by renewable energy, Climeworks’ direct air capture and storage facility “Orca” in Iceland captures CO₂ directly from the atmosphere, which is stored underground in basalt rock for thousands of years via the Carbfix method. The volume of the agreements represents a substantial carbon removal contribution - in Europe and worldwide.

Sabine Keller-Busse, President UBS Switzerland says: “Switzerland has a long tradition of promoting innovation and we are delighted to be supporting these pioneering solutions from two Swiss companies. Sustainability continues to be at the top of our clients' agendas and, in order to be a credible partner, it is important that we demonstrate our continued commitment when it comes to the sustainability of our own business activities."

Suni Harford, UBS Group Executive Board Lead for Sustainability and Impact and President Asset Management, says: "Innovative technologies play an increasingly important role in the transition to a low-carbon economy. By collaborating with neustark and Climeworks, UBS wants both to further reduce our own carbon footprint and, crucially, to support the development of scalable solutions that the world needs to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050."

“With this commitment UBS shows leadership in climate action and hopefully inspires others to follow suit. Long term offtake contracts are a key enabler for the urgently needed scaleup of carbon dioxide removal technologies,“ says Valentin Gutknecht, co-founder and co-CEO of neustark.

“We are delighted to enter this long-term agreement with UBS. In the past months, the number of multi-year carbon removal agreements has increased rapidly. Such long-term commitments are central to our growth planning and enable us to scaleup,” says Christoph Gebald, co-founder and co-CEO of Climeworks.

UBS Group AG