The latest edition of the World Ocean Review, which is accessible for free, provides a comprehensive overview of ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and aims to spark a crucial discussion on the potential interventions in the ocean to mitigate climate change.
As we seek effective ways to mitigate climate change, the primary focus remains on measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, as we look ahead to the coming decades, it is clear that we will also need to address the removal and secure storage of large quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The role of the ocean in this task is a topic of exploration in the new World Ocean Review (WOR 8), which examines the oceans’ contribution to the Earth’s carbon cycle and evaluates the benefits, risks, and knowledge gaps related to marine carbon dioxide removal techniques. The question of whether and how humankind should further intervene in the ocean to protect the climate is addressed in this latest edition. The report is now available for free download or order from https://worldoceanreview.com/en/.
In recent years, the ocean has played a crucial role in slowing down climate change by absorbing approximately a quarter of the carbon dioxide emissions caused by human activities. Marine carbon dioxide removal (CDR) aims to enhance this natural process and support the ocean’s capacity to store carbon dioxide. While researchers are exploring the feasibility, costs, benefits, risks, and sustainability of CDR techniques, there is a lack of widespread public discussion about the ethical implications of intervening in ocean processes to mitigate climate change. Critics raise concerns about the current state of the world’s oceans and the unknown consequences of CDR, while proponents argue that it is necessary for effective climate action and can buy time to develop alternative low-carbon living options.
This eighth edition of World Ocean Review is dedicated to the topic of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) in light of the controversy and difficult decisions expected in the climate process. With insights from over 20 scientists, it emphasizes the urgent need for effective climate action and delves into the ocean’s role in capturing and storing carbon dioxide for extended periods. The report also explores the potential for terrestrial vegetation to absorb carbon dioxide, discusses the growing focus on the oceans in the climate debate, and provides a comprehensive overview of promising ocean-based carbon capture and storage methods. These methods range from the restoration and expansion of species-rich coastal ecosystems to interventions in marine chemistry (alkalinity enhancement) and carbon storage deep under the ocean floor. Furthermore, the report considers the key principles and rules that scientists believe should be established if society chooses to pursue ocean-based CDR in the future.
“If the warming of the Earth continues at the present rate, a collapse of nature and society is inevitable. In order to reach our climate target, we must resort to methods which are equally impactful and existential. The truth is that stopping avoidable emissions will not be enough. I very much hope that the new World Ocean Review will help to enhance understanding of the measures that will unfortunately be necessary and raise awareness of their impacts,” says Nikolaus Gelpke, initiator of the WOR project and Managing Director of maribus gGmbH. World Ocean Review is published by maribus gGmbH in partnership with the German Marine Research Consortium (KDM), the Kiel Future Ocean Network and the International Ocean Institute.
World Ocean Review (WOR) 8 is now available, offering a significant contribution to our understanding of necessary measures and their impacts. The review aims to spark important discussions about whether humanity should further intervene in the ocean to protect the climate. It explores marine carbon dioxide removal (CDR) techniques and provides valuable insights into the potential benefits, risks, and knowledge gaps surrounding these methods. The WOR 8 can be ordered or downloaded for free from https://worldoceanreview.com/en/.
The ocean has played a crucial role in slowing down climate change by absorbing a quarter of the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from human activities. WOR 8 discusses the feasibility, costs, benefits, risks, and sustainability of marine CDR techniques. The review encourages a broader social debate on the ethical implications of intervening in ocean processes to mitigate climate change. It presents opinions from both opponents and advocates of ocean-based CDR and raises awareness about the urgency for effective climate action. The review can be ordered or downloaded for free from https://worldoceanreview.com/en/.
World Ocean Review 8 is a comprehensive source of information, offering insights from over 20 scientists on the need for effective climate action and the mechanisms for carbon dioxide capture and storage in the ocean. The review explores the potential of ocean-based carbon capture and storage methods and discusses the key principles and rules that scientists believe should guide future decisions related to ocean-based CDR. WOR 8 is available for free download from https://worldoceanreview.com/en/.
“WOR 8 describes measures which can be or are already being implemented, as well as those which should be assessed as options in terms of their benefits and possible risks. All the German marine research institutions and organizations are involved in related projects, proving once again that collaboration among the various marine research disciplines is capable of making fast, deliverable and sustainable contributions to solving a global problem. WOR 8 provides an impressive overview of current research in 2023 and also identifies where there are knowledge gaps so that even more viable recommendations can be made to executive agencies,” Prof. Dr. Ulrich Bathmann, Chair of the German Marine Research Consortium (KDM), writes in his preface.
“The themes addressed in WOR 8 will continue to preoccupy us for many years to come. At the international level, they form part of the climate negotiations towards compliance with the Paris Agreement and are embedded in the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, which started in 2021 and focuses on the interface between ocean and climate and on the necessary social transformation processes. Research on this topic is therefore future-focused, and the new edition of WOR provides significant impetus for this scientific field”.
Prof. Dr. Martin Visbeck, Co-Spokesperson of Future Ocean, emphasizes the importance of the following:
World Ocean Review is released biennially in both German and English, reaching a global audience of policymakers, business leaders, and members of civil society interested in the subjects it covers. It offers current and comprehensive information on relevant ocean-related matters and is intended for anyone wanting to contribute to the conversation on marine conservation and utilization.
The latest edition of WOR, titled „The ocean – a climate champion? How to enhance marine carbon dioxide uptake,” is now available. You can order a printed copy or download a free pdf from https://worldoceanreview.com/en/.
Editorial Team Resources
Access digital copies of World Ocean Review 8, visual materials, and social media cards here.
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