NET ZERO
CREDIT: CLIMEWORKS of the ocean capture carbon through photosynthesis, while deeper waters store dissolved CO₂.
Wetlands – including peatlands and mangroves – are also efficient when it comes to sequestering carbon. Despite covering only a small percentage of the Earth’ s surface, they store disproportionately large amounts of carbon in their soils.
Grasslands and savannas are other areas that contribute to natural sequestration. This is done by primarily storing carbon in extensive root systems and soil.
That being said, soil itself is a significant carbon reservoir, containing more carbon than the atmosphere and all plant life combined. Proper land management practices can enhance soil’ s capacity to sequester carbon.
While natural sequestration is a powerful tool in combating climate change, the ecosystems that facilitate it themselves are under threat from human activities and the increasing effects of climate change.
Artificial sequestration Artificial sequestration refers to a set of engineered processes designed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or capture itat the source of emission. This approach is growing in popularity and becoming increasingly important in the fight against climate change, complementing natural methods.
Staff at the unveiling of Climeworks’ mammoth plant
DAC is one of the more prominent types of this technology, using large fans to draw air into a collector system, where CO₂ is then extracted through chemical processes. The captured CO₂ can then be stored underground or used in various applications.
Carbon capture from industrial sources is another key approach, where CO₂ emissions from power plants, cement factories and other industrial
100 May 2025