Making Waves: Carbon180 Launches Groundbreaking Ocean CDR Grant Program

A new regranting initiative aims to catalyze innovation, equity, and local impact through ocean-based carbon removal

In a bold move to expand the frontiers of carbon dioxide removal (CDR), Carbon180 has launched a new initiative focused on ocean-based carbon removal. The Washington-based nonprofit, known for its leadership in land and tech-based CDR strategies, is now diving into the planet’s largest carbon sink: the ocean.

This effort, called the Making Waves Ocean CDR Regranting Initiative, is offering $100,000 in capacity-building grants to U.S. environmental organizations that are exploring - or even just questioning - the potential of ocean carbon removal. It’s a landmark moment that combines cutting-edge climate strategy with a commitment to community engagement, policy innovation, and ecosystem stewardship.

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From Land to Sea: Expanding the Scope of Carbon180

For years, Carbon180 has made waves in climate policy by advancing federal legislation and building a strong ecosystem around carbon removal. But as Erin Burns, Executive Director at Carbon180, puts it: "We need a lot more people working in carbon removal including–and especially–those who are skeptical of CDR."

This new ocean-focused program reflects a pivot not away from land-based solutions, but toward a broader, more inclusive future for carbon removal. Funded by the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment and ORCA - Ocean Resilience & Climate Alliance, the regranting effort underscores how climate action can be both innovative and intersectional.

What the Grant Program Offers

Applications are open through June 20, 2025, with selected projects running from September 1, 2025, to August 1, 2026. The program specifically seeks U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations working on marine, ocean, or water-related issues. Projects don’t have to be technically focused; eligible activities can include:

1. Community-Led Research

Projects rooted in local knowledge and community priorities, aiming to assess the feasibility or impact of ocean CDR in real-world settings.

2. Policy Innovation

Initiatives that explore how local and federal policy can be shaped or informed by community experience and environmental justice concerns.

3. Educational Campaigns

Programs that aim to inform the public and policymakers about ocean CDR in ways that are scientifically sound and socially inclusive.

Carbon180 emphasizes that this is a space for both believers and skeptics, welcoming a broad range of viewpoints and backgrounds.

Why Ocean-Based CDR Matters

The ocean naturally absorbs about 25% of all human-generated CO2, making it the largest active carbon sink on Earth. But while it plays a crucial role in regulating the planet’s climate, its potential for intentional, enhanced CDR remains underexplored.

Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) methods are gaining traction, with new protocols and MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification) frameworks being developed by platforms like Isometric. These efforts aim to ensure that emerging ocean CDR approaches are safe, scalable, and scientifically validated.

As Carbon180 notes, big questions loom: Should we enhance the ocean’s natural drawdown abilities? What would that mean for marine ecosystems, fisheries, and frontline communities? And who gets a say in how that future unfolds?

A Science-Driven, People-Centered Approach

The regranting program stands out not just for its funding, but for its values. Carbon180 explicitly calls for projects that address ocean health, local self-determination, environmental justice, and the potential policy implications of ocean CDR.

That framing is crucial. The climate community is increasingly aware that technological innovation must be matched by ethical foresight and community participation. As Carbon180 puts it, the initiative aims to "identify community-centered projects" that can inform larger CDR strategies.

Backed by Strategy, Science, and Momentum

With the recent appointment of Noah McQueen, a chemical engineer and co-founder of Heirloom, as Director of Science and Innovation, Carbon180 is reinforcing its reputation as a science-forward, strategy-driven organization.

"This funding opportunity aims to boost the research and development of ocean carbon removal innovations that would help tackle pressing climate issues while delivering benefits and improvements for local communities," writes Sasha Ranevska, who first reported the launch of the initiative.

As interest in carbon removal continues to grow, initiatives like Making Waves are helping steer the industry in a direction that is not only climate-resilient but also socially responsible.

Where the Tide Is Headed

While ocean CDR remains an emerging field, the launch of Carbon180’s regranting initiative signals growing momentum. It’s not just about removing carbon from the air - it’s about embedding climate solutions into the fabric of communities that will live with their consequences.

Whether you’re a local nonprofit advocating for marine protection, or a policy lab questioning the risks of ocean manipulation, this program offers a chance to shape the conversation - and the solutions.

Applications close soon, but the ripple effects of this initiative may be felt far beyond this funding cycle. As the climate crisis deepens, efforts like these remind us that the answers may lie in the water, but the leadership must come from the ground up.

Apply here by 6/20 👉 https://lnkd.in/emt9vWKH