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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on the World Economic Forum or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Four companies are pioneering Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) to remove CO2 from seawater, aiming to combat climate change
• These companies—Brineworks, Captura, Sea02, and Ebb Carbon—use various electrochemical processes to capture dissolved carbon and return treated water to the ocean for further CO2 absorption
🔭 The context: DOC, inspired by Direct Air Capture, targets CO2 removal from the ocean, which absorbs 25% of global emissions and 90% of excess heat
• DOC could potentially be more efficient and cost-effective than air capture due to higher CO2 concentration in seawater
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Enhancing the ocean’s carbon capture capacity could significantly aid in reaching net-zero targets, while also alleviating ocean acidification that threatens marine ecosystems
⏭️ What's next: These companies are scaling up pilot projects, with goals like Sea02’s aim to capture one gigaton of CO2 by 2045, while partnerships and funding continue to support technology development
💬 One quote: "The ocean is one of our planet's natural defenses against rising CO2 levels," - the World Economic Forum
📈 One stat: The ocean contains 150 times more carbon dioxide than the atmosphere, offering significant potential for carbon removal
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