Healthy Rivers.
Healthy Planet.

Healthy rivers are essential for a healthy planet. Thats why were helping restore the natural ability of rivers to carry carbon to the sea for long-term storage.

[Collage of rivers]

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Rivers naturally deliver carbon to the ocean, preventing it from returning to the atmosphere. This helps keep the planet cool. Unfortunately, pollution has disrupted the river-carbon-ocean connection.

Rivers Disrupted

Many of our watersheds have been harmed by a toxic legacy of acid rain. Acidification of rivers has harmed aquatic biodiversity and natural carbon removal.

[Acidification disrupts the natural carbon process]

Acidification disrupts the natural carbon process

A healthy river with natural alkaline minerals transforms CO into bicarbonate. Many marine organisms need this to build their shells. The leftover bicarbonate is delivered by rivers to the ocean for long-term storage. But this cycle has been disrupted by acidification, causing more CO to go back into the atmosphere.

our mission

Holistic River Restoration

CarbonRun is a Nova Scotia-based company that is the first in the world to use a safe, proven river restoration approach to decrease river acidity in a way that also naturally delivers carbon to the ocean, preventing it from returning to the atmosphere. Rivers as a force for change.

SEE How it works

Restore river health

Restore River Health

CarbonRun decreases the acidity of rivers to combat the negative effects of acid rain, restore their health, and protect biodiversity. The restored rivers boost fisheries and aquaculture, improve water quality, and de-acidify critical coastal regions.

[A river otter relaxing on a log]

benefit the community

Benefit the Community

CarbonRun is committed to ensuring thatcommunities benefitfrom the project by creating local economic impact and a restored river ecosystem. We are thoughtfully creating place-based projects supporting rural and Indigenous communities, and growing a team of skilled trade workers in construction, production, trucking, and data collection.

[A person in the community putting their hands in fresh river water]

draw down carbon

Draw Down Carbon

We urgently need safe, permanent, and scalable ways to remove carbon from our atmosphere. By bringing our natural approach to scale in regions around the world with large-scale but degraded river systems, CarbonRun's solution can draw down 10-15% of the required carbon dioxide to meet the global need projected by 2050.

The challenge of our time

Billions of tons of CO need to be removed annually to avoid severe climate change. We're not on track, and even if we did meet our targets, we must still address the legacy of yesterdays carbon pollution through carbon removal.

[Water flowing through rocks showing Draw Down Carbon with rivers]

Nature-Powered Science

CarbonRun is a first-of-its-kind, Canadian-made technology that mobilizes river science to rebalance river acidity levels, resulting in great ecological benefits while safely and verifiably drawing down CO2. Producing natural limestone powder involves just mining, crushing, and transport. This process results in only 5 tons of CO2 emissions for every 100 tons captured, compared to 'lime,' which generates significantly higher emissions.

Our technology is safe, has a small footprint, and is based on decades of real-world applications.

CarbonRun deacidifies rivers and improves river health by adding crushed limestone to rivers impacted by pollution.

Our limestone dosers have a small footprint and minimal impact on the ecosystem.

The crushed limestone dissolves rapidly, converting CO in the rivers into stable, beneficial bicarbonate as well as minerals like calcium and magnesium.

Our process absorbs CO from both the soil and atmosphere and re-establishes key ecological building blocks.

Rivers transport bicarbonate to the ocean, where the carbon is stored for millennia in oceanic reservoirs.

The drawdown of carbon can be directly measured in the river in real time.

Balance is restored to the rivers while also supporting coastal areas and marine life from the impacts of ocean acidification.

Healthy rivers are essential to a healthy planet.

Impact

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Restores Rivers

Improves water quality in rivers damaged by pollution.

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Boosts Fish Populations

Increases productivity of fish stocks.

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Rebalances Coastal Oceans

Reduces impacts of ocean acidification in coastal zones.

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Increases Biodiversity

Promotes ecosystem resilience and sensitive species

How were advancing the UN Sustainability Goals

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Life Below Water

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

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Decent Work & Economic Growth

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

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Clean Water & Sanitation

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

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Global Health & Well-being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Sustainable Development. 17 Goals.

Improving Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) practices

Scalable

As a mission-driven company, we focus on restoring rivers impacted by human activity, continuously monitoring and verifying the safety and impact of our work.

By bringing our natural approach to scale in regions around the world with large degraded river systems, CarbonRun's solution can draw down 10-15% of the required carbon dioxide to meet the global need projected by 2050.

15%

Estimated amount of total global carbon that could potentially be drawn down with the CarbonRun method.

Low Impact

CarbonRun minimizes its environmental footprint by powering installations with renewable energy and strategically locating them near limestone sources to reduce transportation needs. This low-impact approach ensures that carbon removal is both sustainable and effective.

