Aotearoa Marine Carbon Forum: assessing the role of coasts and oceans in climate strategy

Presenter: Professor Cliff Law (Marine Science, NIWA) The ocean has absorbed more than a quarter of all the carbon dioxide we’ve emitted and, with the current lack of ambition in reducing emissions, there is increasing international interest in enhancing this marine sink. Our large Exclusive Economic Zone represents a potential opportunity to make a meaningful commitment to the Paris Agreement goals, whilst also reducing expenditure and reliance on offshore carbon credits and forestry; however, marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) techniques, such as coastal blue carbon sequestration, open ocean fertilisation and liming, have inherent risks and also challenges of scaling up and permanence. Consequently, a national assessment is required that considers the relative pros and cons of these techniques in reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide whilst maintaining marine ecosystem resilience. This presentation will provide a background to mCDR and the different techniques, and also outline the goals of the Aotearoa Marine Carbon Forum (AMCF), a voluntary steering group of researchers and practitioners promoting the need for assessment of the role of Aotearoa New Zealand’s coastal seas and oceans in national climate strategy.