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From Roadmap to Action: Advancing Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal in Africa

Outcomes and Reflections from the 2025 WIOMSA mCDR Special Session and Post-WIOMSA Workshop

We need all hands on deck to accelerate innovative ocean-climate solutions that strengthen marine ecosystems and support livelihoods. In Mombasa, Kenya, two landmark events were held in connection with the 2025 Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) Scientific Symposium: the WIOMSA Special Session, “Roadmap to Action: Advancing Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal in Africa through Science, Governance, and Innovation” and the Post-WIOMSA Workshop, “Catalyzing Capacity for Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal in Africa.” These convenings brought together scientists, policymakers, innovators, and community leaders to chart Africa’s pathway in marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR).

Across both gatherings, participants shared a unifying vision: to build capacity in Africa to move from dialogue into action to develop safe, equitable, and science-based solutions that contribute to global climate goals while supporting local livelihoods and ecosystems.

The Special Session featured more than 25 attendees, while the workshop hosted 58 participants selected from more than 250 interested registrants. Both events were made possible by African partners including Dr. Mariam Swaleh (Technical University of Mombasa and Ocean Climate Innovation Hub Kenya), Caitlin Wale (Kinjani & SAILOR), and Shamim Nyanda (Tanzania Ocean Climate Innovation Hub) with support from the Ocean Resilience Climate Alliance (ORCA), the Grantham Foundation, [C]Worthy, the Carbon to Sea Initiative, and Ocean Visions.

The WIOMSA Special Session: Building a Scientific Foundation

Co-led by Dr. Mariam Swaleh and Dr. Matt Long ([C]Worthy), the Special Session set the scientific and policy groundwork for Africa’s emerging mCDR roadmap.

Dr. Swaleh presented Africa’s Roadmap for Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal, a framework linking mCDR to research, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. The roadmap was born from a workshop organized by Ocean Visions earlier in the year that brought together participants from 13 African countries spanning North, East, South, and West Africa. She highlighted that Africa’s long coastline, mineral wealth, and youthful population make it uniquely positioned to lead in responsible ocean-based carbon removal.

“MCDR is not just a scientific experiment; it is an opportunity to build a new economy that links climate solutions with livelihoods and innovation,” she said.

She called for greater investment in local capacity, partnerships, and inclusive governance to ensure that mCDR activities on the continent are African-led. Addressing funding constraints, technical gaps, and political will, Dr. Swaleh asserted the need to translate science into enterprise and impact.

Dr. Long outlined the scientific foundations of marine CDR and reinforced that emissions reductions alone will not meet global climate targets. Africa’s vast coastline and diverse ecosystems, he noted, present unique opportunities for responsible ocean-based carbon removal rooted in science and transparency.

Speakers also stressed the importance of durable CDR, trade-offs between , “trade-offs between chemistry or mineral-based and biology or photosynthesis-based pathways (also known as abiotic and biotic)”, and robust Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems to unlock carbon market finance.

The technical session, featuring Dr. Alicia Karspeck ([C]Worthy), Dr. Leila Kittu (GEOMAR), and Drs. Joseph Kamau and Anthony Nzioka Mutua (KMFRI), explored how Africa can advance marine carbon dioxide removal through credible science and responsible practice. They emphasized that robust MRV systems are essential for trust and investment and that ecosystem benefits and losses must be anticipated early to protect biodiversity and livelihoods.

Dr. Kamau observed, “Understanding the ocean’s baseline is key to avoiding unintended impacts,” while Dr. Mutua added, “MCDR must strengthen the very communities that depend on the sea.” Their reflections bridged scientific research into governance and community discussions.

The governance and community session included Dr. Sware Semesi, Mr. Edwin Mwashinga (IOC UNESCO), and Ms. Evelyn Kimori (LAMCOT), who explored how policy frameworks, communication, and community ownership can ground Africa’s marine carbon efforts in local realities.

Dr. Semesi noted that “coastal communities are already benefiting from blue carbon projects; integrating mCDR into policy can amplify those gains.” Mr. Mwashinga called for “legal anchoring and policy harmonization” across African states, while Ms. Kimori emphasized that effective science communication is vital for public trust.

Dr. Swaleh concluded, “Our task is to ensure mCDR works for Africa, anchored in science, guided by community wisdom, and built on hope for a climate-positive future.”

The Post-WIOMSA Workshop: Catalyzing Capacity and Collaboration

Building on the momentum of the Special Session, the Post-WIOMSA Workshop deepened conversations around science, governance, and innovation to activate Africa’s potential in ocean-based climate solutions.

