The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has released the National Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Research Strategy, outlining a path to advance research on marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR). This technology uses ocean processes to capture and store atmospheric carbon dioxide, while addressing risks and tradeoffs. The strategy, aligned with the Ocean Climate Action Plan, emphasizes advancing scientific understanding, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, streamlining regulatory processes, and ensuring transparency and public engagement.
Engineering With Nature (EWN) researcher Dr. Nick Cohn, a member of the Fast Track Action Committee on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal, contributed his expertise to the development of this strategy on behalf of the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center. Dr. Cohn is also leading an innovative EWN project that tests the use of olivine sands, a natural mineral with carbon capture potential, at ERDC’s Field Research Facility along the Outer Banks, NC. This study, conducted in collaboration with Project Vesta, tracks the movement of olivine sands in coastal environments and measures their capacity to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. By combining carbon capture with coastal resilience through beach nourishment, this project demonstrates how mCDR technologies can deliver multiple benefits.
For more on the White House strategy, visit here.
