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Plant Science Today (PST)

Review Articles

Vol. 12 No. sp4 (2025): Recent Advances in Agriculture by Young Minds - III

Blue carbon: Mitigating climate change through coastal ecosystems

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.8357
Submitted
18 March 2025
Published
15-12-2025

Abstract

The atmospheric concentration of CO2 has risen to 420 ppm, 42.8 % higher than the pre-industrial levels, due to fossil fuel burning, deforestation and urbanization. This has resulted in global warming which leads to sea level rise, melting of ice and an increase in the temperature. The Paris Agreement aims to cap global warming at 1.5 °C, requiring a 45 % cut in emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2070. Carbon sequestration, especially through natural processes, is a key solution. Oceans and forests are a large carbon sink, but coastal ecosystems called “Blue carbon” are also important. Mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrass ecosystems cover less than 0.5 % of the seabed, sequester carbon 10 times faster than tropical forests and store more than 50 % of ocean sediments carbon. Mangroves, for example, store 3-5 times more carbon per unit area than forests, with as much as 70 % stored in the soils. These ecosystems are, however, vulnerable to human activities like aquaculture and urbanization, leading to widespread degradation. Oceans absorb 25 % of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, which has led to a 26 % increase in ocean acidity since industrialization. Blue carbon ecosystems also have ecological and economic advantages, such as coastal protection, support for biodiversity and livelihoods for millions. The conservation and restoration of ecosystems are key to achieving global climate goals and ensuring sustainable development. In conclusion, blue carbon ecosystems are crucial to climate change mitigation and their conservation is necessary for a sustainable future.

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