Tue Jun 24 08:03:54 UTC 2025: **Headline: Novel Rock Weathering Technique Gains Traction Globally as Climate Change Solution**
**New Delhi, June 24, 2025:** From sugar plantations in Brazil to tea estates in India, a new method of combating climate change is gaining momentum: enhanced rock weathering (ERW). This technique involves spreading crushed rock across farmland to accelerate the natural process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide.
ERW works by speeding up the breakdown of rocks by carbonic acid, which forms when carbon dioxide dissolves in water. By using fast-weathering rocks like basalt, ground finely to increase surface area, the process is turbocharged.
The potential of ERW has attracted significant interest, with tech giants, airlines, and fashion companies looking to purchase carbon credits from ERW projects to offset their emissions. However, questions remain about the actual amount of carbon dioxide that ERW can remove. Studies have yielded varying results, with some showing significant carbon removal and others indicating lower rates.
“Field trials are showing that there have been overestimates of the amount and rate captured,” said Paul Nelson, a soil scientist at James Cook University. Factors such as rock type, climate, soil type, and land management all play a role. Furthermore, measuring captured carbon accurately is challenging.
Despite these challenges, experts agree that ERW has potential if carefully calibrated and measured. “There is no doubt that this technique works,” said Wolfram Buss, a researcher at the Australian National University. “However, to be sure how much carbon dioxide we actually remove, more funding is required to do fundamental studies.”
Beyond carbon capture, ERW can also improve soil health by increasing alkalinity and providing nutrients. Additionally, even if the rock doesn’t directly lock away carbon dioxide, it can neutralize acids in the soil that would otherwise release carbon dioxide into waterways.
While ERW is generally considered safe, some rocks contain heavy metals, and scattering fine rock dust requires protective gear. The main risk lies in overestimating the amount of carbon captured, which could lead to companies offsetting emissions with less impact than projected.
Despite these risks, ERW projects are underway worldwide. A project in Brazil recently delivered the first verified carbon-removal credits from ERW. In India, an ERW startup, Mati Carbon, won the $50 million X Prize for carbon removal. And Google recently announced a major deal to purchase carbon removal credits from Terradot, an ERW startup.
ERW represents a promising avenue for carbon removal, but further research and careful monitoring are needed to ensure its effectiveness and maximize its potential in the fight against climate change.
First Piper 