‼️ Check out our new paper "Limited understanding of basic ocean processes is hindering progress in marine carbon dioxide removal" led by Phil Boyd. (1/4)
To keep global warming below 2°C, it is crucial to massively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop methods to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), known as Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR). Several strategies aim to remove billions of tons of CO2 annually over the next 30 to 50 years. However, many of these new ocean-based strategies are not adequately evaluated. (2/4)
This study investigates four marine CDR approaches: shellfish aquaculture, algae cultivation, restoration of coastal blue carbon ecosystems (including tidal marshes, mangroves, and seagrasses), and the restoration of whale populations. (3/4)
These methods are often promoted without a proper understanding of the marine carbon cycle and the processes needed for successful upscaling. This lack of knowledge threatens the validity of carbon offset initiatives. Additionally, focusing solely on CO2 removal overlooks the many non-climatic benefits of ocean-based approaches, which can exceed their CO2 capture capabilities.