Why in the news?
There has been growing interest in Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) as a climate-change mitigation tool.
About mCDR
- It refers to methods that enhance the ocean's ability to absorb and store atmospheric CO₂ to help tackle climate change.
- Examples include restoring mangroves and seagrass, ocean alkalinity enhancement, biomass sinking, and artificial upwelling.
Need of mCDR
- Rising Atmospheric CO₂ Levels: Global CO₂ emissions remain high despite mitigation efforts, mCDR can help remove excess CO₂ already present in the atmosphere.
- Ocean's huge Carbon Storage Capacity: Oceans store over 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere, making them a potential large-scale carbon sink.
- Meeting Paris Climate Goals: Achieving the 1.5°C and 2°C targets may require large-scale carbon removal in addition to emission reductions.
- Supports Blue Economy: It can generate employment and economic opportunities in sectors such as seaweed farming, ecosystem restoration, and marine technologies.
Challenges of mCDR
- Measurement, reporting, and verification challenges: Accurate CO₂ tracking and carbon accounting remain difficult due to evolving monitoring technologies.
- Environmental risks: Ocean chemistry changes may harm marine ecosystems.
- Scalability: Large-scale deployment with high energy efficiency is challenging.
- Lack of standards: Robust carbon accounting and environmental assessment protocols are still evolving.
- Governance gaps: Clear regulations and permitting frameworks are lacking.
- Public concerns: Geoengineering fears may hinder acceptance and policy support.
Conclusion
Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) can complement but not replace deep emission reductions in addressing climate change. Unlocking its potential will require science-based regulation, robust monitoring, environmental safeguards, and international cooperation to ensure that ocean-based carbon removal is safe, effective, and equitable, supporting global net-zero and Paris Agreement goals.
