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Weakening Carbon Sinks Could Undermine Global Net Zero Strategies
A recent analysis warns that weakening natural carbon sinks, particularly forests and oceans, could undermine global Net Zero strategies. The news focus is on how changes in absorption capacity of key ecosystems affects the share of anthropogenic CO2 emissions removed from the atmosphere.
Natural Carbon Sinks and Key Estimates:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Definition | Natural carbon sinks comprise ecosystems or processes that absorb more carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere than they release. |
| Major natural sinks | Major natural sinks comprise forests, oceans, soils and wetlands, and peatlands. |
| Forests: absorption mechanism | Forests absorb CO2 through photosynthesis and store carbon in vegetation and soils. |
| Oceans: absorption mechanism | Oceans absorb atmospheric CO2 through physical and biological processes. |
| Soils and wetlands | Soils and wetlands store large quantities of organic carbon. |
| Peatlands | Peatlands comprise important long-term carbon stores. |
| 2025 estimate: oceans | Oceans absorb approximately 12 GtCO2. |
| 2025 estimate: forests | Forests absorb approximately 6 GtCO2. |
| 2025 estimate: total anthropogenic emissions | Total anthropogenic CO2 emissions comprise approximately 48 GtCO2. |
| Share of emissions absorbed | Natural sinks absorb roughly 40% of human-generated CO2 emissions. |
| Reason for weakening: deforestation | Global forest area has declined by approximately 1.5 million sq km since 1990. |
| Reason for weakening: forest fires | Increasing frequency and intensity of fires can convert forests from carbon sinks into carbon sources. |
| Reason for weakening: climate change | Higher temperatures, drought, and changing precipitation can reduce ecosystem carbon uptake. |
| Reason for weakening: ocean changes | Warming and other changes can affect the ocean's capacity to absorb and store CO2. |
| Reason for weakening: ecosystem degradation | Damage to forests, wetlands, peatlands, and marine ecosystems reduces carbon-storage capacity. |
| Reason for weakening: inadequate financing | Natural carbon sinks remain insufficiently valued in climate and carbon markets. |