How Blue Carbon Combats Climate Change

Visual Capitalist January 24, 2024
Dorothy Neufeld

Today, 33 billion metric tons of carbon is stored in blue carbon ecosystems.

For context, this is equal to 81% of the emissions produced globally in 2023. These blue carbon sinks play an important role in locking away carbon and are found across three main ecosystems:

• Mangroves
• Salt marshes
• Seagrasses

This graphic, sponsored by Carbon Streaming Corporation, illustrates the significant sequestration potential of blue carbon.

Carbon Sequestration Potential by Ecosystem

Blue carbon ecosystems are among the most productive in the world—meaning their plants usually grow a lot each year, and in the process, sequester large amounts of carbon.

In addition, their soils are largely anaerobic (without oxygen) so carbon that gets incorporated into the soils decomposes very slowly...

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