The OCB community has the broad and deep scientific expertise needed to create sensible, transparent, and reproducible practices around Measuring, Reporting and Verifying (MRV) carbon removal by the ocean. This in-person workshop (with remote access to plenary talks) was designed for those with background knowledge in marine CDR already so we can collectively grapple with the science needed to measure and verify CDR in marine environments. At this workshop, we convened 5 main topical sessions (each including 1-2 keynote talks, an expert panel, smaller group breakout discussions, and time for side conversations and networking) as follows:

Session 1. MRV lessons from land-based CDR, blue carbon, and ocean acidification research (Sept. 27 morning) - Review and discuss the MRV organizational and regulatory structures that could be applied to the field of marine CDR, and the data and research requirements that result. Confirmed speakers and panelists to date include Simon Freeman (ARPA-E), Calden Stimpson (Booz Allen Hamilton/ARPA-E), Patty Oikawa (CSU East Bay, virtual), Nora Cohen Brown (Charm Industrial, virtual), Patrick Duke (Univ. Victoria), Matthew Eisaman (Stony Brook Univ.), Stephanie Arcusa (Arizona State Univ., virtual)

Session 2. Developing MRV recommendations for mCDR (Sept. 27 afternoon) - Agency and foundation representatives will share recommendations about current and future directions for MRV research and support, with discussion. Confirmed speakers and panelists to date include Kenneth Buesseler (WHOI), Freya Chay (CarbonPlan), David Koweek (Ocean Visions), Savita Bowman (ClearPath)

Session 3. Models, Methods, and Measurements (2-part session) (Sept. 28) - Apply core OCB expertise to assess the numerical and observational tools that are best applied to the MRV problem, addressing quantification, additionality, durability, and scalability of marine CDR approaches.

Part 1. Permanence (Sept. 28 morning) - Confirmed speakers and panelists to date include Matt Long (NCAR), Adrienne Sutton (NOAA/PMEL, virtual), Patrick Rafter (UCI), Zeke Hausfather (Stripe, virtual), Veronica Tamsitt (USF), Cara Manning (UConn)

Part 2. Sea-Air Flux (Sept. 28 afternoon) - Confirmed speakers and panelists to date include David Ho (Univ. Hawai'i), Galen McKinley (LDEO), Hongjie Wang (URI), Dariia Atamanchuk (Dalhousie), Jaime Palter (URI)

Session 4. MRV in an Ecosystem Context (Sept. 29 morning) - Consider how the ecosystem responses to CDR efforts influence MRV, and how these responses can themselves be measured. Confirmed speakers and panelists to date include Lennart Bach (Univ. Tasmania), Mar Fernández-Méndez (AWI, virtual), Adam Subhas (WHOI), Katja Fennel (Dalhousie)

Session 5. MRV and Justice (Sept. 29 afternoon) - Investigate the socio-political barriers and risk management for marine CDR. Confirmed speakers and panelists to date include Anu Khan (Carbon180), Sarah Cooley (Ocean Conservancy), Nick Record (Bigelow Laboratory), Marion Hourdequin (Colorado College, virtual), Holly Buck (Univ. at Buffalo, virtual)

Synthesis and Future Directions (Sept. 30 morning) - On the final morning of the workshop, participants will engage in synthetic discussions that focus on key outcomes and action items that will inform the scope and activities of a focused OCB mCDR working group that will be formed after the workshop.

This workshop was convened by a scientific organizing committee and the Ocean Carbon Biogeochemistry (OCB) Program in collaboration with the US Carbon Cycle Science Program and the North American Carbon Program (NACP), which are currently developing a CDR Academy to help establish a baseline shared knowledge of CDR concepts in preparation for a workshop in 2023. Learn more here.

