Interest in marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) has risen in the last decade as the deadlines to meet global climate temperature goals draw closer. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) tells us that the 1.5°C and 2°C temperature targets outlined in the Paris Agreement require net zero emissions, which […]
Negative Emissions
Carbon dioxide removal (“CDR”) has become increasingly vital to prevent catastrophic climate change. Even with aggressive cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations will remain elevated for centuries, continuing to warm the planet and intensify climate impacts. By actively removing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, CDR […]
The Trump Administration’s increasing commitment to scientific nonsense regarding climate change creates an opportunity for other countries to lead. The Canadian Senate is recommending that Canada do just that with respect to marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR). Canada is in a unique position to lead on mCDR development. Dalhousie University […]
Until recently, Louisiana was the darling of the carbon capture, removal, and storage industry. Due to its history of oil and gas production, the state has a fairly extensive carbon dioxide pipeline network, and ideal geology for storing carbon dioxide. For those reasons, federal incentives to advance point source capture […]
Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is a promising solution for durable carbon dioxide removal (CDR) which involves spreading finely ground alkaline rocks (such as basalt and other silicate rocks) over land. Scientists posit that the alkaline materials will react with carbon dioxide in the air, sequestering it in mineral or aqueous […]
At the Sabin Center, we have been writing about international legal guidelines that should guide governance discussions of marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) under the London Convention and Protocol. We published a white paper, and followed that up with two blogs (see here and here) summarizing the findings of that […]
Introduction We are at a moment of profound development in understanding how international law applies to climate change. Recently issued advisory opinions from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), and regional human rights courts have clarified country obligations, under international […]
Introduction Parties to the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention) and the 1996 Protocol to the Convention (London Protocol)—two international treaties that aim to protect to the marine environment from human activities—are set to meet in the last week of October 2025. […]