Blue Carbon: Japan to Store CO₂ in Deep Sea with Marine Plants

• Japan explores sea plants to trap carbon from the air and store it in the deep sea.
• Marine plants absorb more CO₂ than land-based plants.
• The country has reduced a lot of carbon over the years by using renewable energy.

The Japanese government is all set to launch a study focused on "blue carbon" to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere.

The study will explore using sea plants such as kelp and mangroves to trap CO₂ that has permeated seawater. These plants use CO₂ for photosynthesis and subsequently store carbon in the deep sea, a natural and efficient way to reduce carbon emissions.

Difference between blue carbon and green carbon

When marine ecosystems absorb carbon and store it in the ocean, it is called blue carbon, whereas when land-based ecosystems, for example, forests, capture and store carbon, it is known as green carbon. Incidentally, marine plants can store more carbon than their land counterparts.

The Japanese government, along with other research agencies and private businesses, will study how seaweed behaves when sunk to deep ocean levels, as well as the environmental impacts or risks of storing carbon in this fashion.

READ MORE: Blue Bonds: Catalysing Investment in Marine Conservation

Over the years, Japan's carbon emissions have reduced so much owing to the increased use of renewable energy and nuclear power. However, to reach the country's goal of net zero emissions by 2050, more needs to be done. At present, Japan is depending on forests to capture carbon, but the downside is that the trees are becoming weaker due to ageing.

So, the government is exploring new methods to reduce carbon emissions and sees blue carbon as one of the most efficient paths to net zero goals. In 2023, coastal plants captured about 34 tonnes of CO₂. As a result, the nation has set goals to absorb 1 million tonnes per year by 2035 and 2 million tonnes by 2045 through blue carbon.

Blue carbon has the potential to become a reliable and scalable carbon capture strategy—naturally—for the future if countries succeed in their ambitions regarding this method.

ALSO READ: World's Largest Salmon Producer Inks €2.6bn Green Loan Deal

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Source: KYODO NEWS