BHP is investing in a Canadian company that seeks to offset global warming by developing direct air capture (DAC) technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere.

The mining giant put almsot AU$8.5 Million to Carbon Engineering.  The company's DAC system uses a closed loop that captures carbon dioxide in a purified form.  From there it could be stored, or possibly converted into liquid fuels with ultra-low carbon intensity.

"As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated in late 2018, if we are to avoid the worst effects of climate change, technologies that capture and remove CO2 will be required," said BHP vice president for sustainability and climate change Fiona Wild.  "Direct air capture offers flexibility and potential, and could play a vital role in reducing future global emissions.  We hope that this investment can accelerate the development and adoption of this technology."

Carbon Engineering chief executive officer Steve Oldham said that BHP is the company's "ideal partner" because of its global reach.