KELP AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION: EXPORTING TERRESTRIAL GHG ACCOUNTING TO THE DEEP SEA

Recent breakthroughs have elevated algae as a promising biological solution to environmental challenges. Particular species of algae can provide low-impact, non-fossil substitutes for liquid fuel and plastics and can decrease enteric fermentation emissions from cattle. Now, a recent Nature Geoscience paper quantifies the role of kelp and other macroalgae in the global carbon cycle. The peculiarities of seaweed carbon cycling may skirt “permanence” issues that have plagued other biological carbon sinks, such as terrestrial forests. Future research may enable business and government to recruit kelp forest rehabilitation as an additional approach to climate change mitigation.