Key Impact Points:
- Microsoft and Carbon Direct collaborate to create rigorous standards for marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR).
- Clear standards will ensure ocean-based carbon removal methods are credible, effective, and safe.
- Marine carbon removal is crucial for achieving global climate targets, potentially addressing billions of tonnes of CO₂ annually.
Setting Standards for Marine Carbon Removal
Carbon Direct and Microsoft announced a joint initiative to develop new guidelines for marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR). These standards are intended to ensure that ocean-based carbon removal strategies are scientifically robust and effective in significantly reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Urgency of the Climate Crisis
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) underscores the critical need to limit global warming to 1.5°C, demanding both drastic emissions cuts and extensive carbon dioxide removal.
The ocean, responsible for absorbing approximately 30% of human-induced CO₂ emissions, holds immense potential as a carbon sink. Enhancing this capability through scientifically proven methods is increasingly vital.
Techniques for Marine Carbon Removal
Two leading mCDR methods are currently highlighted:
Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE)
- Adds alkaline substances like crushed limestone or olivine to seawater.
- Converts CO₂ into stable bicarbonates and carbonates, securely trapping carbon.
Direct Ocean Removal (DOR)
- Adjusts carbonate equilibrium to directly extract CO₂.
- Precise measurement capability but higher energy consumption and cost.
Meeting Global Climate Goals
The recent “State of Carbon Dioxide Removal” report estimates a necessary annual removal of 7–9 gigatonnes of CO₂ by 2050 to meet Paris Agreement targets. Currently, global efforts remove about 2 GtCO₂ annually, highlighting the urgent need for scalable solutions like mCDR.
However, scientists emphasize mCDR is not a substitute for emission reductions and caution about the risks of ocean acidification and environmental impacts.
Enhancing Transparency and Effectiveness
Dr. Matthew Potts, Chief Science Officer at Carbon Direct, highlighted the need for stringent oversight:
“mCDR is at a pivotal moment. Achieving high-quality outcomes requires rigorous monitoring, transparency, and scientific integrity to ensure safe and effective deployment…Given the vast spatial scale, the data-intensive nature of ocean-based carbon removal, and the deep connection between these projects and marine ecosystems, clear standards are essential for responsible development.”
This collaborative initiative between Microsoft and Carbon Direct aims to provide the necessary framework to accelerate credible, scalable, and responsible marine carbon removal efforts, contributing significantly to global climate stability.
