Reimagining Carbon Capture: How Land and Sea Are Joining Forces to Tackle Climate Change

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the ocean holds roughly 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere—a staggering fact that underscores the ocean’s importance in regulating Earth’s climate. Enter “blue carbon”: carbon sequestered by marine ecosystems, including whales, seagrasses, mangroves, and salt marshes.

Here’s a surprising figure backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and research from marine biologists around the globe: a single whale can capture up to 33 tons of CO₂ in its body over its lifetime. When a whale dies, its carbon-rich remains sink to the deep ocean floor, effectively locking away that carbon for centuries. This stands in contrast to land-based animals, whose decomposing remains quickly release CO₂ back to the atmosphere.

Though spectacular, whales are only part of the equation. Mangroves and salt marshes bury carbon in sediment at rates up to four times higher, per acre, than tropical rainforests. It’s why conservationists have spent years advocating for measures like the High Seas Treaty—a global framework that would allow extended Marine Protected Areas beyond national waters. By preventing unchecked industrial fishing or resource exploitation in these international zones, the ocean can continue to perform its carbon-storage magic.

While the ocean does the heavy lifting offshore, an equally robust movement is shaking up how we treat farmland, forests, and organic waste. Soil stores more carbon globally than both the atmosphere and vegetation combined—roughly 2,500 gigatons of carbon, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

One emerging star in this scene is biochar: a carbon-rich material produced by heating organic biomass (such as crop residue) in a low-oxygen environment. A properly made biochar doesn’t degrade easily, effectively locking carbon into soil for centuries. Biochar’s carbon benefits have been verified in numerous peer-reviewed studies, including work published in the journal Nature Communications, which found that biochar can reduce greenhouse gases while boosting soil health.

“With biochar, we can drastically reduce methane emissions from decomposing organic matter,” says Bill Ickes for Dynamic Carbon Credits (DCC), a company specializing in large-scale biochar production. “And because our feedstocks are plant-based, we aren’t competing with food systems. We use third-party verification that analyzes everything from our soil test data to the carbon lifecycle of the final product. That way, when our clients purchase carbon credits or incorporate biochar, they know they’re not buying greenwashing—they’re getting independently validated results.”

Skepticism around carbon offsets is plentiful. Headlines of “too-good-to-be-true” claims have made corporations and consumers wary. That’s why a rigorous verification process is crucial.

“It’s easy to say you’re burying carbon or reducing emissions,” says Eric Johnson, an environmental auditor affiliated with the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). “It’s harder to prove it.”

Organizations like DCC enlist specialized labs and certification bodies to measure carbon emissions reduced or sequestered. These entities perform lifecycle assessments, double-check feedstock inputs, and verify processes against established protocols, such as those recognized by the American Carbon Registry or voluntary market standards like VCS and Gold Standard.

“These third-party certify that every metric ton of CO₂ equivalent really is going away—and staying away,” Johnson says.

In parallel with land-based solutions, ocean advocates argue for stronger international policies. One reason is that whales, kelp forests, and other marine species don’t just capture carbon—they stimulate plankton growth by circulating nutrients. More plankton means more CO₂ pulled from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Many scientists see synergy here: as marine ecosystems flourish under protection, land-based operations—like biochar production—complement this effort by preventing more emissions from piling up in the first place.

David Karl, a professor of oceanography at the University of Hawaiʻi, points out that “coordinated action in both spheres gives us a better shot at mitigating the worst impacts of climate change.”

Optimism is in short supply these days, but these land-and-sea carbon capture efforts offer a glimmer of hope—particularly when paired with third-party oversight. Transparent data, methodical testing, and verifiable metrics have become the pillars of credibility in sustainability.

“The big lesson we’ve learned is simple,” says the Ickes. “No single solution will cut it alone. We need to protect biodiversity in the open ocean while also revamping farmland practices and rethinking how we manage organic waste. When you tie those two realms together, we collectively build a more resilient planet.”

At a time when global CO₂ levels are hitting record highs, the emerging consensus is clear: The more carbon we can store safely—whether in ocean trenches, restored mangroves, or biochar-enhanced soils—the better. The difference between hand-waving claims and real, quantifiable impact comes down to third-party verification and a commitment to evidence-based science.

That standard is quickly becoming non-negotiable, especially for companies seeking sustainability cred. And for anyone who’s looked at the graphs of rising CO₂ and felt their stomach drop, that’s a leap forward we can all welcome.