28 April 2026, Andrew Riley, www.dal.ca
Dalhousie researchers are helping to answer one of climate action’s most urgent questions: whether the ocean can safely remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at meaningful scale. Their work is positioning Nova Scotia as a global leader in carbon-dioxide removal while supporting the growth of a new climate-technology sector for the province.10 March 2026, Steve Hanley,
The ocean is the largest carbon sink on Earth, holding about 38,000 gigatons of carbon. But when carbon dioxide dissolves in water, it creates a weak acid that lowers the pH of the ocean. The lower the pH, the less carbon dioxide the ocean can absorb. Today, the ocean has the lowest pH in the last million years. Now, scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts have embarked on what they call the LOC-NESS project, which stands for “Locking Ocean Carbon in the Northeast Shelf and Slope.” The scientists say that “oceanic carbon is stored as dissolved bicarbonate — essentially dissolved baking soda — thanks to the natural weathering processes that enhance ocean alkalinity on geological timescales.”10 March 2026, William Hunter, Climate interventions
The oceans already hold around 38,000 billion tonnes of CO2, trapped as dissolved sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda. The geoengineering method known as Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) aims to speed up this natural process by resetting the ocean's pH.14 January 2026, Kelsey Roberts, Daniele Visioni, Morgan Raven, Tyler Rohr, theconversation.com
Scientists, governments, and a growing number of startups are exploring ways to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or at least temporarily counter its effects. But these climate interventions come with risks—especially for the ocean, the world’s largest carbon sink, where carbon is absorbed and stored, and the foundation of global food security. In a new study, a team of researchers analyzed how different types of climate interventions could affect marine ecosystems, for good or bad, and where more research is needed to understand the risks before anyone tries them on a large scale. They found that some strategies carry fewer risks than others, though none is free of consequences.08 January 2026, Ferris Jabr, Climate interventions
Oceans absorb about one-third of humanity’s heat-trapping carbon emissions. Without this buffer, the planet would be substantially warmer and more tempestuous than it is today. As carbon dioxide from the atmosphere dissolves into the ocean, however, it changes the ocean, reducing its capacity to absorb more carbon and threatening marine life. Scientists are now exploring ocean-based carbon geoengineering known as ocean alkalinity enhancement, which involves adding chemicals to make oceans less acidic. Modifying the planet’s chemistry in this way may allow more carbon to flow from the atmosphere to the ocean, where it can be stored for thousands of years.12 August 2025, Victoria Mossi , www.webpronews.com
Scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution will test ocean alkalinity enhancement by adding 20 tons of sodium hydroxide to the Gulf of Maine, aiming to boost CO2 absorption and combat climate change. While promising for carbon sequestration, it raises ecological and ethical concerns. Success could advance geoengineering, but rigorous monitoring is essential. Collaborations with institutions like those involved in the Arctic Ocean 2050 program could also inform how alkalinity enhancements interact with polar ecosystems facing rapid warming.21 July 2025, Cody Alexander Skahan, grapevine.is
Iceland is frequently portrayed as a hotspot for carbon capture and storage partially because of the country’s “abundance” of cheap, renewable energy and geological makeup (formed millions of years ago) suitable for CO2 mineralisation to support direct air capture of carbon. Through his anthropological PhD research on the social and cultural dimensions of these projects, the author has observed that Iceland is also chosen for these projects because of its perceived social and political license for such projects. This is a problematic perception rooted in others treating Iceland as an isolated “island laboratory”.28 May 2024, Fred Pearce, e360.yale.edu
New research indicates that the decline in smog particles from China’s air cleanups caused the recent extreme heat waves in the Pacific. Scientists are grappling with the fact that reducing such pollution, while essential for public health, is also heating the atmosphere.12 September 2023, CBC, www.cbc.ca
Scientists say geoengineering, or doing things like intentionally increasing Earth’s reflectivity or blocking the sun, is a “really big deal” in slowing down climate change. Here are the ideas they are proposing.02 November 2017, A. Neil Craik, www.cigionline.org
Climate engineering (CE) is increasingly becoming an area of broad public policy interest within international and domestic climate policy discussions. In addition to receiving greater attention within regulatory contexts, there is a gradual shift toward greater support for nationally supported research programs on CE technologies and assessments. Despite the increased salience of CE, the issue has been largely absent from the Canadian public policy agenda. This paper argues that a national strategy for CE research ought to be developed as part of Canada’s broader climate strategy. At the centre of this strategy must be a commitment to ensuring a high level of public trust in the underlying science and a policy process that is open and responsive to public views.28 April 2026, Andrew Riley, www.dal.ca
10 March 2026, Steve Hanley,
10 March 2026, William Hunter, Climate interventions
14 January 2026, Kelsey Roberts, Daniele Visioni, Morgan Raven, Tyler Rohr, theconversation.com
08 January 2026, Ferris Jabr, Climate interventions
12 August 2025, Victoria Mossi , www.webpronews.com
21 July 2025, Cody Alexander Skahan, grapevine.is
28 May 2024, Fred Pearce, e360.yale.edu
12 September 2023, CBC, www.cbc.ca
02 November 2017, A. Neil Craik, www.cigionline.org