Logo image
Back
Methane and nitrous oxide emissions complicate the climate benefits of teal and blue carbon wetlands
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Methane and nitrous oxide emissions complicate the climate benefits of teal and blue carbon wetlands

Martino E. Malerba, Daniel A. Friess, Mike Peacock, Alistair Grinham, Pierre Taillardat, Judith A. Rosentreter, Jackie Webb, Naima Iram, Alia N. Al-Haj and Peter I. Macreadie
One earth (Cambridge, Mass.), Vol.5(12), pp.1336-1341
16/12/2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2022.11.003
pdf
Methane and nitrous oxide emissions complicate the climate benefits of teal and blue carbon wetlands961.53 kBDownloadView
Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0,  Open Access
url
Methane and nitrous oxide emissions complicate the climate benefits of teal and blue carbon wetlandsView
Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0,  Open

Related links

Metrics

206 File views/ downloads
22 Record Views
33 Times Cited - Web of Science

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#6 Clean Water and Sanitation
#13 Climate Action
#14 Life Below Water

Source: InCites

Abstract

Blue (coastal wetlands) and teal (inland wetlands) carbon ecosystems are long-term carbon sinks and are regarded as essential natural climate solutions. Yet, the same biogeochemical conditions favoring high carbon storage also promote the production of two potent greenhouse gases (GHGs)—methane and nitrous oxide—which can reduce the climate change mitigation potential of wetlands. Complex processes regulate the production and consumption of the two GHGs, complicating our understanding of wetlands’ net warming or cooling effects on the climate. This primer offers an overview of the current knowledge of wetland GHG dynamics and discusses management actions available to stakeholders to maximize blue and teal carbon potential. Improving our monitoring of these ecosystems will yield more realistic estimates and avoid misrepresenting their true climate change mitigation potential. This is vital for establishing sustainable financial mechanisms (through carbon credits) to manage these ecosystems at scale. Wetlands are efficient at sequestering and storing atmospheric carbon in their sediments. However, they also release methane and nitrous oxide, two potent greenhouse gases. Here, we provide an overview of the processes regulating greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands and discuss management actions to reduce these emissions. We conclude with a list of priorities to maximize wetland potential for climate change mitigation and other co-benefits, such as cleaner water, coastal protection, sustainable livelihoods, and higher biodiversity.

Details

Logo image