While rapid and significant emission reductions must be the cornerstone of climate action, sustained carbon removal will play a role in achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, say Dr. Felix Schenuit and Martin Birk Rasmussen. Dr. Felix Schenuit is a research fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP). Martin Birk Rasmussen is an international climate analyst at CONCITO, a leading Danish climate think tank. With the European elections approaching, this year's Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Forum is another opportunity to discuss the future role of carbon management in the EU. While rapid and deep emission reductions must be the cornerstone of European climate action, sustained carbon removal will play a role in offsetting those limited emissions that cannot be reduced otherwise, to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2050 and net negative emissions thereafter. (Schenuit, Martin Birk Rasmussen)