Dr. Amon Kimeli delivered opening remarks from WIOMSA’s Executive Secretary Dr. Arthur Tuda, who highlighted Africa’s role as a key contributor to global climate action- “Africa should be positioned not as a bystander but as a key contributor to the global climate response, especially given the region’s vulnerability to climate change.” He called for greater investment in ocean observation, data infrastructure, and regional research networks, aligning efforts with the African Union’s Blue Economy Strategy, and stressed that women, youth, and coastal communities must take leadership roles.

Prof. Laila Abubakar, Vice Chancellor of the Technical University of Mombasa, reflected on the university’s coastal heritage and proximity to the ocean. Sharing first-hand observations of marine pollution and habitat degradation, she highlighted that workshops like the Post-WIOMSA Workshop are crucial for translating research into innovation and community impact.

Dr. Matt Long, Co-Founder and CEO of [C]Worthy, then set the tone with a presentation calling for collective engagement — “wote pamoja” (all together). He outlined mCDR approaches such as ocean alkalinity enhancement or OAE, biomass cultivation, and ecosystem restoration, stressing that “responsible deployment must be built on clear baselines, verified models, and community consent.” He warned that mCDR interventions must be carefully managed to avoid unintended impacts. “We must ensure that what we do to help the ocean does not harm it,” Dr. Long said. 

Plenary and panel discussions examined why durable carbon-dioxide removal must serve as a complement to emission reductions. Spotlights on pilot projects, including Planetary, Vesta, Seacure, Ebb, and PRONOE, showcased global initiatives committed to scientific rigor, community engagement, and regulatory learning.

From South Africa, Caitlin Wale of SAILOR noted, “South Africa has significant existing and planned infrastructure, from desalination plants and mining supply chains to hydrogen hubs and wastewater treatment works, that could pair powerfully with ocean alkalinity enhancement and related innovations.”

From Tanzania, Shamim Nyanda highlighted the challenge of fragmented efforts across institutions and sectors. “The Africa mCDR Roadmap should serve as a unifying framework,” she said, “aligning science, governance, innovation, and community engagement.”

Representing the Ocean Climate Innovation Hub Kenya, Dr. Mariam Swaleh stated, “Africa’s coastal communities are not passive observers of climate change but active innovators of solutions. Our mission is to bridge science, technology, and traditional knowledge so that marine carbon dioxide removal becomes not just a climate intervention, but a pathway for resilience, livelihoods, and shared prosperity.”

Her remarks captured the spirit of the session, which emphasized collaboration, data credibility, capacity building, and regional ownership. Participants highlighted that Africa’s strength lies in fostering partnerships between scientists, innovators, and local communities, supported by robust monitoring frameworks that ensure environmental integrity and accountability. The discussions reinforced that inclusive governance, knowledge sharing, and sustained investment in research are vital to transform mCDR from concept to practical climate action.

Science, Safety, and the Way Forward

Technical discussions led by Dr. Alicia Karspeck and Dr. Leila Kittu expanded on MRV and ecosystem safety. Dr. Karspeck described MRV as “the quantitative foundation for verifying that intended carbon removal has been achieved while maintaining environmental safety.” She called for layered observation systems — from coastal zones to the open ocean — supported by models such as the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS).

Dr. Kittu added, “No mCDR method is impact-free; the right question is, what are the risks and how are they managed?” She predicated that safety depends on method, scale, and local conditions, and must include the well-being of people reliant on marine resources.

Breakout groups identified four key pillars: safe pilots, standards, industry linkages and finance, and equity. Participants stressed African-led, community-designed projects and creative communication through art, storytelling, and social media.

The 58 participants committed to:

  • Establishing transparency through the African mCDR Roadmap and online engagement;

  • Developing curricula and certification programs for capacity-building;

  • Creating inclusive communication strategies in local languages;

  • Aligning mCDR with national and regional climate strategies;

  • Prioritizing small, well-monitored pilots with clear benefit-sharing frameworks.

Participants emphasized that success depends on bottom-up innovation, where communities, researchers, and startups co-design context-specific solutions supported by enabling policy and partnerships.

The workshop concluded by underscoring the role of regional Ocean-Climate Innovation Hubs — in Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Morocco, and South Africa — as anchors for marine CDR and ocean-climate innovation within the Global Ecosystem for Ocean Solutions (GEOS), an Ocean Visions initiative endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade.

Together, the mCDR Special Session and Post-WIOMSA Workshop produced five key outcomes:

  1. mCDR is a near-term opportunity to strengthen Africa’s climate resilience and blue economy.

  2. Expertise and commitment on mCDR already exist within the continent.

  3. All efforts to advance mCDR must be grounded in sound science and robust monitoring.

  4. Transparent governance and equity are essential for the he successful evaluation and potential for deployment of mCDR pathways

  5. Africa’s leadership on mCDR will emerge through collaboration, innovation, and shared purpose