Ocean health

Fit for purpose marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR)

Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal techniques may play a significant role in facilitating CO2 removal to reduce global warming and ocean acidification. Considerable knowledge gaps remain regarding its efficacy, economic viability, its environmental and ecological impacts and governance. Bridging this gap demands co-design, where living labs, satellite data development and validation, and biodiversity -climate-people nexus research align to designing systems for responsible scaling.

This Alliance explores the capability and uptake of Earth Observation enhanced fit-for-purpose MRV systems for marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR). Together, the MAR-CO2, OAeSIS (Horizon Europe) and a new ESA funded activity will assess existing and develop novel mCDR methodologies and explore how EO can help to monitor, inspect, document and verify mCDR techniques such as iron fertilization, ocean alkalinity enhancement, and micro/ macro-algae cultivation. 

Consortia are soon invited to hand in proposals for the ESA call for tender. The alliance’s formal kick-off is planned with the kick-off of the ESA funded projects, a first meeting to discuss and refine modalities of cooperation as well as propose joint deliverables (such as joint publications, data management plants, datasets, policy briefs) is foreseen. Consecutive meetings during Horizon Europe Annual Meetings, workshops and conferences are encouraged.  

Collaborative outputs will be jointly defined between projects and may include, but are not limited to: 

  • Aligning monitoring campaigns, datasets, scenarios and model assumptions; 
  • Facilitating access to and uptake of satellite products and related methodologies through data sharing agreements and open science practices; 
  • Defining joint monitoring protocols, working towards defining community standards or aligning geographic scope; 
  • Coordinating data-management and open science approaches;   
  • Developing shared outputs such as jointly defined datasets, open tools, joint publications, community standards, assessment contributions and policy briefs; 
  • Joint communication activities; 
  • Training and capacity building activities, exchange of staff and/or young researchers. 

Collaboration is expected to evolve with the scientific needs of the participating projects. Further exchanges during Horizon Europe Annual Meetings, relevant scientific workshops and conferences will be encouraged, to provide opportunities to identify additional cooperation based on the evolving needs and added value for participating projects. 

Contributing EC & ESA projects

EC

MAR-CO2

MAR-CO2 aims to develop and test robust monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems for marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR). It assesses carbon-removal effectiveness and durability, ecological risks and co-benefits, while addressing governance, transparency and public trust to support responsible deployment and integration into climate strategies.

EC

OAeSIS

OAeSIS (Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement: Sustainability and Impacts across Scales) aims to assess the effectiveness, scalability and sustainability of ocean alkalinity enhancement as a marine carbon dioxide removal approach. It investigates biogeochemical processes, climate-mitigation potential and impacts on marine species and biodiversity, while examining life-cycle impacts, social acceptance and governance to inform responsible deployment and policy decisions.

Contributing EC & ESA Calls

ESA

EO4mCDR – marine Carbon Dioxide Removal

Call Opening (planned) - Q1 2027
Call Closure (planned) - Q2 2027

ESA

Ocean Carbon Budget +

Call Opening (planned) - Q1 2027
Call Closure (planned) - Q2 2027