Analysis on the role of mangroves in carbon capture

What if the most effective carbon removal technology has been around for millions of years?

Forests, mangroves, peatlands, and grasslands, these ecosystems quietly pull carbon from the atmosphere every day. They store it in roots, soil, and biomass, often more efficiently and affordably than many engineered solutions.

Nature-based solutions (NbS) have the potential to deliver one-third of the emissions reductions needed by 2030 to keep us on a 1.5°C pathway. Yet they receive less than 3% of global climate finance.

Well-designed, high-integrity carbon credits linked to NbS can:

Protect biodiversity

Create local jobs

Generate sustainable income for Indigenous and rural communities

And, yes, draw down atmospheric carbon at scale

But credibility is key. Without rigorous standards, verification, and community involvement, these credits risk losing public trust.

Nature isn’t a “nice-to-have”, it’s a climate solution we can’t afford to ignore.

Are we undervaluing nature in the carbon markets?

What will it take for NbS to be recognized as central, not supplementary, to climate action?