WORKSHOP CODE OF CONDUCT

This workshop focused on the scientific underpinnings of frameworks supporting Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) for marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) over a range of spatiotemporal scales. One workshop objective was to identify key knowledge gaps and technical limitations that our marine-ecosystem-focused research community should seek to address. Over 4 days of themed sessions, attendees with different perspectives from academia, private industry, non-profits, government, and local communities had the opportunity to participate in an open dialog on the requirements for effective MRV. All speakers and panelists were expected to disclose any relationships (including remunerated engagements and collaborations) with companies and not-for-profit organizations in the CDR realm. While descriptions of new and emerging technologies are welcome, participants were asked to refrain from promotional activities with a commercial aim and to avoid dismissive judgments of specific mCDR approaches. Instead, we aimed to foster constructive discussions that:

Advance our collective scientific understanding of different mCDR approaches, their potential efficacy and impacts on marine ecosystems and human communities;

Identify best practices to guide research to support MRV for mCDR, including quantifying and communicating uncertainty;

Equip participants with broader knowledge of environmental justice considerations and guidance for integrating affected sectors and local communities in mCDR research.

As with all activities sponsored by OCB, the Program Code of Conduct applies to all participants, staff, and support personnel of the workshop.

LOGISTICS

This workshop, and all OCB activities, will adhere to the OCB code of conduct. All participants should read this before the workshop, and report any incidences that occur.

Travel and Lodging

Invited keynote speakers and workshop organizing members - you should have received detailed instructions via email for securing travel arrangements by now. If you have not, please check spam folders and reach out to the OCB Project Office for guidance.

We have sent out all travel stipend notifications for early career and participants from underrepresented groups. Travel stipend recipients can be reimbursed through the OCB Office.

The two airports nearest to URI Narragansett Bay Campus are Providence T.F. Green Airport (PVD) and Boston Logan Airport (BOS). You can find driving directions and a downloadable URI GSO campus map here. You can explore ground transportation options from PVD to South Kingstown (where hotels are located) here.

Lodging will be at the following hotels:

Hampton Inn South Kingstown/Newport Area, 20 Hotel Dr, South Kingstown, RI

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott South Kingstown/Newport Area, 3 Fairfield Way, South Kingstown, RI (The hotel representative has told us for GPS purposes, you should use the address 4781 Tower Hill Road, South Kingstown, Rhode Island.)

The hotel cost is $169 plus 13% room tax per night.

The OCB Office will automatically reserve you a hotel room for the dates you entered in the application form. Hotel confirmations will be sent out as the workshop draws closer. If you need to change your dates at that point, your contact person is Mary Zawoysky (mzawoysky@whoi.edu). With the exception of invited keynote speakers, panelists, and workshop organizers, participants will need to provide a credit card upon check-in to cover their own room cost.

Ground Transportation

We have chartered a bus to transport participants between the two hotels listed above and the URI campus each day - if you are staying elsewhere, you will need to secure your own transportation to/from campus each day. If you are driving to URI and prefer to drive your own car to campus each day, there will be campus parking available.

Participants can self-coordinate using this ride-sharing spreadsheet.

Meeting Venue

The workshop will take place on the URI Bay Campus. Click for map and directions.

Remote Participation

If you indicated that you will participate remotely, you should have received a Zoom registration link by now. Once you register, you will receive a single Zoom link for the entire workshop. If you are a virtual participant and you didn't receive this information, please contact the OCB Office (hbenway@whoi.edu).

Meals

Both hotels provide a free hot breakfast for guests. During the workshop, we will provide a morning snack (small continental breakfast items) and coffee/tea/beverages each morning. We will provide lunch each day, a catered reception with hors d'oeuvres on the first evening, and a workshop dinner off site the third evening.

COVID Protocols

Health and safety are a priority. We will require N95 or similar masks to be worn during the workshop (and on bus), except when eating. We also request that you bring with you several rapid tests and take a test before coming into contact with other participants on Tues. morning, and if you feel sick at anytime. We will Zoom stream plenary sessions for online participants, and if at any point during the week you start to feel ill, you can stay in your hotel and watch the workshop. Order free rapid tests here (US residents).

Funding for the Ocean Carbon & Biogeochemistry Project Office is provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The OCB Project Office is housed at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.