Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SEAO2-CDR (Strategies for the Evaluation and Assessment Of Ocean based Carbon Dioxide Removal)
Reporting period: 2023-06-01 to 2024-11-30
To avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change we must meet the Paris Agreement target of limiting the maximum extent of global warming to under 2˚C. The latest IPCC assessments show that realising this target requires both a rapid and substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and the active removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from our atmosphere.
SEAO2-CDR intentionally focusses on ocean-based CDR (OCDR) techniques as they have received less attention than terrestrial approaches, despite many offering an equivalent, if not greater, atmospheric CO2 sequestration potential. The ocean contains about 50 times amount of carbon that is in the atmosphere (with the potential to store much more), and is already the largest long-term sink for anthropogenic CO2. Small enhancements in this vast CO2 sink consequently have the potential to translate to an enormous drawdown of atmospheric CO2. However, many knowledge gaps currently exist in our understanding of the biotic and abiotic techniques that have been proposed for accelerating the rate of CO2 influx into seawater, and an improved understanding is essential before they can be implemented at climatically relevant scales.
SEAO2-CDR seeks to address critical gaps in our understanding of the ecological benefits and trade-offs for a range of OCDR approaches, and to help facilitate their incorporation into Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) and deployment strategies. It also aims to assess technologies and approaches for enabling robust Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV), ensuring that carbon-accounting and environmental monitoring requirements can be achieved for different OCDR approaches. By engaging with public, governmental, non-governmental, corporate and finance stakeholders, SEAO2-CDR will also help facilitate the development of social, regulatory, political, economic and ethical governance frameworks and provide the guidance required to support the development of policy instruments and business models for the responsible implementation of OCDR approaches in support of climate change mitigation efforts.
The overall objective of SEAO2-CDR is to evaluate and establish the mechanisms and processes required to facilitate the environmentally safe, socially acceptable, and economically viable implementation of appropriate ocean-based CDR approaches to support the realisation of global climate policies.
Achieving this objective will enhance the technical viability of OCDR by characterising the key system boundaries, processes, material and energy flows of different approaches in addition to establishing their temporal and spatial monitoring requirements and mechanisms. It will also develop the social, regulatory, political, economic and ethical frameworks required to facilitate and support OCDR uptake at scale. Finally, it will provide a deep understanding of realistic implementation policies and pathways via an integrated assessment of system-level effects.
This will be delivered through seven specific objectives:
O1. To enhance our understanding of emerging ocean-based CDR approaches by characterising their potential operational space using common frameworks for life cycle assessments (LCA) and techno-economic assessments (TEA).
O2. To develop, assess and harmonise technological solutions for ocean-based CDR monitoring reporting and verification.
O3. To improve understanding of public and stakeholder perceptions by exploring societal acceptance of ocean-based CDR in the context of the broader ecosystem services offered by different approaches.
O4. To derive a scientifically grounded and stakeholder-oriented multidimensional governance framework for ocean-based CDR that considers the legal, ethical, policy and geopolitical implications of upscaling ocean-based CDR approaches.
O5. To develop the commercial frameworks and incentivisation strategies needed to support the potential for ocean-based CDR operationalisation, including via improved abatement cost estimates and standardised carbon accounting.
O6. To support assessment of the ecological and economic feasibility of ocean-based CDR deployment on a regional scale through improved representation in Integrated Assessment Models.
O7. To generate the roadmaps required to help policymakers bring ocean-based CDR to scale.
SEAO2-CDR intentionally focusses on ocean-based CDR (OCDR) techniques as they have received less attention than terrestrial approaches, despite many offering an equivalent, if not greater, atmospheric CO2 sequestration potential. The ocean contains about 50 times amount of carbon that is in the atmosphere (with the potential to store much more), and is already the largest long-term sink for anthropogenic CO2. Small enhancements in this vast CO2 sink consequently have the potential to translate to an enormous drawdown of atmospheric CO2. However, many knowledge gaps currently exist in our understanding of the biotic and abiotic techniques that have been proposed for accelerating the rate of CO2 influx into seawater, and an improved understanding is essential before they can be implemented at climatically relevant scales.
SEAO2-CDR seeks to address critical gaps in our understanding of the ecological benefits and trade-offs for a range of OCDR approaches, and to help facilitate their incorporation into Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) and deployment strategies. It also aims to assess technologies and approaches for enabling robust Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV), ensuring that carbon-accounting and environmental monitoring requirements can be achieved for different OCDR approaches. By engaging with public, governmental, non-governmental, corporate and finance stakeholders, SEAO2-CDR will also help facilitate the development of social, regulatory, political, economic and ethical governance frameworks and provide the guidance required to support the development of policy instruments and business models for the responsible implementation of OCDR approaches in support of climate change mitigation efforts.
The overall objective of SEAO2-CDR is to evaluate and establish the mechanisms and processes required to facilitate the environmentally safe, socially acceptable, and economically viable implementation of appropriate ocean-based CDR approaches to support the realisation of global climate policies.
Achieving this objective will enhance the technical viability of OCDR by characterising the key system boundaries, processes, material and energy flows of different approaches in addition to establishing their temporal and spatial monitoring requirements and mechanisms. It will also develop the social, regulatory, political, economic and ethical frameworks required to facilitate and support OCDR uptake at scale. Finally, it will provide a deep understanding of realistic implementation policies and pathways via an integrated assessment of system-level effects.
