Symposium on marine carbon sequestration

The climate crisis is a global crisis that is increasingly shaping policy and society. In spite of an ever-increasing climate awareness and efforts to slow down global warming, scientific research shows that current and planned climate measures fall short of achieving the emission reduction targets set out in the Paris Agreement and meeting the United Nations Sustainability Objectives. In order to limit global warming to +1.5 °C, there is an additional need for negative emission technologies that can remove CO₂ from the air, in addition to drastic emission reductions.

In the fight against global warming, policymakers have so far largely focused on the land side to identify and implement possible solutions. However, the ocean could be an important ally in this fight. It has been calculated that a sustainably managed, climate mitigating ocean could account for one-fifth of the greenhouse gas reductions needed to limit global warming to +1.5 °C. In addition, all ocean-related mitigation measures offer a range of positive externalities (ecosystem services such as food supply, coastal protection) that can contribute to achieving the UN Sustainability Goals.

On 16 December, EMBRC (European Marine Biological Research Centre) and ILVO (Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) are organising a symposium on marine carbon sequestration and will zoom in on the climate mitigation potential of the ocean, seas and estuaries. By bringing together scientists, political, industrial and non-governmental actors, the symposium aims to identify the potential of such negative-emission technologies and the necessary knowledge development that is still required.

Participation in the symposium is free of charge, but registration is required.

For more information and registration, please click here.

For more information on the marine climate mitigation potential of the North Sea region, please consult the VLIZ policy informing brief: Mariene klimaatmitigatie: een wetenschappelijke synthese van de meest pertinente oplossingsrichtingen voor het Noordzeegebied (Dutch)