What is Carbon Sequestration?

Carbon sequestration is the capture and storage of carbon dioxide that would otherwise be emitted to the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases can be captured at the point of emission or they can be removed from the air by plants. The captured gases can be stored in geologic formations, dissolved in deep oceans, converted to rock-like solid materials, or absorbed by trees, grasses, soils and algae. Carbon sequestration is seen as a viable mitigation strategy to help stabilize global CO₂ emissions and reduce the impacts of climate change. The BSCSP is researching both geologic and terrestrial carbon sequestration options.

An important area of both geologic and terrestrial carbon sequestration research is monitoring, verification and accounting (MVA). Researchers working on MVA develop and test technologies that ensure carbon storage is safe, permanent and can be accounted for accurately.