National Academies report flags marine
A new digital report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine states that marine carbon dioxide removal is advancing but faces
Marine carbon dioxide removal has seen significant advances in research, technology, and private-sector involvement. A new digital report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, released on September 17, 2026, states that major questions remain about the approach's viability at meaningful scales.
The report is an update to a 2022 research strategy. It is intended as an evolving, peer-reviewed resource. The 2026 edition includes a new module on the state of marine CDR, plus updated sections on governance, social dimensions, and ocean alkalinity enhancement. Periodic updates are planned as the science progresses.
Key uncertainties and required scale-up
The report reemphasizes that marine CDR could only supplement, not replace, cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. It notes that significant scale-up would be needed for marine CDR to contribute meaningfully to climate targets. Major uncertainties persist. These include the ability to reliably monitor and measure net carbon removal. Understanding long-term and ecosystem-scale environmental impacts is another critical gap.
Adam Subhas, an associate scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and a member of the report's standing committee, commented on the pace of change. "The scientific landscape of marine carbon dioxide removal is changing quickly," Subhas said. This updated report provides an important opportunity to take stock of what we have learned since 2022, what has become clearer, what remains uncertain, and where additional research is most urgently needed.
Governance and social acceptance
Effective regulation and governance will be needed at local, national, and global levels. These frameworks must evolve alongside the science. The report concludes that technological performance alone will not determine the viability of marine CDR. Public acceptance, political and regulatory decisions, and community considerations will be equally decisive. The environmental and social characteristics of potential deployment sites will also play a major role.
Recent research and field trials
The report highlights growing research activity, including movement toward field testing. Subhas leads the LOC-NESS project, which examines ocean alkalinity enhancement. His team completed a field trial in the Gulf of Maine in August 2025 and presented preliminary findings at the Ocean Sciences Meeting earlier in 2026. The report was sponsored by the Carbon to Sea Initiative and the National Academy of Sciences' George and Cynthia Mitchell Endowment for Sustainability Science Fund.
