IMO adopts frameworks to assess marine geoengineering research activities

The IMO has adopted new guidance aimed at ensuring marine geoengineering research avoids unacceptable impacts, amid growing interest in climate change mitigation technologies. 

Marine geoengineering involves methods to increase the ocean’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or store carbon for long periods. However, their potential impacts on marine ecosystems are not yet fully understood. 

Meeting at IMO Headquarters in London, Parties to the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention) and 1996 Protocol to the Convention (London Protocol), adopted a resolution establishing assessment frameworks for ocean fertilisation, ocean alkalinity enhancement and ocean sinking biomass. 

The frameworks will help governments determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether proposed activities constitute legitimate scientific research and whether they can proceed without unacceptable risks to the marine environment. 

Welcoming the achievement, IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez said: “At a time when marine geoengineering is attracting increasing scientific, commercial and public attention, they provide regulators and researchers with rigorous and transparent tools for assessing proposed activities and protecting the marine environment.” 

The frameworks provide a common structure for a precautionary approach for the following three marine geoengineering methods:  

• Ocean fertilisation: Stimulating primary productivity in the ocean by adding nutrients to seawater to encourage phytoplankton growth, which absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; 

• Ocean alkalinity enhancement: Adding alkaline substances to seawater to increase the ocean's capacity to absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide and counteract ocean acidification.

• Ocean sinking of biomass: Deliberately placing biological material, such as marine or terrestrial plant matter, into the ocean to store carbon. 

Each framework covers initial screening, environmental assessment, risk management, decision-making and post-project review. Assessments can be revisited as new information becomes available. 

Under the frameworks, all proposals must demonstrate a legitimate scientific purpose, thoroughly assess environmental risks, ensure proper stakeholder consultation and peer review, and include rigorous monitoring and transparent reporting. 

The Parties emphasised that scientific knowledge remains limited, and that research should proceed cautiously, with environmental protection as the top priority. Further scientific research is needed before any activities beyond the research stage can be considered.  

IMO says the adoption of these frameworks reaffirms the essential role of the London Convention and London Protocol in responding to new and rapidly evolving human activities in the ocean.