Once an abstract concept in climate models, carbon dioxide removal (CDR) has become a tangible set of technologies, like BECCS and direct air capture, now competing for resources and political attention. This article explores how conflicting ideas, institutional dynamics, and stakeholder interests shape emerging CDR policy. Drawing on interviews and stakeholder workshops, the analysis highlights how dominant narratives can oversimplify environmental and social dimensions of CDR methods, often reinforcing specific interests. The study identifies key opportunities and barriers to crafting effective, equitable policies that can scale industrial carbon removals responsibly.