Wahyu Dwi Anggoro
IDXChannel - Conserving and restoring blue carbon ecosystems, such as mangroves and seagrasses, which capture more carbon than forests, can help fight climate change, create meaningful jobs, and improve people’s quality of life, says a new World Bank report.
Unlocking Blue Carbon Development, financed by the multi-donor trust fund PROBLUE, reveals that blue carbon storage in coastal and marine ecosystems, from mangroves to seagrass, is a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.
For example, stopping seagrass destruction and degradation worldwide could save up to 650 million tons of CO2 emissions annually, roughly equivalent to the entire annual emissions of the global shipping industry.
“Investing in saving and replenishing mangroves, seagrasses, and other natural blue carbon storage systems can support a world free of poverty on a livable planet,” said Valerie Hickey, World Bank Global Director for Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy, in a media release on Tuesday (21/11/2023).
“These ecosystems not only store carbon, but also provide a multitude of benefits, including supporting fisheries and food security, promoting tourism and jobs, helping to protect coastal communities from climate disasters, and providing natural habitats for wildlife," Hickey added.
