Program on the Environment

Marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) is a field of geoengineering research intended to enhance the ocean’s absorption of carbon dioxide. As interest in mCDR grows for climate change mitigation, so does the need to reevaluate how frontline communities are engaged in its development. Throughout my internship at NOAA’s Ocean Acidification lab, we conducted mCDR experiments to assess the effects of increasing ocean alkalinity on Dungeness crabs. I observed how subtle shifts in ocean chemistry can impact marine species, many of which are integral to the cultural and economic identities of coastal communities. This inspired questions surrounding the role of community voices in mCDR research. My capstone incorporates expert interviews and public comment analysis from two U.S.-based mCDR field trials to explore public opinion, current engagement practices, and future recommendations. Leaders in mCDR research agree that engagement is key to success for these projects. However, findings indicate disparities between the perspectives of scientific stakeholders and those of community members. Despite outreach efforts, public opposition has remained high, suggesting that current developer-led engagement strategies may be insufficient. Among public concerns, fear of environmental harm and subsequent community impacts were most frequently cited. In response, I propose a justice-based framework rooted in participatory, distributive, and restorative principles to guide community engagement. In doing so, the mCDR field can become a model for addressing past harms while co-creating sustainable futures. This transformation in community engagement could not only improve outcomes for mCDR, but could reshape the social contract around climate solutions.