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Regulation of Coastal Weathering in Massachusetts: A New Sabin Center Report

Abatify Summary

Nature & Climate Perspective

**Coastal weathering represents a high-permanence Blue Carbon pathway that leverages ocean chemistry to stabilize atmospheric CO2 while potentially mitigating localized ocean acidification. **

  • The introduction of alkaline minerals like olivine or basalt into coastal zones facilitates the conversion of CO2 into stable bicarbonate ions, enhancing long-term carbon sequestration.
  • Ecological risks, including the potential leaching of heavy metals or shifts in sediment composition, must be rigorously managed to protect benthic biodiversity and marine food webs.
  • Successful implementation provides a durable environmental buffer, contributing to the long-term stability of marine calcifiers and coastal ecosystem health.

Market & Policy Outlook

**The Sabin Center report identifies that the primary barrier to scaling Enhanced Coastal Weathering (ECW) is the lack of a streamlined regulatory framework to satisfy ICVCM Core Carbon Principles regarding MRV and permanence. **

  • Regulatory alignment across the Clean Water Act and state-level coastal management is critical for classifying ECW projects under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement.
  • The legal clarification of 'additionality' and 'non-permanence' risks in marine environments is essential to drive market pricing and institutional liquidity for CDR credits.
  • Clear permitting pathways allow corporations to integrate coastal CDR into their SBTi-validated net-zero strategies and Scope 3 mitigation portfolios.
Carbon dioxide removal (“CDR”) has become increasingly vital to prevent catastrophic climate change. Even with aggressive cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations will remain elevated for centuries, continuing to warm the planet and intensify climate impacts. By actively removing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, CDR can help close the gap […]
Carbon dioxide removal (“CDR”) has become increasingly vital to prevent catastrophic climate change. Even with aggressive cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations will remain elevated for centuries, continuing to warm the planet and intensify climate impacts. By actively removing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, CDR can help close the gap […]

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