Enhanced rock weathering is gaining traction as a potential solution to combat climate change. Farmers across the globe are experimenting with spreading powdered volcanic rock on their crops to help remove excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This technique takes advantage of Earth’s natural carbon cycle, where volcanic rock naturally traps carbon dioxide and transforms it into a solid form, helping to moderate Earth’s temperatures over time.
Scientists have been studying how to accelerate this weathering process for the past two decades, with the aim of removing significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Enhanced rock weathering is seen as a promising method to help meet climate goals set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which highlight the need to remove billions of metric tons of carbon dioxide by the end of the century.
One of the key advantages of enhanced rock weathering is that it builds on a natural process and utilizes existing industrial processes, making it a cost-effective and scalable solution. Unlike other carbon removal methods that require large amounts of energy, land, and water, enhanced rock weathering has a competitive edge in terms of energy efficiency and water usage. Additionally, this technique can benefit farmers by improving soil health and increasing crop productivity.
However, there are concerns surrounding the potential risks of heavy metal accumulation in soils from repeated applications of rock powder. Scientists are still studying the long-term impacts of enhanced rock weathering on soil microbes, adjacent ecosystems, and marine life. Ensuring the safety and effectiveness of this technique requires accurate measurement, reporting, and verification of carbon dioxide removal, which can be challenging due to the lack of direct measurement methods.
Despite these challenges, companies are exploring innovative ways to enhance rock weathering, such as using different types of rock powder and developing measurement techniques to verify carbon removal. Collaboration between researchers, start-ups, and policymakers is crucial to further develop and scale up this promising climate solution. As the world races against time to mitigate the effects of climate change, embracing a variety of carbon removal strategies, including enhanced rock weathering, may be essential to achieving our climate goals by 2030.
