The Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Coalition (mCDR Coalition) is a new international forum dedicated to advancing the responsible growth of marine-based carbon removal technologies. Launched on August 21, 2025, the coalition aims to facilitate research, support evidence-based policy, and foster collaboration among science, conservation, and governance stakeholders.
Key Players and Objectives
The coalition is co-chaired by the Carbon Business Council (CO2BC), representing over 100 carbon management companies, and the World Ocean Council (WOC), which includes shipping and energy players. The group’s members have been meeting for nearly two years to align on shared challenges. The formal launch is intended to further knowledge sharing and attract more organizations. According to a WOC representative, achieving net-zero emissions is “impossible without carbon removal,” and the ocean offers the scale needed to meet global climate goals.
mCDR in the Maritime Industry
The maritime industry is exploring mCDR as a potential tool to help meet decarbonization goals, although the technology is still in an experimental stage due to uncertainties about its regulation, permanence, and cost. While frameworks like the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2050 net-zero target and the EU’s FuelEU Maritime regulation are tightening compliance, they currently do not credit mCDR efforts as direct emissions reductions.
Despite this, the potential of carbon removal (CDR) is significant. Classification society DNV predicts that the CDR sector could capture 330 million metric tons of CO2 by 2050, which would account for a quarter of total captured emissions. Some initiatives are already underway, such as the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore’s partnership with a U.S. startup to test a process that removes CO2 from seawater.
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Source: Offshore Energy
