Carbon sinks

The concept of carbon sinks is based on the natural ability of trees, other plants and the soil to soak up carbon dioxide and temporarily store the carbon in wood, roots, leaves and the soil. Important carbon sinks inlude tundras and peat bogs.

Schemes such as tree planting and other biodiversity initiatives increase the amount of storage in the biosphere. While this absorbs atmospheric carbon emissions it does not mean that there is an overall reduction in the active carbon pool (atmosphere and biosphere).

There is also a chance that carbon sinks can release large amounts of carbon at any time through fires and large scale clearance.