More than 200 scientists have signed a letter demanding “responsible” research into ways to trap planet-warming carbon dioxide in the world’s oceans. Scientists who want to take urgent action on the climate crisis want to make sure that they do not trigger new problems while trusting that the oceans will help in this fight.The planet is already warming with carbon dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere, and more extreme weather disasters are starting to become a part of our lives. One way to prevent climate change from getting worse is to remove some of the emissions from the atmosphere. On the other hand, the oceans already do this for us, absorbing and sequestering approximately 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere. What if people could strengthen this ability even further?
Oceans can be used for climate change
Starting to change the oceans to capture more carbon dioxide could unleash some side effects, but that’s what scientists want to better understand. Startups are already developing new technologies to capture more CO2 at sea. But there’s still a lot we don’t know about what impact this might have or which strategies might be most successful.
“While ocean-based carbon dioxide removal approaches have tremendous potential, they are not without risks,” the letter said. Because the public does not yet have sufficient information about the effectiveness or results of any approach, they are unable to make informed decisions about using these approaches on a large scale.” It is said.
There are a number of ways to increase the ocean’s ability to absorb and retain carbon dioxide. Restoring coastal ecosystems that absorb CO2 through photosynthesis is one option. Other strategies are more technology-oriented. For example, several California-based startups have set up pilot plants to filter CO2 from the ocean. The idea is to extract CO2 from the world’s oceans, creating the margin to absorb more gas in the oceans.The published letter calls for controlled field trials to evaluate carbon removal strategies and for the results to be reviewed by third parties. Additionally, measures need to be taken to overcome “unintended or negative consequences” and inclusive policies that will ensure the participation of different stakeholders need to be implemented.
Oceans are already strained
On the other hand, the oceans have already taken a big hit from climate change. For example, an Atlantic heat wave destroyed coral reefs in Florida this summer. Scientists are so concerned about a mass die-off that they are considering removing the corals from the sea and keeping them in land-based laboratories until it is safe to return them to the water.
After all, what happens offshore also affects communities on land. Coral reefs provide an important buffer against storm surges and are home to thousands of species important to the local economy. If we are going to use oceans to combat climate change, we need to at least understand the risks and benefits. The signed letter basically aims to do this.
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