Blue carbon refers to CO2 that is captured and stored by the world’s oceans and coastal ecosystems particularly vegetated environments like mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and salt marshes. Though photosynthesis, these plants absorb CO2 directly from the atmosphere and the water. They they day, their carbon is transferred down into the deep, water-logged soils and sediments beneath the surface, where it remains safely locked away for thousands of years. Because underwater sediments lack oxygen, decomposition happens incredibly slowly, which is why they act as highly efficient, long-term carbon sinks.

Despite a relatively small global footprint compared to land-based forests, these coastal ‘blue forests’ are incredibly powerful tools for mitigating climate change. Scientific assessments reveal that healthy coastal ecosystems can sequester carbon at a rate up to ten times faster than terrestrial, tropical rainforests on a per-acre basis. Beyond their extraordinary climate mitigation capabilities, they serve as critical natural buffers that protect coastal communities from storms and erosion, filter pollutants to improve water quality and act as vital marine nurtures that support global biodiversity.