Toward Responsible and Informed Ocean-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal: Research and Governance Priorities

The report evaluates seven ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) methods, emphasizing the need for a precautionary, iterative approach to balance climate urgency with environmental and social risks.

• The report examines seven specific ocean CDR methods: coastal blue carbon restoration, seaweed cultivation, ocean fertilization, alkalinity enhancement, electrochemical approaches, artificial upwelling, and artificial downwelling.
• While ocean CDR is increasingly featured in climate plans to reach net-zero emissions and limit warming to 1.5°C, most methods are currently characterized by early-stage development, high uncertainty regarding efficacy, and a lack of sufficient governance.
• The authors advocate for a development pathway that prioritizes a precautionary and adaptive approach, suggesting that development should be halted if the environmental and social risks outweigh the expected benefits.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Toward Responsible and Informed Ocean-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal: Research and Governance Priorities. https://www.wri.org/research/responsible-informed-ocean-based-carbon-dioxide-removal

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Toward Responsible and Informed Ocean-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal: Research and Governance Priorities. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/responsible-informed-ocean-based-carbon-dioxide-removal.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Toward Responsible and Informed Ocean-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal: Research and Governance Priorities |url=https://www.wri.org/research/responsible-informed-ocean-based-carbon-dioxide-removal |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendtoward, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Toward Responsible and Informed Ocean-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal: Research and Governance Priorities}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/responsible-informed-ocean-based-carbon-dioxide-removal}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }