Saltmarshes, or tidal marshes, are able to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and lock it away at a far higher rate than even forests on land. This has lead to them being championed as a nature-based solution to climate change. However, our research suggests the role played by saltmarshes of the UK and north-west Europe more widely in reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere has been significantly overestimated.
The UK has bold climate targets, including an ambition to incorporate carbon stored in saltmarshes in its national greenhouse gas reporting, while also developing plans to fund marsh restoration by selling the carbon they store to those wanting to offset emissions elsewhere.
