Deep Dives
Thought-provoking research providing extensive learning opportunities

Marine carbon dioxide removal may be a future climate solution

David T Ho & Laurent Bopp, Sage Journals Plastics & Pollution

The ocean has absorbed 25% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions and over 90% of excess heat, mitigating climate change but causing ocean acidification and marine ecosystem disruption.

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NOAA, White House, others release strategy for marine carbon dioxide removal research

National Science and Technology Council Plastics & Pollution

Today the Biden-Harris Administration and NOAA released the National Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Research Strategy to advance safe and effective research on the benefits, risks and tradeoffs of marine carbon dioxide removal.

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Mapping the global variation in the efficiency of ocean alkalinity enhancement for carbon dioxide removal

Mengyang Zhou, et al., Nature Plastics & Pollution

To limit global warming to below 2 °C by 2100, CO2 removal from the atmosphere will be necessary.

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Impulse response functions as a framework for quantifying ocean-based carbon dioxide removal

Elizabeth Yankovsky, et al., EGUSphere Energy Solutions Plastics & Pollution

Limiting global warming to 2 °C by the end of the century requires dramatically reducing CO2 emissions, and also implementing carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies.

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Next steps for assessing ocean iron fertilization for marine carbon dioxide removal

Ken O. Buesseler, et al., Frontiers Plastics & Pollution

There are many potential approaches to marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR), of which ocean iron fertilization (OIF) has the longest history of study.

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Global ocean carbon uptake enhanced by rainfall

Laetitia Parc, et al., Plastics & Pollution

Rain alters local sea surface physical and biogeochemical properties but its spatiotemporal variability has led to its overlook in global ocean carbon uptake studies.

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Can coastal and marine carbon dioxide removal help to close the emissions gap? Scientific, legal, economic, and governance considerations

Martin Johnson, et al., University of California Press Plastics & Pollution

In this Policy Bridge, we present the key issues regarding the safety, efficacy, funding, and governance of coastal and marine systems in support of climate change mitigation.

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The Cure for Disposable Plastic Crap Is Here—and It’s Loony

Clive Thompson, WIRED Plastics & Pollution

Stretchy seaweed, reverse vending machines, QR-coded take-out boxes: They’re how we can break society’s absurd addiction to single-use plastics.

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Turning The Tide: Biden Administration Leadership On Ocean Climate Action & Recommended Next Steps

The Biden Administration Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports

As climate impacts on our ocean continue to intensify, it will be critical to build on the strong momentum for ocean climate action generated over the last several years and continue to take bold action to address the climate crisis.

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The EU Blue Economy Report 2024

European Commission Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries & Joint Research Centre Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports

The new edition of the EU Blue Economy Report is out, offering an in-depth analysis of European blue economy sectors and their performances based on the latest available data. 

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The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable ocean

Nathan J. Bennett, Elisa Morgera & David Boyd, Nature Plastics & Pollution

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2022 that formally recognizes that there is a universal human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

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A Global Ocean Free From the Harmful Impacts of Pollution: Roadmap for Action

Back to Blue, Economist Impact and The Nippon Foundation Plastics & Pollution

Back to Blue’s Roadmap to end ocean pollution is a synthesis of insights from hundreds of global leaders across science, industry, policy, business and finance on understanding ocean pollution and how to tackle it.

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Why Oceans and Marine Biodiversity Matter as Investment Issues

Andre Ranchin, Hymans Robertson Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution

A sustainable and growing blue economy can provide investment opportunities and a significant environmental return.

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Plastic Is Everywhere—Except The One Place It Should Be

Ocean Conservancy Plastics & Pollution

How Investor and Company Climate Commitments Ignore Plastics and What to Do About It.

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Turning off the Tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Plastics & Pollution

This report examines the economic and business models needed to address the impacts of the plastics economy.

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Trade and Environment Review 2023

UNCTAD Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

The Trade and Environment Review 2023 analyses the impacts of human activities and global crises on the ocean economy, which includes traditional sectors such as fishing and shipping, as well as emerging ones like offshore wind energy and marine biotechnology.

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Could removing carbon from the ocean be a climate change solution?

Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times Plastics & Pollution

The ocean, after all, has long been a silent hero when it comes to climate change.

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Ocean Climate Action Plan

Ocean Policy Committee, The White House Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports

The OCAP outlines three goals that mobilize the Federal Government and civil society to take effective and innovative ocean climate action.

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BlueInvest: new investor report features an ocean of investment opportunities in the sustainable blue economy

European Commission Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

Today, the European Commission is unveiling a new investor report, on the occasion of the BlueInvest Day 2023.

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A growing plastic smog, now estimated to be over 170 trillion plastic particles afloat in the world’s oceans—Urgent solutions required

Eriksen, M. et al., PLoS One Plastics & Pollution

As global awareness, science, and policy interventions for plastic escalate, institutions around the world are seeking preventative strategies. Central to this is the need for precise global time series of plastic pollution with which we can assess whether implemented policies are effective, but at present we lack these data.

Read more → (17 minute read)