Carbon Gap recently released a new report outlining a pathway for advancing novel marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) research and development in Europe. The report, Setting the Course for Novel Marine Carbon Removal in Europe: Bold Research, Careful Rollout, presents a roadmap for the European Union (EU) to support emerging ocean- and river-based carbon removal methods while maintaining strong scientific and environmental standards.

mCDR has the potential to become an important part of the EU’s climate strategy. Several promising approaches, ocean and river alkalinity enhancement (OAE and RAE) and direct ocean carbon capture and storage (DOCCS), are currently being considered by the European Commission for potential certification under the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Regulations (CRCF). 

The report highlights a central challenge facing Europe: moving too quickly could mean advancing methods before the science is sufficiently developed, while delaying action could slow the research and field testing needed to responsibly and honestly evaluate their potential. Carbon Gap proposes a coordinated pathway that allows scientific progress and policy development to move forward together. 

To support this, the report identifies four key priorities:

  • Establish coordination and oversight: Create a dedicated body, potentially within the European Commission’s Carbon Removal Expert Group, to track scientific progress, coordinate research efforts, and engage relevant stakeholders.
  • Develop a shared research agenda: Align research efforts and funding around remaining scientific questions, including carbon removal quantification, environmental impacts, and monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV).
  • Strengthen ocean governance: Connect mCDR research with broader EU ocean policies, environmental safeguards, and national permitting frameworks.
  • Create a clear pathway from research to policy: Establish milestones and regular assessments to evaluate scientific progress, and determine when emerging methods may be ready for responsible development and certification. 

The report also emphasizes that current scientific evidence is not yet sufficient to support full credit-generating certification methodologies for OAE and DOCCS under the CRCF. Instead, Carbon Gap recommends maintaining a formal pathway toward potential certification, supported by continued research, stronger coordination, and regular evaluations of scientific progress.

With the EU’s next research and innovation funding framework set to begin in 2028, the report highlights the opportunity to ensure mCDR is included in the future research priorities. By aligning research priorities with regulatory oversight, Europe can help address outstanding uncertainties while supporting innovation. 

As mCDR research continues to advance, Carbon Gap’s recommendations offer a framework for building the scientific evidence and global coordination needed to determine how these emerging approaches can responsibly contribute to climate goals. Carbon to Sea has joined over 25 other organizations and researchers in signing Carbon Gap’s open letter in support of these recommendations.

Read the full report: https://carbongap.org/insights/setting-the-course-for-the-novel-marine-carbon-removal-in-the-eu