| Popis: |
Effective carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies are urgently needed to reduce risks of climate change. Here we propose a new strategy for Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement that targets the land-to-ocean component of the inorganic carbon cycle: river-based alkalinity and weathering enhancement (RAWE). RAWE adapts freshwater acidification mitigation technology to capture CO2 through mineral weathering and by increasing rivers’ capacity to retain and transport bicarbonate to long-term storage in the ocean. Field experiments in Nova Scotia rivers demonstrate the proof of concept, and global-scale modelling of RAWE indicates a potential millions of tonnes of CDR per year. Results suggest that RAWE meets CDR criteria, such as scalability, permanence, safety, and ability to simply quantify the CO2 removed, whilst delivering ecological co-benefits. |
