Global Climate News

\"International parties discussed marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) activities under the London Convention and Protocol. While some progress was made, no concrete action was taken. Differing opinions on commercial activity and governance were expressed among parties including Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US. The parties agreed to continue work and evaluate options for appropriate action, including considering both potential risks and benefits of mCDR techniques.\"

The Bezos Earth Fund, in collaboration with RMI, published a roadmap outlining a path to achieve ambitious scaled deployment of removal technologies by 2050. The roadmap sets decadal deployment goals, aiming to remove 10 gigatons of carbon dioxide per year by 2050. This follows a major workshop with the U.S. Department of Energy and Stanford University involving 500+ experts.

The U.S. Congress introduced the bipartisan ReSCUE Oceans Act to provide additional federal funding and support for research, development, and demonstration of ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) approaches and technologies. The act highlights the importance of ocean-based CDR in achieving global climate goals, given the ocean's role as a significant carbon sink. World Resources Institute supports the act, emphasizing the need for responsible development and deployment of these approaches.

US-based Bezos Earth Fund, in partnership with Experiment Foundation, announced the winners and finalists of its $1M Greenhouse Gas Removal Ideation Prize. The prize, structured in two phases, awarded funding to projects focusing on diverse greenhouse gas removal technologies, aiming to significantly contribute towards removing gigatonnes of greenhouse gases annually by 2050.

US-based Equatic has partnered with Arup to advance the world's first large-scale ocean carbon removal facility. Equatic's technology accelerates the ocean's ability to absorb carbon and produce carbon-negative hydrogen. The commercial scale plant aims to remove over 100,000 tons of CO2 annually and produce 3,600 tons of green hydrogen, targeting CDR at less than $100 per ton by 2030.

US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced a three-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the Carbon to Sea Initiative. The partnership aims to establish guidelines for marine carbon dioxide removal projects, focusing on research, technology development, and knowledge-sharing to evaluate ocean-based carbon storage potential.

Research investigated anti-dissolution mechanisms of aragonite in acidified seawater using organic and inorganic additives, showing formation of protective layers that prevent dissolution under CO2.

Isometric released a protocol for carbon dioxide removal via wastewater alkalinity enhancement for public consultation. The protocol, developed with input from CREW Carbon, outlines requirements for carbon removal in wastewater treatment using alkaline materials to convert CO2 into bicarbonate ions. CREW Carbon, utilizing a Yale University-developed approach, is the first supplier to issue credits under this protocol.

The Ocean & Climate Platform has announced its participation and key deliverables for COP29 in Baku, including multiple policy briefs on ocean finance, climate action, and biodiversity strategies, along with several events focused on marine carbon removal, coastal resilience, and ocean breakthroughs for achieving climate goals.

A study presents global maps of ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) efficiency and assesses seasonal variations in CO2 removal effectiveness. The research identifies critical factors for OAE deployment locations, including latitude and seasonal timing, while also quantifying spatial and temporal scales of CO2 uptake for regional ocean modeling.

Canada-based CarbonRun has secured a $25.4 million deal with Frontier buyers to remove 55,442 tons of CO₂ using river liming between 2025 and 2029. The project will start in Nova Scotia and aims to restore ecosystems and enhance carbon removal in acidified rivers. Stripe has also provided an additional $1M R&D grant to explore river liming in neutral pH rivers.