Adaptation and Mitigation

In light of the serious and potentially irreversible consequences of climate change, consideration is being given to initiatives that may reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Ocean Climate scientists at DFO provide scientific advice on the different strategies that are being explored to mitigate the effects of climate change:

Ocean Geo-engineering: Ocean geo-engineering involves the large-scale engineering of the environment in order to combat or counteract the effects of changes in atmospheric chemistry. Ocean fertilization has been proposed as a geo-engineering method that could be used to enhance oceanic uptake of CO2 from the atmosphere by adding nutrients to stimulate phytoplankton growth. Carbon is captured as particulate organic matter (phytoplankton) and is eventually deposited on the sea floor.

Offshore Renewable Energy: Renewable Energy is energy that is produced from sources that are naturally replenished such as sunlight, wind and tides. Offshore Renewable Energy is an emerging sector in the energy industry and is of special interest to Canada due to our long coast line and potentially large ocean energy resource. There are several types of renewable energy that are being researched and developed in the oceans and offshore areas of Canada including ocean current, tidal, wave, and offshore wind energy.