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Permanent

Our process enables rivers to remove CO from the atmosphere as well as land sources and store it as stable bicarbonate in the ocean for thousands of years. While the carbon is securely stored, the CarbonRun process can be halted at any time.

Verifiable

CarbonRun works with leading academics and third-party verifiers to independently certify our carbon drawdown amounts. And we work with verifiers that have themselves been certified as trusted bodies by accrediting authorities.

Our technology meets provincial and federal regulatory standards and adheres to strict third-party Monitoring, Reporting & Verification protocols (MRV).

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Safe

Adding natural limestone to rivers has safely reduced acidity, restored water quality, and boosted biodiversityincluding fish populationsfor decades. Our proven approach follows standard regulatory measures to ensure both effective restoration and the prevention of riverbank erosion.

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Healthy rivers. healthy planet.

Restoring rivers benefits every living thing

Were restoring rivers to improve water quality, enhance aquatic biodiversity, and support the repopulation of fish stocks.

News

View all posts

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CarbonRun Issues the Worlds First Verified River Alkalinity Enhancement Credits

Enabled by Omyas mineral feedstocks and delivered to Frontier buyers, this milestone marks river-based carbon removals transition from development to verified impact.

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CarbonRun prsent lmission Dcouverte de Radio-Canada

Une approche naturelle pour restaurer les rivires et capter le carbone en toute scurit.

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Carbon Removal Begins at the River

Dr. Eddie Halfyard explains why the West River is uniquely suited for restoring water chemistry and capturing carbon.

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Carbon Unbound East Coast 2025

CarbonRun joined innovators and leaders from around the world at Carbon Unbound East Coast to explore the future of carbon removal and share updates on our river-based CDR solution.

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The First-Ever Carbon Removal Protocol for Rivers

Isometric has released a certified protocol for carbon dioxide removal through River Alkalinity Enhancementsetting a global standard for quality, measurement, and accountability in river-based carbon removal.

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CarbonRun Named Venture of the Year: Scaleup at the 2025 Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards

CarbonRun is honored to be recognized as the Venture of the Year: Scaleup winner at the 2025 Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards, celebrating our commitment to innovative, scalable carbon removal solutions for the climate.

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A New Industry-First Protocol for Carbon Removal via Rivers: Now Open for Public Consultation

CarbonRun played a key role in shaping this framework, contributing our field experience and scientific expertise to ensure a rigorous, science-backed approach to carbon removal verification.

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CarbonRun Featured on NBC News: A Natural Climate Solution in Action

NBC News highlighted CarbonRun's work in a feature by climate reporter Chase Cain.

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CarbonRun Announces Grand Opening of West River Pictou Project

Nova Scotia is now home of the worlds first river alkalinity enhancement project for carbon dioxide removal

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CarbonRun Secures $25.4 Million Deal with Frontier Buyers for River Liming Carbon Removal

Frontier's offtake agreement with CarbonRun marks their first-ever marine based carbon removal deal

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The Impact of Carbon Dioxide Removal on River Ecosystems: Insights from the New York Times

Exploring the science behind natural CO2 removal and its critical role in combating climate change

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Pilot project in rural Nova Scotia is featured on CBC

CBC News highlighted our pilot project in rural Nova Scotia aimed at restoring rivers and addressing climate change through river alkalinity restoration.

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CarbonRun joins Counteract's portfolio dedicated to catalyzing carbon removal efforts

Strengthening our mission to restore rivers and expand our reach for positive impact.

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CarbonRun joins Propellers climate fund focused on the ocean

We are now a proud member of Propellers mission-driven community, aligning with their commitment to transformative climate solutions.

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Dr. Eddie Halfyard talks freshwater ecosystems on 'Solve for X'

CarbonRuns CTO, Dr. Eddie Halfyard, lends his expertise in freshwater ecosystems on Solve for X: Innovations to Change the World

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The Sciographies Podcast

Dr. Shannon Sterling, CarbonRun Founder and CSO, and her path to carbon removal and river restoration

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Frontier facilitates third round of carbon removal purchases

Frontier announces purchases from CarbonRun, a Canadian company that combats climate change by restoring rivers.

View all

Calling all river stewards

When it comes to river restoration and CO removal, we all need to work together. If you or someone you know is interested in restoring rivers, buying our carbon removals, or sponsoring our projects, please fill out the form below and well be in touch with you soon.

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Email us

info@carbonrun.io

Location

CarbonRuns headquarters are located in Mikmaki,
the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mikmaq.

PO Box 14
1 Research Drive
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 4M9

Get directions

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