This will be delivered through seven specific objectives:
O1. To enhance our understanding of emerging ocean-based CDR approaches by characterising their potential operational space using common frameworks for life cycle assessments (LCA) and techno-economic assessments (TEA).
O2. To develop, assess and harmonise technological solutions for ocean-based CDR monitoring reporting and verification.
O3. To improve understanding of public and stakeholder perceptions by exploring societal acceptance of ocean-based CDR in the context of the broader ecosystem services offered by different approaches.
O4. To derive a scientifically grounded and stakeholder-oriented multidimensional governance framework for ocean-based CDR that considers the legal, ethical, policy and geopolitical implications of upscaling ocean-based CDR approaches.
O5. To develop the commercial frameworks and incentivisation strategies needed to support the potential for ocean-based CDR operationalisation, including via improved abatement cost estimates and standardised carbon accounting.
O6. To support assessment of the ecological and economic feasibility of ocean-based CDR deployment on a regional scale through improved representation in Integrated Assessment Models.
O7. To generate the roadmaps required to help policymakers bring ocean-based CDR to scale.
Work has started in all components of the project, with all partners finalizing the focus of their intended technical and scientific studies, new researchers recruited where required and an external advisory board established for the project. Initial dissemination and communication activities have raised international awareness of, and engagement with, the project, and we have supported our sister projects via participation in their workshops and online webinars. In accordance with the project’s work plan 8 Deliverables (D) and 3 Milestones (MS) have been successfully completed.
WP2: Existing work on LCA's and TEA's for mCDR has been reviewed, enabling the technological readiness of OCDR approaches to be assessed (D2.1) and a common LCA framework to be established (D2.3). The first TEA case study (Ocean Iron Fertilisation) was recently completed.
WP3: The potential metrics for quantifying OCDR efficiency relative to baseline conditions have been identified (MS2) and are being tested through FOCI model simulations of enhanced alkalinity. The OceanBioME modelling environment has also been enhanced through the inclusion of the PISCES biogeochemical model . The current instrumentation appropriate for conducting OCDR MRV has been reviewed.
WP4: Preparatory work conducted ahead of the focus groups, surveys and workshops planned for RP2. This includes reviews of existing literature and conceptual background material, and the identification of appropriate locations for the public perception studies in consultation with the other WPs.
WP5: The OCDR Communities of Practice (CPrs) have been mapped (MS3) and consultation/interview processes established in preparation for the main phase of CPr engagement during RP2. An initial review of the legal frameworks has also been conducted and the priority case studies defined and aligned with the other WPs.
WP6: A series of roundtable workshops has been conducted with leading OCDR companies, resulting in the successful development of an OCDR Industry Association (D6.1; MS1). Two OCDR pathways have also been selected for the development of improved abatement cost estimates, and key barriers to operationalization have been identified in consultation with early-stage companies.
WP7: The current status of relevant (ocean bio-economic) Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) has been reviewed, and appropriate model templates have been identified and selected for the inclusion of alkalinity and other OCDR relevant parameters into both global and regional IAMs. Optimisation models have also been developed and applied to alkalinity enhancement case studies to improve our understanding of OCDR logistic capabilities and costs.
WP8: A Dissemination, Communication and Exploitation (DCE) plan has been produced (D8.1) that identifies the project’s target audiences and engagement mechanisms. The initial results have been presented by consortia members at >40 events, and have already helped facilitate direct engagement with many groups.
WP3: The potential metrics for quantifying OCDR efficiency relative to baseline conditions have been identified (MS2) and are being tested through FOCI model simulations of enhanced alkalinity. The OceanBioME modelling environment has also been enhanced through the inclusion of the PISCES biogeochemical model . The current instrumentation appropriate for conducting OCDR MRV has been reviewed.
WP4: Preparatory work conducted ahead of the focus groups, surveys and workshops planned for RP2. This includes reviews of existing literature and conceptual background material, and the identification of appropriate locations for the public perception studies in consultation with the other WPs.
WP5: The OCDR Communities of Practice (CPrs) have been mapped (MS3) and consultation/interview processes established in preparation for the main phase of CPr engagement during RP2. An initial review of the legal frameworks has also been conducted and the priority case studies defined and aligned with the other WPs.
WP6: A series of roundtable workshops has been conducted with leading OCDR companies, resulting in the successful development of an OCDR Industry Association (D6.1; MS1). Two OCDR pathways have also been selected for the development of improved abatement cost estimates, and key barriers to operationalization have been identified in consultation with early-stage companies.
WP7: The current status of relevant (ocean bio-economic) Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) has been reviewed, and appropriate model templates have been identified and selected for the inclusion of alkalinity and other OCDR relevant parameters into both global and regional IAMs. Optimisation models have also been developed and applied to alkalinity enhancement case studies to improve our understanding of OCDR logistic capabilities and costs.
WP8: A Dissemination, Communication and Exploitation (DCE) plan has been produced (D8.1) that identifies the project’s target audiences and engagement mechanisms. The initial results have been presented by consortia members at >40 events, and have already helped facilitate direct engagement with many groups.