Charting a Course: Strategic Planning for Marine CDR MRV

RMI and [C]Worthy present a strategic roadmap for the development of monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems in the marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) industry. The report emphasizes that credible carbon quantification requires integrating direct in situ measurements with scientific modeling. It outlines a nine-step organizational journey—from initial strategy and hiring a quantification lead to data reporting and industry knowledge sharing—to help startups secure funding and ensure environmental accountability.

• The marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) sector has transitioned from research experiments to a nascent industry, with the number of startups growing from three before 2017 to more than 45 as of the report's data source.
• Robust MRV is essential for mCDR growth because it enables the accurate evaluation of carbon removal, which is necessary to build industry trust and generate revenue through the sale of carbon credits.
• Effective mCDR quantification requires an integrated, two-pronged approach combining in situ direct measurements with hydrodynamic and biogeochemical modeling. Direct measurements are typically used for the 'near-field' environment (within several hundred meters of a site), while models track carbon uptake across larger spatial footprints and longer timescales.
• The report proposes a nine-step MRV roadmap for startups: 1) develop and document an MRV strategy; 2) designate an MRV/quantification lead; 3) acquire and test the technology stack; 4) adopt or develop an MRV protocol; 5) draft a project-specific MRV plan; 6) identify a data management system; 7) designate a monitoring and modeling team; 8) collect, analyze, and report data; and 9) share lessons with the industry.
• Developing a new MRV protocol for a carbon removal registry can be a resource-intensive process that may take more than six months if an existing protocol cannot be adapted.
• MRV activities are deeply interconnected with other critical project functions, such as engineering design, community engagement, and permitting. For instance, obtaining pilot permits can cost over $1 million and take more than two years.

APA

RMI (2025). Charting a Course: Strategic Planning for Marine CDR MRV. https://rmi.org/resources/charting-a-course-strategic-planning-for-marine-cdr-mrv/

Chicago

RMI. Charting a Course: Strategic Planning for Marine CDR MRV. 2025. https://rmi.org/resources/charting-a-course-strategic-planning-for-marine-cdr-mrv/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Charting a Course: Strategic Planning for Marine CDR MRV |date=2 July 2025 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/charting-a-course-strategic-planning-for-marine-cdr-mrv/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2025charting, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Charting a Course: Strategic Planning for Marine CDR MRV}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/charting-a-course-strategic-planning-for-marine-cdr-mrv/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }