Ocean CDR

16 posts

The Legal Framework for Direct Ocean Carbon Capture and Storage

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 […]

Canadian Senate Report Recommends Canada Lead on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Strategy

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 […]

Regulation of Sargassum Removal and Sinking in Florida: New Sabin Center Report

As global efforts to tackle climate change intensify, attention is turning to carbon dioxide removal (“CDR”)—strategies that draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it for long periods. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (“IPCC”) has emphasized that CDR will be necessary, alongside deep emissions reductions, to limit global […]

Regulation of Seaweed Cultivation and Sinking for Carbon Dioxide Removal in Alaska: New Sabin Center Report

Last year, for the first time, global temperatures exceeded 1.5oC above pre-industrial levels. This follows a decade of “record-breaking temperatures,” with the World Meteorological Organization concluding that “the past ten years 2025-2024 are the ten warmest years on record.” Reversing this trend requires urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions […]

San Francisco v. EPA: Impact on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal

On March 4, 2025, the Supreme Court handed down an important ruling in City and County of San Francisco v. Environmental Protection Agency. In a 5-4 decision, the Court curtailed the Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) authority under the Clean Water Act (“CWA”) to issue pollutant discharge permits. The case involved […]

New Report on Liability Considerations for Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal in the U.S.

The burning of fossil fuels and other human activities are continuing to cause rapid temperature rise. 2024 was the hottest year on record, and the planet’s 10 warmest years since 1850 have occurred in the past decade. Achieving global climate goals will require rapid and dramatic greenhouse gas emissions reductions, […]

International Governance of mCDR: Small Steps Forward, but Much More Work to do

Late last year, members of the international community convened in London to discuss issues relating to implementation of the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (“London Convention”) and the 1996 Protocol to that Convention (“London Protocol”). Among the topics up for […]

Navigating the Legal Landscape of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement: Federal Preemption and State Authority

  The Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change underscores the need for carbon dioxide removal (“CDR”) to complement emissions reductions in meeting global climate targets. Ocean-based CDR strategies, which aim to increase the ocean’s natural carbon sink capacity, are gaining attention. One such strategy, ocean alkalinity […]