White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Releases National Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Research Strategy

Today, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is releasing a national strategy to advance research on the benefits, risks, and tradeoffs of marine carbon dioxide removal, an innovative technology that could help address the climate crisis. Marine carbon dioxide removal uses ocean processes to increase the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide the ocean takes up, but it requires additional research to determine if it is a safe and effective climate tool.

“From wildfires and floods, to devastating heat waves in the ocean and record temperatures around the world, the impacts of climate change are devastating communities and ecosystems,” said OSTP Deputy Director for Climate and Environment Jane Lubchenco. “In addition to cutting our emissions substantially, new technologies like marine carbon dioxide removal could be another tool in our toolkit to fight the climate crisis, but those technologies require more research to know if they can be used safely and effectively. This strategy will foster innovation and promote research collaboration between the federal government, other sectors, and communities to better understand and evaluate if marine carbon dioxide removal works and can be done in a safe, responsible, and accountable manner.”

This strategy responds to a key objective of the Ocean Climate Action Plan, and provides recommendations to guide federal research and clarify the regulatory process for researchers while engaging with community members through every step of the process.

The full report can be found here.

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