Blue Carbon
Blue carbon is a climate solution that leverages the natural carbon capture and storage potential of coastal ecosystems, such as salt marshes, mangroves, and seagrass beds. These ecosystems serve as critical habitat for a wide range of coastal and marine organisms, including economically important commercial fisheries, and can help stabilize shorelines and protect coastal communities from storm damage.
In addition to these vital ecosystem services and resiliency functions, blue carbon systems naturally capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere via photosynthesis and store it in underlying marine sediments. Processes within these systems can also release alkalinity into the ocean, which can capture and sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide for thousands of years. YCNCC scientists are working across the globe to advance the understanding of the carbon sequestration potential of blue carbon, with the goal of supporting efforts to protect, restore, and enhance these vital ecosystems.
