High-Road Carbon Removal As Nonreligious Soft Power Diplomacy with Islam and Catholicism

In this paper, I consider Heirloom technology’s promotion of a values-based approach to permanent removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as a form of nonreligion that has an elective affinity with Laudato si’ in the Catholic Christian tradition and the newly released Al Mizan which presents an Islamic outlook on the environment. Unlike natural regeneration strategies such as reforestation which serve to slow down the processes of climate change, carbon removal at scale, if not greenwashed, has the potential to actually reverse climate change. Heirloom is spearheading a values-based approach to the new climate economy to resist the greenwashing co-optation of carbon removal initiatives as an avenue to continue burning fossil fuels. After consulting with environmental experts, activists, entrepreneurs, and racial equity groups, Heirloom developed four “high-road” principles for responsible carbon removal demonstrating their nonreligion contribution to the industry: 1) that no carbon dioxide removed will be used for enhanced oil recovery; 2) that data will be measured, reported, and verified and available to the community; 3) that projects uphold strong worker protections with competitive wages and benefits; and 4) that companies co-create community benefits agreements and investment plans with room to evolve. The company slogan is “restoring balance to our atmosphere: Harnessing the natural power of limestone to permanently remove billions of tons of carbon dioxide from the air”. Restoring ecological balance resonates with the central theme of the newly released Covenant Al Mizan which presents an Islamic outlook on the environment, as well as with Laudato si’. ‘High road’ permanent carbon removal can be understood as nonreligious repentance. In diplomatic relations, investment in ‘high road’ permanent carbon removal represents a type of (non)religious soft power that could improve diplomatic relations with nations that have significant adherence to Muslim and/or Catholic values.