The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) argues that Blue Carbon ecosystems have great potential to be explored as countries seek ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

The term Blue Carbon refers to organic carbon captured and stored by the ocean in vegetated coastal ecosystems such as mangrove forests, salt marshes or seagrass meadows.

The IAEA assesses carbon sequestration rates in coastal vegetation areas, where ecosystems can remove excess carbon from the atmosphere and store it for thousands of years. Natural ocean habitats also protect the coast from erosion, storm surges, and sea level rise.

These oceanic habitats are scattered along coastlines and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. They cover approximately 50 million hectares, an area almost twice the size of the United Kingdom.

Blue Carbon can help combat climate change by removing excess CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it for hundreds or thousands of years.

However, this same ability to sequester carbon makes it imperative that these ecosystems be protected and preserved, because when damaged, previously stored carbon is released, leading to further negative impacts.

The IAEA points out that the capacity of Blue Carbon ecosystems to sequester carbon has been drastically reduced over the past 70 years as a result of unsustainable coastal development, deforestation, environmental pollution and other destructive activities.

Over the past 50 years, the area covered by vegetated coastal habitat has shrunk by between 25% and 50%.

The agency is involved in projects to assess carbon sequestration rates in vegetated coastal areas and to assist in data collection in more than 40 countries.

Sediments that accumulate in seagrass beds, mangroves, and marshes can be analyzed to help indicate changes in the environment over time, from recent years to millions of years ago.

The IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories apply nuclear and isotopic techniques to better understand the Blue Carbon cycle and assess the potential capacity of coastal ecosystems to store the gas.

Research also focuses on biodiversity loss, ocean acidification, and the accumulation of pollutants in marine ecosystems.

The IAEA also supports countries in regions such as Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa to train scientists to develop the capacity to accurately measure CO2 sequestration rates in Blue Carbon ecosystems.

In addition to capturing and storing gas in their sediments, these coastal ecosystems also play an important role in protecting coastlines from erosion and reducing the impacts of storms and sea level rise.

Vegetation growing in coastal areas can help improve water quality by filtering pollutants, supporting biodiversity, providing habitat for a variety of species, and serving as a nursery for fish and shellfish.

In partnership with Member States, the IAEA assesses the potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts of ecosystem changes and the implications for food security.

According to the agency, protecting these Blue Carbon areas means healthier coastlines, ecosystems, and a healthier planet.

Protecting Blue Carbon ecosystems is crucial to combating climate change and preserving coastal biodiversity. The ability of these ecosystems to sequester carbon and protect coasts from erosion and storms must be valued, especially as climate impacts intensify.

Preserving these areas represents a natural and effective solution, benefiting both the environment and the communities that depend on them. Investing in their conservation is not only an environmental measure; it is also a fundamental strategy for a more sustainable and secure future.