Strengthening the Carbon Storage Potential of the North Sea and Baltic Sea

The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) calls for the achievement and maintenance of good environmental status (GES) in the North Sea and Baltic Sea. The EC Water Framework Directive (WFD) also postulates, among other things, the achievement of good ecological and chemical status of the coastal waters of the North Sea and Baltic Sea. It is generally assumed that effective marine protection makes an important contribution to climate protection. This is based on the assumption that healthy coastal and marine ecosystems can store more carbon dioxide and nutrients than anthropogenically impaired systems. Eutrophication, for example, leads to increased algae growth and turbidity of the water, which impairs the spread of seagrass meadows,which in turn could lead to less amounts of stored carbon. Other relationships are less well researched. For example, the reduction in nutrient inputs and the resulting decrease in algae growth could lead to a reduction in the transport of carbon into the marine sediment.

Objective

The project aims to quantitatively assess the carbon storage potential of the North Sea and Baltic Sea in good environmental status according to the MSFD and in good ecological status according to the WFD. This assessment will provide clear recommendations on how natural climate protection in the seas can be improved and whether the current targets are sufficient from a climate protection perspective.  

Procedure and expected results

The project will quantify and compare the carbon and nutrient storage potential in the current state and in good environmental status on the basis of monitoring data, model simulations and literature studies. This will be done in selected, well-studied case study areas in coastal and marine waters in the North and Baltic Seas. The initial focus will be on eutrophication, but other relevant pressures such as pollutants and dredged material extraction will also be analysed as far as possible based on available data. Based on the investigations of the case study areas, a forecast of the carbon and nutrient storage potential for the entire North Sea and Baltic Sea in the current and good environmental status will be developed. The project will also develop recommendations for measures that can further strengthen the carbon storage potential of the North Sea and Baltic Sea.

The project is led by AquaEcology and supported by the Ecologic Institute. Ecologic is leading the task on dissemination. The project is funded by the Natural Climate Protection Action Programme.