A Research Strategy for Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal and Sequestration (2022) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
9 Synthesis and Research Strategy
9 Synthesis and Research Strategy
Pages 239-264
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 239... ...
approaches could complement CO2 emission reductions and contribute to the portfolio of climate response strategies needed to limit climate change and surface ocean acidification over coming decades and centuries. While rapid and extensive decarbonization and abatement of other greenhouse gases in the United States and global economies are the primary action required to meet international climate goals, ocean and other CDR approaches can help balance difficultto-mitigate human CO2 emissions and contribute to mid-century to late-century net-zero carbon dioxide emissions targets.
|
From page 240... ...
9.2 COMMON COMPONENTS OF ANY RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION The suite of six ocean CDR approaches, defined broadly and addressed in detail in the report chapters, covers a wide range from ecosystem recovery and alteration of marine ecosystems to more industrial-based techniques. The knowledge base and readiness levels for the approaches differ substantially as do the carbon sequestration potential, environmental impacts, and human dimensions.
|
From page 241... ...
Example Research Questions: • How do the life-cycle analyses of ocean CDR techniques change under different deployment scenarios? • How do the perspectives, preferences, and norms of ocean CDR researchers and entrepreneurs influence the artifacts that are produced?
|
From page 242... ...
.1 Scholars have also suggested four principles for CDR research in just climate policy: emission cuts must remain in the center of climate policy; social, economic, and environmental impacts matter; CDR projects and approaches should be assessed individually; and climate policy needs BOX 9.2 The Oxford Principles of Geoengineering Research The Oxford Principles were developed by academic researchers at the University of Oxford, University College London, and the University of Cardiff in 2009. Later that year, the UK House of Commons Sci ence and Technology Select Committee on the Regulation of Geoengineering endorsed the principles as "provid[ing]
|
From page 243... ...
Permitting of Research Significant permitting issues could arise in connection with ocean CDR research, particularly field trials and other in situ research. As discussed in Chapter 2, while there is no domestic legal framework specific to ocean CDR, research projects may be subject to a number of domestic environmental and other laws, which impose permitting requirements.
|
From page 244... ...
Traditional ecological knowledge and traditional land and resource management systems would have many insights for some of the techniques discussed in this report, such as ecological restoration and seaweed cultivation. However, reversing the damage to marine ecosystems needs to be done with the permission, guidance, and collaboration of Indigenous peoples (Turner and Neis, 2020)
|
From page 245... ...
9.3 SUMMARY OF ASSESSED OCEAN-BASED CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL STRATEGIES Chapters 3 through 8 include detailed assessments of the current state of understanding of each of the six ocean-based CDR approaches examined within this report, as defined by the com 3 See https://www.cdrmare.de/en/die-mission/. 4 See https://pics.uvic.ca/projects/solid-carbon-negative-emissions-technology-feasibility-study.
|
From page 246... ...
As previously stated, the knowledge base and readiness levels for the six ocean CDR approaches examined differ substantially as do the carbon sequestration potential, environmental impacts, and human dimensions. The committee's assessment on potential of scale-up for each approach is described in the sections that follow and is also summarized in Table 9.1 (see Box 9.3 for specifics on estimating costs)
|
From page 247... ...
The carbon accounting costs could potentially decline later if accepted standard methodologies are developed and agreed upon. All ocean CDR approaches will also need to consider the costs associated with monitoring environ mental and social impacts including assessment of nonlocal downstream effects on the environment and the ocean carbon cycle.
|
From page 248... ...
This is complicated in that those receiving the most benefit in terms of carbon credits or markets may not be the ones facing the greatest impact. Providing information for policy makers and the public about the trade-offs between ocean fertilization and other land- and ocean-based CDR approaches and the consequences of doing nothing for negative C emissions also needs attention.
|
From page 249... ...
In principle, as a CDR approach, artificial upwelling provides a means to supply growthlimiting nutrients to the upper ocean and generate increased primary production and net carbon sequestration. For this reason, it has been proposed as a potentially effective component of a portfolio of CDR approaches, either stand-alone or in concert with aquaculture.
|
From page 250... ...
Social and governance aspects would also be added as per any comprehensive ocean CDR research agenda. Seaweed Cultivation Seaweed cultivation and sequestration appears to be a compelling ocean CDR strategy.
|
From page 251... ...
Ecosystem Recovery The research agenda for ecosystem recovery includes basic scientific research on the carbon removal potential and permanence of different organisms, ecosystems, and processes; an examination of the expected outcomes from different policy tools; and the socioeconomic and governance aspects of managing marine ecosystems and organisms for carbon removal. As with seaweed cultivation, there remains uncertainty in how much net carbon sequestration would result from protecting and restoring marine ecosystems.
|
From page 252... ...
Research and development is required to explore and improve the technical feasibility and readiness level of ocean alkalinity enhancement approaches (including the development of pilot-scale facilities)
|
From page 253... ...
Efficacy Medium–High Low Confidence Medium Confidence Low–Medium High Confidence High Confidence What is the Confidence Upwelling of deep water The growth and Confidence Need to conduct field Monitoring within confidence level that BCP known to work also brings a source of CO2 sequestration of seaweed Given the diversity deployments to assess an enclosed this approach will and productivity that can be exchanged with crops should lead to of approaches and CDR, alterations engineered system, remove atmospheric enhancement evident. the atmosphere.
|
From page 254... ...
