OceanNETs Project

OceanNETs aims to determine to what extent, and under what conditions, the large-scale deployment of ocean-based negative emission technologies (NETs) could contribute to realistic and effective pathways for Europe and the world to achieve climate neutrality and the goals established in the Paris Agreement, as well as, to identify and prioritize options with the most potential in regard to CO₂ mitigation, environmental impact, risks, co-benefits, technical feasibility, cost effectiveness, and political and societal acceptance. NETs are a range of methods that aim to reduce atmospheric CO₂ levels. This can be done either by seeking to engineer the removal and subsequent storage of CO₂ or by deliberately enhancing land or ocean carbon sinks to increase the removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere. OceanNETs will contribute to major international, national, and EU assessments of possible climate mitigation options. The project breaks new ground by bringing together recognized NET experts from economic, political, legal, social, and natural sciences and establishing a tight dialogue with stakeholders in a single integrated project. The scientific experts will synergistically work in parallel and together, whilst interacting with stakeholders, to evaluate ocean-based NETs within a UN sustainable development goals framework. The strength of OceanNETs lies in its transdisciplinary approach as opposed to existing disciplinary studies. This project has received funding from the European Union’ Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement number 869357.