Limiting global warming to within planetary boundaries requires rapid emission reductions alongside robust carbon dioxide removal (CDR) frameworks. Compared with land-based approaches, marine CDR (mCDR) approaches are at an earlier stage of development, but offer the potential for negative emissions with less competition for space/resources and great scaling potential.. Evaluating the efficiency and impacts of these marine strategies is now critical to assess whether they are environmentally safe and socially just, and to determine their viability for national carbon accounting and the voluntary carbon market.
Current mCDR strategies encompass both abiotic methods (e.g., ocean alkalinity enhancement, direct ocean removal) and biotic approaches (e.g., macroalgae cultivation, iron fertilization, blue carbon ecosystem restoration). These techniques vary widely in their CDR potential, permanence of storage, and requirements for robust Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV). Additionally, their broader ecological impacts and full life-cycle assessments remain critical areas of uncertainty.
This session invites abstracts addressing ocean-related CDR that can contribute to advance the understanding of mCDR potential and impacts. We welcome contributions spanning mCDR modeling and observations across scales, e.g., idealized scenarios with novel mCDR implementations, observational and experimental studies ranging from mCDR pilot sites to laboratory experiments or mesocosm experiments, as well as the impacts of terrestrial CDR (e.g. enhanced rock weathering, river alkalinity enhancement) on the marine environment. Furthermore, we encourage submissions intersecting with the broader environmental, societal, political, legal, and economic implications of scaling marine CDR.