Plan Sea: Ocean Interventions to Address Climate Change · Wil Burns and Anna Madlener

SEAO2_CDR: An Insight into the European Ocean CDR Space with Christopher Pearce, Patricia Grasse and Christine Merk

·47 min·3 clips

Christine Merck says ocean alkalinity enhancement can feel like pollution despite its potential to lower acidification.

1. Plan C examines the European Union-funded CO2 CDR project and its assessment of ocean-based carbon dioxide removal. 2. Anna Madlener and Will Burns host Christopher Pearce, Christine Merck, and Patricia Grasse, whose roles cover technical research, public perceptions, and integrated assessment. 3. The project asks when, where, how, and whether ocean CDR strategies could contribute to climate mitigation. 4. Christopher Pearce says oceans cover 70% of the planet and already absorb about 25% of anthropogenic CO2. 5. Pearce stresses that removing carbon dioxide cannot replace stopping emissions. 6. Christine Merck says European CDR strategies lack specific regulation and are not included in EU emissions-trading or LULUCF frameworks. 7. Merck cites Norway’s deliberative exercise with 81 people discussing marine CDR. 8. Pearce describes the project’s three themes as technical evaluation, governance frameworks, and implementation pathways. 9. The technical work compares abiotic approaches such as ocean alkalinity enhancement with biotic approaches such as macroalgae cultivation and sinking. 10. The researchers plan to work with commercial trials on monitoring, reporting, verification, life-cycle analysis, and techno-economic analysis. 11. Merck says ocean alkalinity enhancement is viewed by some members of the public as chemically adding pollution. 12. Merck reports that four hours of deliberation in Norway reduced uncertainty without necessarily changing participants’ opinions. 13. Stakeholder engagement will examine how CDR proposals fit existing marine regulations and spatial planning. 14. Pearce says independent evaluation could identify approaches that are not viable at a proposed scale. 15. The project hopes to support an industry association where ocean CDR companies can share knowledge, hurdles, and guidance. 16. Grasse says integrated assessment must connect marine carbon storage with emissions, consumption, population growth, logistics, and supply chains. 17. Madlener and Burns conduct the episode as a structured interview with three project representatives. 18. The discussion moves from European regulation and public perceptions to modeling, international collaboration, and field-trial constraints. 19. Ocean CDR researchers, regulators, and climate-policy analysts will find the project’s framework relevant. 20. Listeners seeking personal stories or entertainment may skip this technical policy interview.

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