Setting the Course

for Novel Marine
Carbon Removal
in Europe

This publication comes at a pivotal time; marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) could become an important pillar of the EU’s carbon removal strategy and contribute to keeping global climate goals within reach.

Although many mCDR approaches show promise, most remain at an early stage of development. Important questions remain around their real-world effectiveness, monitoring and verification, environmental and social risks, and scalability.

These questions are particularly timely in the context of the EU Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation. Following the adoption of the first certification methodologies for permanent carbon removals, the European Commission is now considering whether and how additional approaches could be brought into the framework, including some mCDR approaches such as Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE), and Direct Ocean Carbon Capture and Storage (DOCCS), and broadly Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) and mineral carbonation.

Europe is well placed to lead on marine CDR, given its strong research base, favourable geography and existing maritime infrastructure. Realising this potential — and creating a pathway towards robust certification under the CRCF — will require coordinated research to address remaining scientific questions, strengthen monitoring and verification, close policy gaps and support responsible innovation.