SEAO2-CDR: Strategies for the Evaluation and Assessment of Ocean based Carbon Dioxide Removal

Relying solely on green technologies and renewable energy will not be enough to achieve a Net Zero future. It is clear that if we are to limit the extent of warming to <2˚C in line with the Paris Agreement, we must develop processes that can sufficiently and sustainably remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The capabilities of the ocean as a carbon reservoir are hugely promising, as it covers 70% of the Earth’s surface and already absorbs 10 billion tonnes of CO₂ each year.

Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) is an approach that seeks to enhance the capacity of the ocean as a carbon store, usually by imitating or stimulating natural chemical and biological processes that lead to carbon removal. While the fundamental scientific concepts that underpin these processes are well understood, the costs, impacts and trade-offs associated with conducting mCDR at commercially and climatically relevant scales are far less certain.

This collaborative project will develop tools, mechanisms and guidelines to ensure that mCDR techniques are developed in a sustainable and transparent manner. It will help European citizens, entrepreneurs and governments to make the correct decisions when implementing mCDR, so that it can be used in an environmentally, socially and economically desirable way.