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February 28, 2024
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Can ocean carbon removal help climate change? Federal scientists want to find out
Federal scientists want to study the benefits and risks of using marine ecosystems to absorb more climate pollution from the sky
Federal researchers are investigating ways to use the ocean to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Mithyander/Getty Images
Climate Wire | The Biden administration is stepping up research into improving the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide. This is a potential climate solution that could impact entire marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
The National Science Foundation on Thursday took the first step in establishing a federal research program for ocean carbon dioxide removal (CDR).
“The ocean is one of the largest natural reservoirs of carbon on Earth. The ocean already removes much of the carbon dioxide produced by humans, but it may have the potential to do even more. ” the authorities said. Federal Register News. “Through ocean CDR approaches, it may be possible to safely enhance the ocean’s natural ability to absorb carbon dioxide through a variety of physical, geochemical, and biological processes.”
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The research comes as the Department of Energy spends billions of dollars developing direct air capture hubs to suck carbon out of the sky and millions more to test other land-based carbon removal methods. The agency has put funding on hold for ocean carbon removal pilot projects, but has indicated plans to do so in the near future.
Scientists say the world needs to adopt technological approaches to remove carbon from the atmosphere and oceans to avoid the worst effects of climate change.
The ocean primarily stores carbon when microscopic plants and other biological matter known as phytoplankton colonize the deep ocean floor.
Ocean-based carbon removal aims to speed up the process, for example by cultivating microalgae or seaweed and deliberately submerging them. Other efforts are using minerals and electricity to change the alkalinity of the ocean, allowing it to absorb more CO2 from the air.
While these approaches may be effective in reducing global warming and ocean acidification, they may also have unintended negative effects on some marine life.
Federal research programs seek to weigh these potential tradeoffs. To guide its efforts, the National Science Foundation is seeking public input on what questions and concerns the program should address. They also hope to identify potential knowledge gaps and regulatory hurdles that could hinder efforts to store more carbon in the ocean. The deadline for submitting comments is the end of April.
The White House called for more research on ocean carbon removal in its Ocean Climate Action Plan. The document, published in March last year, sets targets by 2030 for how ocean carbon dioxide removal can or can be used.
NOAA has already begun funding independent research on ocean carbon dioxide removal. In September, the agency provided $24.3 million to support 17 research projects focused on different approaches and their risks and benefits.
Reprinted from E&E News Published with permission of POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2024. E&E News provides news that matters to energy and environment professionals.
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