Scalability Medium–High Medium Medium Low–Medium Medium–High Medium–High Potential scalability Potential C removal Potential C removal >0.1 Gt Potential C removal >0.1 Potential C removal Potential C removal Potential C removal at some future date >0.1–1.0 Gt CO2/yr CO2/yr and <1.0 Gt CO2/yr Gt CO2/yr and <1.0 Gt <0.1–1.0 Gt CO2/yr >0.1–1.0 Gt CO2/yr >0.1–1.0 Gt CO2/yr with global-scale (medium confidence) (low confidence)
|
From page 255... ...
Encompass and protections; protected areas, fishing, seaweed cultivation; ecosystem protection health and economic Substantial electrical use conflicts, downstream effects from recreation) ; potential for potential conflicts with and recovery.
|
From page 256... ...
(medium confidence) (medium–high (low confidence)
|
From page 257... ...
This cost of monitoring for ecosystem recovery may be lower. marine ecosystems (low, medium, high)
|
From page 258... ...
view and use monitoring data, including certification Analysis of policy mechanisms and innovation pathways, $1M–2M/yr 2 $2M–$4M including on the economics of scale-up Development of standardized environmental monitoring and $0.2M/yr 3 $0.6M carbon accounting methods for ocean CDR Development of a coordinated research infrastructure to promote $2M/yr 3–4 $6M–$8M transparent research Development of a publicly accessible data management strategy $2M–3M/yr 2 $4M–$6M for ocean CDR research Development of a coordinated plan for science communication $5M/yr 10 $50M and public engagement of ocean CDR research in the context of decarbonization and climate response Development of a common code of conduct for ocean CDR $1M/yr 2 $2M research Total Estimated Research Budget ~$29M/yr 2–10 ~$125M (Assumes all six CDR approaches moving ahead)
|
From page 259... ...
in region sited-based input from modeling and preliminary experiments Monitoring carbon and ecological shifts $10M/yr 10 $100M Experimental planning and extrapolation to global scales $5M/yr 10 $50M (early for planning and later for impact assessments) Total Estimated Research Budget ~$54/yr 5–10 $466M Estimated Budget of Research Priorities $5M/yr 5–10 $25M Seaweed Cultivation Technologies for efficient large-scale farming and harvesting of $15M/yr 10 $150M seaweed biomass Engineering studies focused on the conveying of harvested biomass $2M/yr 10 $20M to durable oceanic reservoir with minimal losses of carbon Assessment of long-term fates of seaweed biomass and by-products $5M/yr 5 $25M Implementation and deployment of a demonstration-scale seaweed $10M/yr 10 $100M cultivation and sequestration system Validation and monitoring the CDR performance of a demonstration- $5M/yr 10 $50M scale seaweed cultivation and sequestration system Evaluation of the environmental impacts of large-scale seaweed $4M/yr 10 $40M farming and sequestration Total Estimated Research Budget $41M/yr 5–10 $385M Estimated Budget of Research Priorities $26M/yr 5 $235M continued
|
From page 260... ...
Macroalgae: Carbon measurements, global range, and levers of $5M/yr 10 $50M protection Benthic communities: disturbance and restoration $5M/yr 5 $25M Marine animals and CO2 removal $5M/yr 10 $50M Animal nutrient cycling $5M/yr 5 $25M Commercial fisheries and marine carbon $5M/yr 5 $25M Total Estimated Research Budget $41M/yr 5–10 $295M Estimated Budget of Research Priorities $26M/yr 5–10 $220M Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Research and development to explore and improve the technical $10M/yr 5 $50M feasibility and readiness level of ocean alkalinity enhancement approaches (including the development of pilot-scale facilities) Laboratory and mesocosm experiments to explore impacts on $10M/yr 5 $50M physiology and functionality of organisms and communities Field experiments $15M/yr 5–10 $75M–$150M Research into the development of appropriate monitoring and $10 5–10 $50M–$100M accounting schemes, covering CDR potential and possible side effects Total Estimated Research Budget $45M/yr 5–10 $180M–$350M Estimated Budget of Research Priorities $25M/yr 5–10 $125M–$200M Electrochemical Processes Demonstration projects including CDR verification and $30M/yr 5 $150M environmental monitoring Development and assessment of novel and improved electrode and $10M/yr 5 $50M membrane materials Assessment of environmental impact and acid management strategies $7.5M/yr 10 $75M Coupling whole-rock dissolution to electrochemical reactors and $7.5M/yr 10 $75M systems Development of hybrid approaches $7.5M/yr 10 $75M Resource mapping and pathway assessment $10M/yr 5 $50M Total Estimated Research Budget $73M/yr 5–10 $475M Estimated Budget of Research Priorities $55M/yr 5–10 $350M NOTE: Bold type identifies priorities for taking the next step to advance understanding of each particular approach.
|
From page 261... ...
Other priorities include the development of a common code of conduct for ocean CDR research and coordinated research infrastructure including components on standardized environmental monitoring and carbon accounting methods, publicly accessible data management, and science communication and public engagement. The research priorities in Table 9.3 for each of the four biotic ocean CDR approaches (Chapters 3–6)
|
From page 262... ...
Recommendation 3: Ocean CDR Research Program Priorities. A research program should move forward integrating studies, in parallel, on multiple aspects of different ocean CDR approaches, recognizing the different stages of the knowledge base and technological readiness of specific ocean CDR approaches.
|
From page 263... ...
6. Research agenda that emphasizes advancing understanding of ocean fertilization, seaweed cultivation, and ocean alkalinity enhancement.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.