Regulation of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement in Washington State

Authors

Ashwin Murthy, Columbia Law School, Sabin Center for Climate Change LawFollow
Korey Silverman-Roati, Columbia Law School, Sabin Center for Climate Change LawFollow
Romany M. Webb, Columbia University, Sabin Center for Climate Change LawFollow

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

1-2025

Abstract

This paper focuses on one commonly-discussed ocean carbon dioxide removal approach, ocean alkalinity enhancement (“OAE”), which involves adding alkaline substances to ocean waters in order to increase their ability to uptake carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. OAE also has the potential to mitigate ocean acidification, which has been worsening globally due to climate change, and has threatened marine life and industries in places like Washington State.

There is significant interest in pursuing OAE off the coast of Washington state. This paper examines the legal framework for OAE projects in Washington State. As we explain, OAE projects conducted in near-shore areas off Washington’s coast may be regulated under various environmental and other laws adopted at the local, tribal, state, and federal levels.

Disciplines

Environmental Law | Law

Recommended Citation

Ashwin Murthy, Korey Silverman-Roati & Romany M. Webb, Regulation of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement in Washington State, SABIN CENTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE LAW (Jan. 2025).
Available at: https://scholarship.law.columbia.edu/sabin_climate_change/242

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