Can the sea soak up our excess carbon dioxide? These scientists are finding out

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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

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