Exploring the Global Potential of Seaweed Farming for Carbon Removal and Climate Mitigation

Abstract

Considering seaweed can store carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, it has emerged as a promising method for removing carbon from the environment and mitigating the effects of climate change. The global potential of seaweed farming as a scalable method of removing carbon dioxide and mitigating climate change is examined in this study, with an emphasis on the interaction between biophysical limitations and current understanding. This study assesses the diversity in carbon removal capacity across varied seaweed farming conditions worldwide by a thorough assessment of the literature and data analysis. The effectiveness of carbon sequestration by seaweed farming is greatly influenced by biophysical factors, including species selection, growing methods, oceanic conditions, and geographic location. Through the synthesis of existing knowledge and the identification of critical knowledge gaps, this offers insights into the optimisation of seaweed farming practices for improved carbon removal and climate resilience. The results highlight how crucial it is to take biophysical limitations into account when planning and carrying out seaweed farming projects that aim to reduce global climate change.