How a Tiny Amount of Iron Could Reverse Climate Change

Can we restore the climate with a simple, cost-effective process? The math behind ocean iron fertilization (OIF) suggests we can.

In his postPeter Fiekowsky breaks down the astonishing efficiency of OIF—how adding a small amount of iron to specific parts of the ocean can trigger massive phytoplankton blooms that pull CO₂ from the atmosphere. The numbers are staggering:

Key Takeaways:

  1. 1 ton of iron can capture up to 200,000 tons of CO₂.
  2. OIF could scale up to remove 60 gigatons of CO₂ per year, enough to restore pre-industrial levels.
  3. The 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo unintentionally demonstrated OIF’s potential when volcanic ash triggered a phytoplankton bloom, leading to a measurable cooling effect.

At the Climate Restoration Alliance (CRA), we focus on science-backed, scalable solutions that don’t just slow climate change but reverse it. OIF is one of the most promising tools we have to achieve that goal.

Read the full post by Peter Fiekowsky here.
https://climaterestoration.substack.com/p/the-startling-math-of-ocean-iron

A Breakthrough for Climate Restoration That Almost Went Unnoticed

While much of the world was focused elsewhere on November 5, 2024, a major milestone in climate restoration quietly took place—the Climate Restoration Resolution was officially introduced in the U.S. Congress.

In this post, Peter Fiekowsky highlights this critical step toward institutionalizing climate restoration as a global priority. Unlike traditional climate policies that focus on slowing emissions, the Climate Restoration Resolution sets an ambitious goal: returning atmospheric CO₂ to safe pre-industrial levels by 2050. This is a shift from merely mitigating damage to actively restoring the climate for future generations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Climate Restoration Resolution was introduced in Congress, marking a historic moment for the movement.
  • This resolution is unique in that it goes beyond net zero—it establishes the need to remove excess CO₂ and restore the climate to safe levels.
  • The resolution supports large-scale climate restoration solutions like ocean iron fertilization (OIF), direct air capture, and ecosystem regeneration.
  • To truly restore the climate, we must move beyond incremental progress and implement high-impact, science-backed interventions.

At the Climate Restoration Alliance (CRA), we are committed to turning this vision into reality. The Climate Restoration Resolution is a key step in securing governmental and institutional support for the large-scale deployment of CO₂ removal solutions. Our mission is to ensure that climate restoration becomes an actionable, funded global priority—because the world cannot afford to wait.

Read the full post by Peter Fiekowsky here:
https://climaterestoration.substack.com/p/on-november-5th-while-you-werent

Climate Restoration: California OIF/Buoy Test Update

Thank you to those who donated and helped!

Thanks to you we have raised 46% of our $70,000 budget, and purchased the first buoy!

The buoy was picked up last week from San Francisco by Alan, our lead engineer.

In parallel, design work has been happening. Here is Alan inspecting a PTFE membrane after it had been exposed to 18-ft of depth – This is the first time a large membrane (1.5″ pipe with O-ring seal, so about 1.65″ diam circle of exchange area) has survived our 18-ft depth test!

What’s Next:

We plan to finalize a design by late December and then create and install fixturing to mount the detectors on the buoys and integrate them with the satellite communication system.

We will then test this first buoy in January in nearby bodies of water while acquiring the 2nd and 3rd buoys (we need your help for that!).  When those are received, they will be fitted with detectors in preparation for the offshore test sometime in late February.

To read the full update recently sent to Rotary donors, click here.

For future generations.

Ilan Mandel, The Grandparents Fund for Climate Restoration

Contact Info

ADDRESS

952 South Springer Road
Los Altos, Californiaa 94024
USA

PHONE

+1 (310) 4000265

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