Scientists plan to add iron to the ocean to up carbon absorption

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🗞️ Driving the news: Scientists are exploring ocean iron fertilization (OIF) as a method to capture carbon dioxide by adding iron to oceans
• A new study advocates for seeding the Pacific Ocean with iron to trigger phytoplankton growth, which absorbs CO2
• Plans for trials covering 10,000 square kilometers in the Pacific could start by 2026

🔭 The context: OIF stimulates phytoplankton growth, capturing carbon through photosynthesis
• Previous experiments in the 1990s and 2000s were halted due to environmental concerns and public backlash, leading to a 2013 ban for commercial purposes under the London Protocol
• The current project, led by Exploring Ocean Iron Solutions (ExOIS), aims to assess the carbon capture potential and ecosystem impact of OIF

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: With the ocean's vast capacity to store carbon, OIF could be a scalable, low-cost strategy to mitigate climate change
• However, the potential risks to marine ecosystems, including nutrient depletion and the creation of 'dead zones,' raise critical environmental concerns

⏭️ What's next: ExOIS will seek approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and raise $160 million to fund the trials, which will include rigorous monitoring and public engagement to address concerns

💬 One quote: “This is the first time in over a decade that the marine scientific community has come together to endorse a specific research plan for ocean iron.” — Ken Buesseler, Executive Director, ExOIS

📈 One stat: Adding 1 to 2 million tonnes of iron annually could capture up to 45 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2100, according to a recent study

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