decarbonize

verb

de·​car·​bon·​ize (ˌ)dē-ˈkär-bə-ˌnīz 

decarbonized; decarbonizing; decarbonizes

transitive verb

1

: to remove carbon from (something)

It's usually not necessary to dismantle the engine to decarbonize it anymore.

—Allen D. Berrien

2

: to reduce the levels of carbon emissions (such as carbon dioxide) caused by or involved in (something, such as a facility, process, or organization)

… we must decarbonize the energy supply by developing forms of power that emit less greenhouse gas or none at all.

—Daniel Ben-Ami

[Steve] Cohen is confident that we will be able to decarbonize our economy in time to avoid catastrophic climate impacts.

—Renee Cho

intransitive verb

: to reduce the production of carbon emissions

Certainly, people at Airbus say they need to decarbonize, and research on battery technology for electric planes has been disappointing.

—Ned Potter

decarbonizer noun

Examples of decarbonize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Driving toward net-zero emissions by 2050 The blended wing body (BWB) aircraft represents a critical component of Delta’s strategy to decarbonize aviation, with its fuel efficiency gains directly supporting the airline’s 2050 net-zero target. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2025

The grid must be decarbonized, and the materials and infrastructure required for an all-EV future carry their own environmental costs. —Regina Clewlow, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

But as the top historical emitter of greenhouse gases, the U.S. should be among the countries setting an example for the rest of the world to decarbonize while helping smaller, poorer countries achieve net-zero goals as well, according to the United Nations. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2025

And with the nuclear sector showing signs of undergoing a renaissance—as countries look to decarbonize energy production and with the tech sector seeking ways to power its electricity-hungry AI systems—the pressure for nuclear-waste disposal is likely to grow. —Marta Abbà, Wired News, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for decarbonize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize