Calls for caution as enhanced rock weathering shows carbon capture promise

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Mongabay or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW), a geoengineering method to speed up natural carbon capture, is gaining attention as a climate solution
• By spreading finely crushed volcanic rock on farmland, companies claim ERW can store carbon while improving soil health
• However, scientists urge caution, citing challenges in accurately measuring long-term carbon sequestration and potential environmental risks

🔭 The context: ERW mimics Earth’s natural carbon cycle by using silicate rock to lock atmospheric CO₂ into stable carbonates in soil, potentially storing billions of tons of carbon
• Companies are already implementing ERW globally at small scales, supported by carbon credit sales, though the industry faces high costs and varied regulatory standards

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: If scaled up, ERW could provide significant carbon removal, with major agricultural nations like the U.S., China, and India showing the highest potential
• Nevertheless, the environmental risks, such as soil toxicity from certain rock types, require careful assessment to avoid unintended consequences

⏭️ What's next: Experts emphasize the need for longer-term studies to refine methods for reliable carbon tracking and monitoring impacts on ecosystem
• ERW could become a widespread solution, but only with better standards and validated methodologies to ensure safe and effective implementation

💬 One quote: “We want to do things that are safe for food, for soils, and for ecosystems... because when you have put something on the soils, it’s irreversible,” warns Arthur Chabot, co-founder of ClimeRock

📈 One stat: Currently, ERW contributes only 1.3 million metric tons of CO₂ removal globally, less than 0.1% of the estimated 7-9 billion metric tons needed annually to meet Paris targets

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