The importance of Blue Carbon in the climate change fight

With 90% of kelp forests disappearing, blue carbon solutions are increasingly becoming necessary for restoration

Blue Carbon is the term given for carbon captured by the ocean and coastal's ecosystems. Tidal marshes, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests store an extensive amount of Blue Carbon, it is this Blue Carbon that has been discovered to be an important tool in reducing the effects of climate change. 

Why is Blue Carbon important?

Scientists have discovered that carbon moves through a cycle on planet earth, throughout this process, it is exchanged between the land, ocean, and atmosphere in different forms. For example, Carbon Dioxide is used by plants. However, as the soil of coastal and ocean plants is underwater, they are deficient in Oxygen, meaning that Blue Carbon doesn't decompose as quickly as terrestrial plants, which makes them great at carbon storage. 

It is estimated that about 99% of the blue carbon stored in these ocean and coastal ecosystems are located between the soils. When undisturbed, these act as long-term carbon sinks. It is here that carbon can be isolated for a thousand years. 

Not only does this play a valuable role in the global carbon cycle, but they are also important for various other ecosystem services. These include flood prevention and filtration just to name a few. 

The Blue Carbon issue

We are already seeing rising water temperatures, degradation of these coastal ecosystems, and a worryingly fast loss of seagrass and kelp habitat. In fact, over 90% of our kelp forests have disappeared in some regions. This is a result of pollution, filling, development, and dredging. Not only that, but the rising sea levels also have the potential to flood and erode even more mangrove forests and tidal marshes. 

What can we do to protect the Blue Carbon Ecosystem?

As individuals, there are a few steps that we can take to protect the Blue Carbon Ecosystem. This includes reducing the amount of liquid waste, reducing our plastic use, planting more mangroves, and practising more sustainable marine animal fishing. 

When we take care of our coastal system, it means that we will be more prepared to cope with climate change. Taking care of our mangroves, for example, will help produce more healthy water, stabilise the shoreline, and prevent erosion. 

Here at Together For Climate, we are dedicated to reversing the damage done to our marine ecosystems. We support proven technologies and data-driven approaches that allow for the restoration of these important ocean ecosystems. With the help of the ocean, currents, gravity, and photosynthesis we are able to rewild our coastal ecological communities. The use of kelp to store carbon in the deep ocean has been a natural process that has existed on Earth for millions of years, we can accelerate this to help combat climate change. 

According to the World Economic Forum, seagrass, mangroves, and salt marshes could absorb almost 1.4 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2050. 

We work with Running Tide to help work on Blue Carbon, you can support them here.