The Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal at American University has released a new report titled “Engaging coastal communities on ocean alkalinity enhancement: A how-to best practice guide,” authored by Director of Research Sara Nawaz and Research Fellow Giulia Belotti.

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) has been recognized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as an essential complementary tool to greenhouse gas emissions reductions in combating climate change. Scaling CDR to the billions of tons required annually by the middle of the century will likely require deployment of a large array of options, including marine-based approaches. The new report focuses on a marine CDR (mCDR) option that is rapidly moving from laboratory to field research, ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE). This approach entails adding alkalinity to the ocean (either through mineral or electrochemical processes), increasing the ability of the ocean to uptake carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.  

With these technologies moving from laboratory to field, there is also growing interest in—and need for—dialogues and discussions with local communities and members of the public. For these technologies to be developed responsibly, they need to be designed in dialogue with the range of groups they may affect—from local marine users to Indigenous communities to shellfish farmers, local recreators and beyond. This report serves as a guide for the diverse range of groups who may be looking to lead community engagement activities on mCDR or OAE, or those who want to evaluate community engagement activities that others are conducting.

“As researchers, developers, policymakers, and other stakeholders and rightsholders explore mCDR as a potential climate solution, the way local communities are engaged in these conversations is crucial,” Belotti said. “Failing to engage communities in ways that genuinely ensure their agency and voice in the deployment of these projects risks not only sparking backlash but also undermining climate and social justice. Yet, there is currently very little practical guidance on how to do this meaningfully and effectively. This guide helps fill that gap by offering specific recommendations—while emphasizing that true engagement is not a box to be ticked, but an ongoing process of relationship-building and trust.”

Drawing on their experience engaging with communities on OAE across various regions in the Pacific Northwest and incorporating best practices from related fields, Nawaz and Belotti describe what meaningful community engagement truly entails and recommendations for working towards it. The report emphasizes the importance of adapting engagement strategies to different stages of OAE research and deployment and showcases creative, interactive ways to foster dialogue with communities. Special attention is given to the unique considerations needed when working with Indigenous communities, many of whom are proximate to proposed OAE projects, highlighting the care and respect required.

Throughout the report, Belotti and Nawaz weave in ten core best practices, key concepts needed for introducing OAE, and practical advice for engagement practitioners balancing relationships with both community members and technology developers. To ground these insights, the report also addresses common questions raised during engagement activities and shares three in-depth case studies drawn from the authors’ own work.

“Engaging coastal communities on ocean alkalinity enhancement: A how-to best practice guide” is part of a body of work funded by the Climateworks Foundation. Other research they have produced via this funding can be found here.