Wild Shores of Singapore – November 2, 2011

The oceans are the largest active carbon sink on Earth, absorbing 26% of all carbon dioxide emissions. Five United Nations agencies are working on 'Blue Carbon' as a new form of tradable carbon market. The ocean's "biological pump" removes carbon dioxide, changing it into living matter and distributing it to the deeper water layers. Out of all the biological carbon captured in the world, 55% is taken up at sea by marine living organisms, and thus called 'blue carbon'. At least half of this is captured by the ocean's vegetated habitats - mangroves, salt marshes, seagrasses, and seaweed. These cover less than 0.5% of the seabed, but play an important role in regulating the climate and mitigating climate change. To read full story, click here.