FUTURES EXPO SERIES
Marine
carbon dioxide removal in australia
Maximising marine carbon dioxide removal potential in Australian waters
Research project
Due to anthropogenic carbon emissions , the atmospheric CO2 concentration has increased from 280 ppm in 1850 to 420 ppm in 2023 and is currently on track to reach 550 ppm by 2050 . With current commitments , future projections suggest that the global mean temperature anomaly compared to pre-industrial will be ~ 2 ° C by 2050 , with consequences for global climate and ecosystems ( IPCC , 2023 ).
> The team comprises Australian experts specialising in biogeochemical and physical oceanography modelling and proficient in carbon dioxide removal techniques .
> The project will include a specialist focused on advanced high-resolution biochemical modelling .
It is now clear that along with a drastic and rapid reduction in anthropogenic carbon emissions , we also need to implement gigatonne-scale CO2 removal from the atmosphere to hold global warming under the temperature thresholds set by the Paris Agreement ( Smith et al ., 2023 ; UNFCCC , 2015 ).
This initiative aims to evaluate the capacity for carbon dioxide removal ( CDR ) within Australia ' s exclusive economic zone ( EEZ ) using the leading marine CDR strategy , ocean alkalinity enhancement ( OAE ). Through detailed numerical experiments utilising advanced ocean and biogeochemical models with ultra-high resolution , the project seeks to determine the effectiveness of OAE in Australia and identify the ideal conditions for maximising CO2 capture while minimising adverse effects on Australian ecosystems . for industry partners and the general public .
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