Abstract: Methods are provided for the selective removal of CO.sub.2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream to provide a CO.sub.2 depleted gaseous stream having at least a reduction in the concentration of CO.sub.2 relative to the untreated multicomponent gaseous stream. In the subject methods, the multicomponent gaseous stream is contacted with CO.sub.2 nucleated water under conditions of selective CO.sub.2 clathrate formation, where the CO.sub.2 nucleated water serves as liquid solvent. The subject methods find use in a variety of applications where it is desired to selectively remove CO.sub.2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream, including chemical feedstock processing applications and air emissions control applications.