Direct air capture (DAC) is critical for achieving stringent climate targets, yet the environmental implications of its large-scale deployment have not been evaluated in this context. Performing a prospective life cycle assessment for two promising technologies in a series of climate change mitigation scenarios, we find that electricity sector decarbonization and DAC technology improvements are both indispensable to avoid environmental problem-shifting. Decarbonizing the electricity sector improves the sequestration efficiency, but also increases the terrestrial ecotoxicity and metal depletion levels per tonne of CO₂ sequestered via DAC. These increases can be reduced by improvements in DAC material and energy use efficiencies. DAC exhibits regional environmental impact variations, highlighting the importance of smart siting related to energy system planning and integration. DAC deployment aids the achievement of long-term climate targets, its environmental and climate performance however depend on sectoral mitigation actions, and thus should not suggest a relaxation of sectoral decarbonization targets.

直接空气捕获 (DAC) 对于实现严格的气候目标至关重要，但尚未在此背景下评估其大规模部署对环境的影响。在一系列气候变化缓解情景中对两种有前景的技术进行前瞻性生命周期评估后，我们发现电力部门脱碳和 DAC 技术改进对于避免环境问题转移都是必不可少的。电力部门脱碳提高了封存效率，但也增加了每吨 CO _{2的陆地生态毒性和金属消耗水平}通过 DAC 隔离。这些增加可以通过改进 DAC 材料和能源使用效率来减少。DAC 展示了区域环境影响变化，突出了与能源系统规划和集成相关的智能选址的重要性。DAC 部署有助于实现长期气候目标，但其环境和气候绩效取决于部门缓解行动，因此不应暗示放宽部门脱碳目标。