A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine updates the state of marine carbon dioxide removal (CDR). It finds that research and field testing have advanced since 2022, but major uncertainties remain around measuring net removal, long-term environmental effects, and the governance frameworks needed for deployment. The report adds a new module on ocean alkalinity enhancement and highlights a recent field trial in the Gulf of Maine. The report stresses that marine CDR cannot be judged on technology alone. Public acceptance, regulation, and community impacts will shape whether these methods scale. It calls for continued research and periodic updates to keep pace with a fast-moving field. For anyone tracking ocean-based carbon removal, this is the current baseline for what is known and what is still missing.
