This summer, I had the opportunity to work at the Environmental Defense Fund, where I researched the political landscape of marine/ocean carbon dioxide removal (mCDR/oCDR) and assisted EDF in further developing their mCDR strategy. During my time at EDF, I was part of the Blue Carbon Team, which operates within the larger Ocean Sciences Team. With the guidance of my supervisor, Mattias Cape, I began my internship by familiarizing myself with mCDR, starting with diving into the latest peer-reviewed literature to understand the basic technologies. Significant funding and resources are focused on understanding the ecological impacts of mCDR on marine ecosystems, but it is also important to assess the social and economic effects on communities if these technologies are deployed.

Environmental Defense Fund
San Francisco, California, USA
June 17 to August 21, 2024

At EDF, Melissa is working on part of a project aimed at developing a strategy to ensure that ocean carbon dioxide removal (oCDR) research is conducted safely and effectively. The project focuses on making informed decisions based on a thorough analysis of oCDR’s effectiveness, uncertainties, social and ecological risks, and associated costs. An essential aspect of this process is identifying key actors and influencers and understanding the actions they must take to achieve these outcomes. This information will be used to develop a strategy and inform a campaign to pass legislation that establishes a governance regime for oCDR research, development, and deployment.

Melissa’s role in this project involves conducting literature reviews and interviews to identify these key actors and influencers. Her responsibilities include researching and identifying key policymakers and stakeholders in the oCDR space, conducting informational interviews or mapping exercises to determine their positions, interests, and influencers, and working with experts to devise engagement strategies for securing support for federal legislation.