By Abbas Nazil
Scientists and industry leaders are increasingly turning to the world’s oceans as a powerful tool in the fight against climate change, with emerging marine carbon removal technologies projected to remove up to eight billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually by 2050.
A new report on global environmental, social and governance (ESG) developments said oceans already absorb about a quarter of humanity’s annual carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to approximately 2.4 billion tonnes, but researchers believe their potential contribution to climate mitigation could be significantly expanded through both technological innovation and nature-based solutions.
According to the report, engineered carbon removal approaches developed by companies including Captura, Planetary Technologies and CarbonRun use electrochemistry and mineral additives to extract carbon dioxide from seawater and rivers, enabling oceans to absorb greater amounts of atmospheric carbon.
While these technologies offer more permanent and measurable carbon storage outcomes, they remain costly and technologically demanding.
The report noted that nature-based alternatives such as mangroves, seagrass and seaweed ecosystems are also gaining attention because of their ability to store large quantities of carbon while protecting coastlines from storms and erosion.
However, experts caution that such ecosystems remain vulnerable to destruction from extreme weather events and human activities, which could release stored carbon back into the atmosphere.
To address concerns about credibility and effectiveness, the industry is placing strong emphasis on measurement, reporting and verification systems to ensure that carbon removal claims can be accurately quantified and independently validated.
Despite existing challenges, private sector investment in marine carbon removal continues to grow.
Frontier Climate, backed by major technology firms including Google, Stripe and Shopify, has committed tens of millions of dollars to engineered carbon removal projects, including significant funding agreements with Planetary Technologies and CarbonRun.
The Symbiosis coalition, whose members include Meta and McKinsey, is also exploring investments in mangrove restoration and other nature-based carbon sequestration projects.
The report noted that reductions in federal marine research funding in the United States have shifted much of the momentum toward private sector initiatives, although bipartisan legislative efforts and industry coalitions are working to sustain government support for marine carbon removal research.
Beyond ocean-based climate solutions, the report highlighted growing investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure and concerns about its environmental footprint.
The United Kingdom recently unveiled a £1.1 billion AI Hardware Plan aimed at strengthening the country’s semiconductor industry and reducing reliance on foreign chip manufacturers.
The strategy includes £750 million for the development of a national AI supercomputer expected to become operational by 2030, alongside funding for advanced chip development, innovation programmes and skills training.
British officials estimate that securing just five percent of the global AI chip market, projected to reach $1 trillion in the early 2030s, could contribute £50 billion to the national economy.
However, the report warned that the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure is creating new environmental challenges, particularly in the United States.
A recent analysis found that nearly two-thirds of the 809 planned data centres across the country are located in regions that have experienced severe drought conditions over the past year.
Water consumption by the sector is expected to increase dramatically from 17 billion gallons annually in 2023 to 73 billion gallons by 2028.
Researchers estimate that a single large data centre can consume up to five million gallons of water daily for cooling purposes, raising concerns about the sustainability of future AI growth in water-stressed regions.
In another example of sustainable innovation, Waymo, the autonomous driving company owned by Alphabet, has partnered with B2U Storage Solutions to repurpose retired electric vehicle batteries from its robotaxi fleet for grid-scale energy storage.
The initiative will see used batteries deployed in Texas and California as stationary storage systems before they are eventually recycled.
The companies said the approach supports circular economy principles by extending the useful life of batteries while helping to improve electricity grid stability and meet rising energy demand.
The developments underscore growing global efforts to combine technological innovation, private investment and environmental stewardship in addressing climate change and advancing sustainability goals.
