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🗞️ Driving the news: Scientists are testing ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) in Halifax Harbour to boost the ocean's ability to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere
• The process involves adding alkaline materials to seawater, which could remove up to 30 billion tonnes of CO2 annually
• The research, part of the Ocean Alk-Align project, aims to evaluate the method's safety and effectiveness
🔭 The context: As the ocean absorbs about 25% of human-caused CO2 emissions, it becomes more acidic, harming marine life
• OAE accelerates a natural process where alkaline substances neutralize CO2 in water, potentially allowing the ocean to take in more CO2 from the air
• The technology, though promising, is still in experimental stages, with concerns over ecological impacts and scalability
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: If successful, OAE could significantly reduce atmospheric CO2, helping to mitigate climate change
• The approach represents a novel way to leverage the ocean as a carbon sink amid growing urgency to address global emissions
• It could complement emission reductions, which alone may not suffice to prevent severe climate outcomes
⏭️ What's next: Ongoing trials will assess the environmental safety and long-term effectiveness of OAE
• Researchers are also exploring the logistical challenges, such as sourcing alkaline materials and establishing regulatory frameworks
• A broader public discussion will be needed to consider large-scale deployment of the technology
💬 One quote: "We just want to see if it's possible"- Ruth Musgrave, Dalhousie University professor, emphasizing the experimental nature of the research
📈 One stat: OAE could potentially remove 30 billion tonnes of CO2 per year, close to the 37.4 billion tonnes emitted globally in 2023
Click for more news covering the latest on carbon capture & storage
