NGOs Release New Recommendations for Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Field Experiments

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, in partnership with Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification, AGU, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Oceana, Ocean Defense Initiative, and The Ocean Foundation, Ocean Conservancy released recommendations for the responsible assessment of engineered marine carbon dioxide removal approaches. Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) refers to a suite of engineered and biological strategies designed to enhance the ocean’s natural ability to absorb and store atmospheric carbon dioxide to help reduce the impacts of climate change. Field research is and will continue to be critical to evaluating mCDR as a responsible climate solution, and adhering to recommendations like those released today will ensure that knowledge on effectiveness and social and environmental protections will inform any future development decisions.  

“Climate change is the biggest threat to our ocean, and we must balance urgent work to address carbon pollution with robust protections for ocean ecosystems and the people that rely on them,” said Dr. Fatima Candace Vahlsing, Ocean Conservancy’s Vice President for Climate and former White House Associate Director for Climate, Energy, Environment, and Science. “To meet our global climate goals, we need to drastically reduce emissions and prioritize safe and effective carbon removal solutions. Working together, members of the environmental community have developed recommendations for Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) field experiments to ensure they are governed responsibly, community aligned, and protect marine ecosystems.”

Recommendations for responsible mCDR field experiments include:

1. Adhere to existing ethical codes of conduct.
2. Protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and fisherfolk.
3. Ensure research efforts around the globe include appropriate local experts and ensure local perspectives genuinely inform decisions.
4. Demonstrate low environmental and social risks.
5. Prioritize low-risk projects with the highest potential climate benefits, and all projects should provide clear mitigation measures as needed.
6. Ensure independent monitoring, reporting, and verification.
7. Require open-access data from trials to ensure transparency, replicability and independent scrutiny.
8. Seek and prioritize government and public financing.
9. Provide funding for baseline development and longevity of assessment needed. 
10. Agree that mCDR trials should not generate carbon credits. Companies, funders and research teams should avoid early carbon credit sales.

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ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY  

For more than 50 years, Ocean Conservancy has delivered effective, evidence-based solutions for the ocean and all who depend on it. Today, we continue to unite science, people and policy to protect our ocean from the greatest challenges it faces: climate change, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss. We are a 501(C)3 headquartered in Washington, D.C. that inspires a worldwide network of partners, advocates and supporters through our comprehensive and clear-eyed approach to ocean conservation. Together, we are securing a healthy ocean and a thriving planet, forever and for everyone. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky or Instagram.