Ocean CO2 Removal: U.S. Funding Cuts Hinder Crucial Research

Research into marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) techniques, particularly ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), is under threat due to significant cuts in US federal science funding. Adam Subhas, a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, is leading the LOC-NESS initiative, which is testing the dispersal of alkaline materials to increase the ocean's capacity to absorb atmospheric carbon. Early trials in the Gulf of Maine have shown no immediate lethal effects on lobsters, though further RNA analysis is ongoing.

Despite the challenges posed by the US funding halt, European nations have ramped up their academic grants for mCDR research, disbursing over £8.5 million in the past two years. Researchers like Sam Dupont at the University of Gothenburg are studying alkalinity thresholds for various marine species, noting potential abnormal development and mortality at high alkalinity levels. He expressed concern that commercial ventures might precede a full understanding of OAE's biological impacts.

Other mCDR research, such as Ken Buesseler's decades-long work on iron fertilization, has also been impacted by the abrupt cessation of US funding. The ambitious Ex-OIS project, aiming to study iron fertilization off Alaska's coast, faces significant funding hurdles. Researchers emphasize the necessity of these studies alongside fossil fuel reduction to address the ongoing climate crisis.