The Climate Emergency Forum video features a discussion between Paul Beckwith and Dr. Sean Fitzgerald at COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, focusing on ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (OCR) methods.
This video was recorded on October 11th, 2024, and published on November 13th, 2024, and represents the opinions of the discussion participants.
Dr. Fitzgerald, the executive director of the Center for Climate Repair at Cambridge, emphasizes the urgent need for OCR due to unchecked emissions and increasing greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere.
The conversation explores various OCR approaches, including ocean alkalinity enhancement, macroalgae restoration (particularly kelp beds), and ocean iron fertilization. Dr. Fitzgerald highlights the potential of these methods while acknowledging the challenges and uncertainties associated with each. He stresses the importance of restoring ocean ecosystems and the need for further research to understand the full impacts of these interventions. The discussion also touches on the scalability of different OCR techniques and their potential to sequester significant amounts of carbon dioxide.
The dialogue extends to cover solar radiation modification (SRM) as a potential strategy to address climate change. Dr. Fitzgerald discusses several SRM approaches being researched at the University of Cambridge, including ice thickening, seabed curtains to protect glaciers, marine cloud brightening, and stratospheric aerosol injection. The conversation concludes with both speakers emphasizing the need for a three-pronged approach to tackle climate change: emissions reduction, carbon dioxide removal, and solar radiation management. They stress the urgency of action, highlighting the risks of global food shortages and increasing extreme weather events if the current trajectory continues.
Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader
Heidi Brault - Climate Reality Leader, BA(Psychology), Library & Information Technician Diploma - Video production and website assistant - Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP Team Lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum.
We’d like to acknowledge The International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE) who helped us to attend COP29.
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