carbon storage

A new discussion is underway on whether large animals, such as elephants, bison and whales, could play a role in mitigating climate change. Scientists have long argued that big herbivores and marine mammals influence carbon cycles through grazing, seed dispersal and nutrient transport, and the topic is drawing renewed attention in climate coverage.

A new explorer of fungal ecology examines how fungi sustain planetary health, from breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients to forming symbiotic networks with plant roots that underpin forests and food systems. Readers are discussing the piece, which highlights research into mycorrhizal relationships and the role fungi play in soil fertility, carbon storage and ecosystem resilience.

New analyst estimates have been published for Ocean GeoLoop ASA, the Norwegian carbon capture and storage company listed in Sweden under the ticker FQ4. The figures cover the company's expected financial performance and give investors a benchmark against upcoming results. Ocean GeoLoop develops technology to remove CO2 directly from seawater, and interest in its outlook tends to rise around reporting periods and shifts in the carbon removal market.

Most political groups in the European Parliament have not yet taken a position on the EU emissions trading system. The proposal under discussion would accept only mechanical carbon dioxide removal directly from the air with permanent storage, excluding other forms of carbon removal. Commenters note the technology is certainly important but argue it covers none of today's emissions, raising questions about how the EU's climate targets would actually be met.

Researchers are examining whether restoring populations of large animals such as elephants, bison and other megafauna could help mitigate climate change, for example through carbon storage in soils and vegetation. The answer is complicated: while some rewilding projects may boost ecosystems' carbon capacity, effects vary widely by species, habitat and scale, and scientists caution against overstating the climate benefits.

A New York Times piece examines bogs, pairing their long-standing association with magic, folklore and mist-shrouded mystery with the science of how these waterlogged peatlands form and function. The article reflects growing interest in peatlands as distinctive ecosystems that preserve history and play a role in carbon storage.

Lawmakers are considering legislation that would require the Environmental Protection Agency to decide on requests for Class VI primacy — state authority to permit carbon dioxide injection wells — within 180 days. The move responds to a growing backlog of applications, which industry and state officials say is slowing carbon capture and storage projects across the United States.

Researchers at Northern Arizona University examined whether rewilding large animals—such as elephants, bison and other megafauna—could help fight climate change. Their conclusion is that the answer is complicated: while large herbivores can influence carbon storage in soils and vegetation through grazing and trampling, the effects vary widely by ecosystem and can sometimes increase emissions. The scientists caution against assuming restoration delivers straightforward climate benefits.

Scientific American reports on ambitious efforts to fight climate change by storing planet-warming carbon dioxide deep in the ocean. The idea is described as bold and quixotic, reflecting both its potential scale and the scientific, environmental and regulatory uncertainties surrounding ocean-based carbon storage schemes.

Researchers argue that artificial light at night suppresses ecosystem carbon storage by accelerating nocturnal plant respiration, an effect they say global climate governance has overlooked. Writing in a commentary drawing on recent ecological evidence, they warn that urbanizing regions face a 'carbon double shock' — losing stored carbon while continuing to emit more. The claim adds light pollution to the list of under-recognised climate drivers, prompting discussion about whether lighting should enter carbon accounting and policy frameworks.

Renewable energy developer Low Carbon is moving forward with a 1 GW solar and battery storage project in Essex, UK. The development would be among the larger solar schemes in the country, combining clean electricity generation with storage to help balance the grid. Further details on timelines, investment and planning status were not provided.

A new study in Nature finds that multiple global environmental changes, such as climate warming and land-use shifts, drive trade-offs between inorganic and organic carbon stored in soils. As conditions shift, one form of soil carbon can rise while the other declines, complicating estimates of total soil carbon storage and its role in the global carbon cycle. Researchers say the findings matter for climate models and land management, since soils are among the largest carbon reservoirs on Earth.

A discussion is circulating in climate and conservation circles about the role large animals play in ecosystem carbon balance. The point being made is that while big herbivores and other megafauna affect carbon storage, their impacts vary widely across species and habitats, and restoration projects deliver carbon benefits too slowly to serve as a near-term climate solution. The debate touches on how much weight rewilding should carry in climate policy.

Renewable energy developer Low Carbon is drawing up plans for a 1-gigawatt solar and battery storage project in Essex, England. Details of the scheme, including its exact location and timetable, have not yet been disclosed. If built at the stated scale, it would rank among the larger solar developments proposed in the UK, adding significant capacity to the country's clean energy pipeline.