Carbon Direct, in collaboration with Microsoft, announced the release of new criteria for high-quality marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR), setting a higher standard for social impact, monitoring, durability, and environmental integrity in the rapidly evolving mCDR space.
Since 2021, Carbon Direct and Microsoft have worked to develop and refine science-based guidance for carbon removal project developers and credit buyers across both established and emerging pathways. The newly released mCDR criteria come in response to advancements in the technical readiness of select mCDR technologies and recent market activity.
The Need for Scalable, High-Quality Carbon Removal
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that limiting global temperature rise in line with the Paris Agreement requires removing 100–1000 billion metric tonnes (GtCO₂) of carbon dioxide by 2100. To meet this challenge, carbon removal projects must collectively scale to remove 5–10 GtCO₂ annually by midcentury.
“With rapid technological progress and increased investment, marine carbon dioxide removal has the potential to deliver durable, large-scale CO₂ removal—potentially billions of tonnes per year in the coming decades,” said Brian Marrs, Senior Director, Energy Markets at Microsoft. “By establishing rigorous new mCDR criteria, we aim to help project developers build high-integrity solutions that maximize both environmental and social benefits.”
“mCDR is at a pivotal moment. Achieving high-quality outcomes requires rigorous monitoring, transparency, and scientific integrity to ensure safe and effective deployment,” said Dr. Matthew Potts, Chief Science Officer at Carbon Direct. “Given the vast spatial scale, the data-intensive nature of ocean-based carbon removal, and the deep connection between these projects and marine ecosystems, clear standards are essential for responsible development.”
The new criteria establish clear guidance for meeting high-quality standards across key principles, including:
- Social harms, benefits, and community engagement
- Environmental harms and benefits
- Additionality and baselines
- Measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification
- Durability
- Leakage
Carbon Direct and Microsoft will continue refining these criteria through annual updates as part of their broader commitment to high-integrity carbon removal solutions.
