"negative emissions"

Carbon Management and Negative Emissions

Many scientists agree that reducing or even eliminating future greenhouse gas emissions will not, by itself, be sufficient to avoid catastrophic climate change. In addition, it will also be necessary to remove previously emitted greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, and store or utilize them in some way. This can be done using a range of carbon management and negative emission technologies. The Sabin Center conducts research on legal issues associated with the development and use of carbon management and negative emissions technologies.

For more information, please contact Sabin Center Deputy Director Romany Webb at [email protected].

CDRlaw.org: The CDR Law database compiles legal materials pertaining to carbon dioxide removal, utilization, and storage. The database was developed in collaboration with the Carbon Management Research Initiative of the Center for Global Energy Policy at the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs and the Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy at American University.

Best Practices for Community Benefits Agreements for Direct Air Capture Hubs

In conjunction with a guide on Expert Insights on Best Practices for Community Benefits Agreements, the Sabin Center published a database of publicly available Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) that may serve as a model for direct air capture projects. 

The Legal Framework for Atmospheric Methane Removal

The Sabin Center, with the support of ClimateWorks and Spark Climate, is researching the international and domestic (U.S.) laws governing activities aimed at removing methane from the atmosphere. Methane removal techniques being explored include atmospheric oxidation enhancement (including via iron salt aerosol dispersal), ecosystem methane removal enhancement, atmospheric methane reactors, and methane pre-concentrators. 

The Legal Framework for Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal

The Sabin Center published a series of white papers and a book on the international and domestic legal frameworks for ocean carbon dioxide removal (CDR). The white papers analyze the international and U.S. laws applicable to ocean alkalinity enhancement, artificial upwelling and downwelling, ocean fertilization, and seaweed cultivation (in the U.S. and in California). The book details the international and domestic legal framework applicable to the techniques in Canada, China, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the U.K., and the U.S. ClimateWorks provided funding for the project. 

Model Legislation for Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal Research

The Sabin Center published model federal legislation to advance safe and responsible ocean carbon dioxide removal research in U.S. waters. The model legislation builds on input from dozens of scientists, government representatives, companies, and interested community members. The purpose of this proposed model legislation is to establish clear and efficient permitting regime for in-ocean CDR research. At the same time, the model legislation builds in consultation, monitoring, and other safeguards to ensure research occurs in a scientifically-sound manner and minimizes potential risks to the environment and communities. Ocean Visions provided funding for the project. A summary document is available here and the model legislation is available here. 

Solid Carbon

The Sabin Center is participating in an interdisciplinary research study, funded by the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, known as “Solid Carbon.” The project aims to assess the feasibility of developing an integrated, offshore negative emissions system to cap ture and storage carbon dioxide in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Canada. For more information, visit the project website here

Offshore Carbon Storage in the Northeastern U.S.

In 2016-17, the Sabin Center partnered with scientists at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory to assess the feasibility of carbon dioxide storage in sub-seabed basalt rock formations off the northeast U.S. Coast. The study assessed the legal and regulatory framework for offshore storage at the federal level and in the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. A report, documenting the findings of the study, is available here.

Books

Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal for Climate Mitigation: The Legal Framework, Romany M. Webb, Korey Silverman-Roati, and Michael B. Gerrard (eds) (April 2023)

Climate Engineering and the Law: Regulation and Liability for Solar Radiation Management and Carbon Dioxide Removal, Michael B. Gerrard and Tracy Hester (eds) (March 2018)

Articles and White Papers/Reports

Removing Methane via Atmospheric Oxidation Enhancement: The Legal Framework, by Romany M. Webb, Martin Lockman, and Korey Silverman-Roati (July 2024)

International Governance of Ocean-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal: Recent Developments and Future Directions, by Romany M. Webb (April 2024)

Executive Actions to Ensure Safe and Responsible Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal Research in the United States, by Romany M. Webb and Korey Silverman-Roati (November 2023)

Permitting CO2 Pipelines, by Martin Lockman (September 2023)

Developing Model Federal Legislation to Advance Safe and Responsible Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal Research in the United States, by Romany M. Webb and Korey Silverman-Roati (March 2023)

Removing Carbon Dioxide Through Ocean Fertilization: Legal Challenges and Opportunities, Korey Silverman-Roati, Romany M. Webb, and Michael B. Gerrard (July 2022)

Permitting Seaweed Cultivation for Carbon Sequestration in California: Barriers and Recommendations, by Korey Silverman-Roati, Romany M. Webb, and Michael B. Gerrard, June 23, 2022

Removing Carbon Dioxide Through Artificial Upwelling and Downwelling: Legal Challenges and Opportunities, by Romany M. Webb, Korey Silverman-Roati, and Michael B. Gerrard (May 2022)

A Research Strategy for Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal and Sequestration, the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, December 8, 2021 (co-authored by Romany Webb)

Removing Carbon Dioxide Through Seaweed Cultivation: Legal Challenges and Opportunities, by Korey Silverman-Roati, Romany M. Webb, and Michael B. Gerrard, September, 7 2021

Removing Carbon Dioxide Through Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement: Legal Challenges and Opportunities, by Romany M. Webb, Korey Silverman-Roati, and Michael B. Gerrard, August 30, 2021

The Law of Enhanced Weathering for Carbon Dioxide Removal: Volume 2 -- Legal Issues Associated With Materials Sourcing, by Romany M. Webb (March 2021)

The Legal Framework for Offshore Carbon Capture and Storage in Canada, by Romany Webb and Michael B. Gerrard (February 2021)

Removing Carbon Dioxide Through Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement and Seaweed Cultivation: Legal Challenges and Opportunities, by Romany Webb, Korey Silverman and Michael B. Gerrard (February 2021)

The Law of Enhanced Weathering for Carbon Dioxide Removal, by Romany M. Webb (September 2020)

Direct air capture: An emerging necessity to fight climate change, by Michael B. Gerrard (ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, March/April 2020)

Going Negative: The Next Horizon in Climate Engineering Law, by Tracy Hester and Michael B. Gerrard (Natural Resources & Environment, vol. 32 no. 4, Spring 2018)

Overcoming Impediments to Offshore Carbon Dioxide Storage: Legal Issues in the U.S. and Canada, by Romany M. Webb and Michael B. Gerrard (March 2018)

Policy Readiness for Offshore Carbon Dioxide Storage in the Northeast, by Romany M. Webb and Michael B. Gerrard (June 2017)

Op-eds

Congress should step in to advance ocean climate solutions, op-ed by Korey Silverman-Roati and Romany Webb, The Hill, March 27, 2023

Using the Oceans to Store CO2 Could Help Avoid Climate Catastrophe, op-ed by Romany M. Webb and Michael B. Gerrard, Bloomberg Law, December 30, 2021