Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing atmospheric CO2 — the most commonly produced greenhouse gas — and storing it in the Earth.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. The Drax power station in North Yorkshire, UK was once Western Europe's largest coal-fired power plant but is now the UK's largest generator of renewable energy, with an aim to become carbon negative by 2030. Anne Coatesy / iStock / Getty Images Plus Quick Key Facts Forests, grasslands and farms have traditionally captured about 25% of carbon emissions. Grasslands store about 12% of Earth's terrestrial carbon. Each year, the planet's peatlands store 307 megatons of carbon, more than the total carbon storage of all types of vegetation on Earth. The surface layer of the ocean has absorbed up to 30% of the carbon dioxide released by humans burning fossil fuels. Our planet's forests, soils and oceans are its biggest carbon sinks. Most carbon on Earth is stored in sediments and rocks. Carbon is present in all living things on the planet. Humans are made up of about 18.5 percent carbon. What Is 'Carbon Sequestration'? Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide — the most commonly produced greenhouse gas — and storing it in the Earth. Most of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is formed by the combustion of fossil fuels, primarily coal and petroleum. A coal-fired power plant in eastern Wyoming. PhilAugustavo / E+ / Getty Images The amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased by 30% over the past 150 years. It is the general consensus of most scientists that there is a direct correlation between rising global temperatures and increasing carbon dioxide levels. The purpose of carbon sequestration is to reduce the amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, in order to reduce global heating and climate change. There are three types of carbon sequestration: biological, geological and technological. Biological carbon…