Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Ocean-Based Carbon Capture Industry Faces Scalability and Environmental Hurdles

Innovative methods to combat global warming are being tested, but questions about effectiveness, risks, and community concerns persist.

Image
Lobstermen Roger Wilder, from left, and Glen Fernandes talk with Sarah Schumann, of the Fishery Friendly Climate Action Campaign, at her information table on ocean carbon capture at the Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association Annual Weekend and Trade Show, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Hyannis, Mass. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
A fisherman carries supplies to a boat in the Port of Galilee, a fishing village in Narragansett, R.I., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
A seagull sits on a seafood processing plant conveyer belt in the Port of Galilee, a fishing village in Narragansett, R.I., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Overview

  • Startups and researchers are exploring ocean-based carbon capture methods like dissolving minerals, growing seaweed, and sinking organic materials to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
  • The industry has seen significant investment, largely financed through the sale of unregulated carbon credits, but remains in an experimental phase with small-scale projects.
  • Concerns from coastal communities and fishing groups highlight resistance to these projects, with skepticism about potential environmental impacts and 'engineering' the climate.
  • Scaling these methods to meet global climate goals would require massive resources and infrastructure, raising questions about feasibility and unintended ecological consequences.
  • Measuring the long-term effectiveness of ocean-based carbon capture is challenging due to the ocean's dynamic nature and the risk of re-releasing stored carbon.