Isometric issues first protocol for CDR in the mining industry

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🗞️ Driving the news: Carbon removal registry Isometric has issued the Open System Ex-Situ Mineralization (OSEM) Protocol, its first guideline for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) in mining
• This protocol outlines methods to enhance the carbon capture capacity of mine tailings and waste rock through accelerated weathering processes
• Public consultation on the protocol is open until January 20, 2025

🔭 The context: The OSEM Protocol facilitates ex-situ mineralization, a process where alkaline materials interact with the atmosphere to store CO2 for millennia
• Developed in collaboration with scientific and industry experts, it incorporates compliance with local and global environmental regulations for mining waste
• The protocol includes standards for monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) for operational and closed mining sites

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Mining produces significant industrial waste, which the OSEM Protocol aims to repurpose for large-scale carbon capture
• By aligning with regulatory frameworks, it promotes sustainable practices while addressing the climate crisis
• This scalable approach can contribute to reducing atmospheric CO2 levels and mitigating global warming

⏭️ What's next: The protocol's public consultation phase will refine its implementation
• If widely adopted, it could become a benchmark for integrating CDR in the mining sector globally
• The industry may also see increased collaboration on innovative technologies for carbon removal

💬 One quote: "Developing a CDR pathway to leverage alkaline industrial waste streams...can be a low-cost and highly scalable way to remove a materially significant amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere." — Dr. Greg Dipple, co-founder and Head of Science at Arca

📈 One stat: The global carbon dioxide removal (CDR) capacity needs to scale up to remove 10 gigatons of CO2 annually by 2050 to meet net-zero climate targets, according to the IPCC

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