TM23 | Government-focused principles for ethical and effective marine carbon dioxide removal development and deployment

TM23

Government-focused principles for ethical and effective marine carbon dioxide removal development and deployment
Convener: Oliver Ashford | Co-convener: tom pickerell
Wed, 04 Jun, 09:00–10:00 (CEST)|Room 7
Wed, 09:00
The ocean covers 70 percent of Earth’s surface and acts as a vast storehouse for both carbon dioxide and heat, amongst providing other ecosystem services vital to humanity. Whilst climate change is imperilling marine life, the ocean is increasingly recognised as being a key ally in the fight against climate change. Marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) is a relatively novel ocean-based solution to climate change that has potentially huge mitigation potential, but is also controversial because of social and environmental concerns.

In this townhall session, we will present the findings of a new Blue Paper, commissioned by the Ocean Panel, on the ethical and effective development and deployment of mCDR approaches. Authors of the Blue Paper will present:
1) A review of status of current mCDR technologies, including their efficacy, cost, scalability, potential social and environmental impacts, and monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) needs.
2) A review of national and international governance considerations for mCDR, such as the application of the London Protocol and Convention.
3) A new, government-focused, Code of Conduct for the development and deployment of mCDR techniques.

Following this presentation, Peter Haugan will chair an open, candid, discussion on the three aspects above, with a particular focus on the content of the new Code of Conduct. The discussion will include contributions from the Blue Paper authors, Ocean Panel government representatives, and audience members.

The intended audience for this townhall session consists of scientists (with a particular focus on those working at the science/policy interface), and representatives of government and industry. Key outcomes include:
• Socialising the new mCDR Code of Conduct
• Facilitating constructive dialogue on its value and implications
• Advancing consensus among the scientific and policy communities of the place of mCDR as a responsible mitigation measure for climate change, ahead of the UN Ocean Conference.

Speakers

  • Peter Haugan
  • Oliver Ashford, World Resources Institute, United Kingdom
  • Lisa Levin, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, United States of America
  • Romany Webb
  • David Ho, [C]Worthy / University of Hawaii at Manoa, United States of America
  • Pradeep Singh, Oceano Azul Foundation, Portugal
  • Chuanlun Zhang, Southern University of Science and Technology, China