By Carbon to Sea Initiative
Earlier this year, Carbon to Sea co-sponsored a first-of-its-kind workshop — “Towards an African Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) Road Map” — in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This was the start of what we hope will be an ongoing conversation on the important role Africa will play in developing the mCDR, also known as ocean-based carbon removal (oCDR), field.
This workshop — sponsored by Carbon to Sea and Ocean Visions and hosted by Tanzania Ocean-Climate Innovation Hub — brought together experts, government representatives, researchers, and stakeholders from across Africa to explore the policy frameworks and scientific infrastructure needed to responsibly advance oCDR on the continent and globally. The event was held in partnership with Green Africa Youth Organization, University of Dar es Salaam, University of Cape Coast, Technical University of Mombasa, Stellenbosch University, Ghana Ocean-Climate Innovation Hub, and Ocean-Climate Innovation Hub Kenya.
“Marine carbon dioxide removal may still be new to Africa, but Africa has great potential and abundant resources,” said Mariam Swaleh, Ocean-Climate Innovation Fellow & Ocean-Climate Innovation Hub Kenya Project Lead at Ocean Visions. “What we need now is investment in infrastructure for research and development, enabling policies and funding that empowers local solutions to grow.”
The two-day workshop included working group sessions, collaborative roadmap development exercises, and presentations from a range of perspectives and expertise.
“I believe Africa’s oceans hold the power to heal the climate and transform economies. Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Africa to lead global climate innovation, protecting coastlines, creating blue jobs, and restoring marine ecosystems,” said Shamim Wasii Nyanda, Lead of the Tanzania Ocean-Climate Innovation Hub. “But to unlock this potential, we must invest boldly, govern wisely, and ensure that Africa’s voices, communities, and entrepreneurs are at the heart of this blue carbon revolution.”
Key presenters included:
- Caitlin Wale, Kinjani
- Ruth Driscoll-Lovejoy, Ocean Visions
- Ingrid Schulte, Kühne Climate Center
- Pedro Monteiro, Stellenbosch University, School for Climate Studies
- Fabian Shaanika, Kelp Blue
- Patrick Karani, African Union
- Dr. Lilian Ibengwe, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Tanzania
- Faith Temba, Office of the Special Climate Envoy, Kenya
- Samson Job, University of Dar es Salaam, School of Aquatic Science and Fisheries Technology
Participants self-organized into five thematic working groups to scope and explore different key aspects of oCDR development and implementation in Africa. These groups will continue to collaborate on developing a “roadmap” document that can drive future momentum.
“It was powerful to see so many impressive colleagues applying their multi-faceted experiences and thinking to the opportunity around mCDR,” said Caitlin Wale, CEO of Kinjani. “For example, we discussed the potential for mCDR innovations to tie into industrial supply chains — like wastewater treatment works & desalination plants – as a way to drive scale and commercial viability. Bringing together such a diverse group of peers made for rich discussions, and I now feel even more hopeful about the outcomes for the field and our climate.”
“This workshop highlighted the critical role youth organizations and the youth can play in driving innovation and progress in marine carbon dioxide removal,” said Vida Agyebeng Ayim of Green Africa Youth Organization. “By engaging young people in mCDR research, development and demonstration, Africa can unlock new opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and climate action.”
Key takeaways and initial recommendations from the working groups include:
- Governance and Policy Strengthening: There is a critical need to strengthen governance frameworks to facilitate the integration of oCDR into national and regional policies. For oCDR to serve as a viable climate intervention tool in Africa, comprehensive legal and regulatory reforms are required.
- Financial Mobilization: More accessible financial mechanisms are needed to support oCDR projects, particularly for entrepreneurs and local communities.
- Scientific and Technological Advancements: The development and standardization of monitoring systems and improved regional collaboration on data collection and modelling are essential for oCDR success.
- Regional Collaboration: The establishment of an African oCDR partnership is crucial to ensuring coordinated action, scaling and effectiveness of oCDR solutions across the continent.
“The Ocean Decade Africa Roadmap highlights ‘Unlocking the Blue Carbon Potential of Africa’ as one of the nine key priorities for Africa during the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). Therefore, all efforts aimed at developing marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) approaches in Africa are timely and should be given serious consideration, involving all relevant stakeholders,” said Edwin Mwashinga, a program officer for UNESCO-IOC.
With the establishment of strong governance frameworks, financial mechanisms, and regional collaborations that can incentivize investment and spur scientific exploration, the continent of Africa is poised to become a leader in the global effort to evaluate oCDR’s potential as a climate solution. This workshop successfully laid the foundation for a transformative pathway with African countries looking ahead to harnessing their ocean resources and leading a more resilient future.
