Minerals, forest products, water, and soil are just a few of the natural resources that we use to produce energy and are essential for our daily lives. Natural resources can be divided into two categories: renewable and nonrenewable. Renewable resources, like sunlight, air, and water, can be replenished and reused. But nonrenewable resources, such as fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas), are limited and take millions of years to form. Burning these nonrenewable resources releases harmful GHGs like carbon dioxide. Without controlling these emissions, CO2 levels will rise. The result: Global warming and a rise in catastrophic events across the planet.

The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly catastrophic. To prevent further damage, global leaders, scientists, and industries agree that urgent action is needed. The goal is to limit global warming to 1.5°C by cutting CO2 emissions in half by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.
 In 2015, nearly 200 countries joined the Paris Agreement, committing to keep Earth’s temperature rise below 2°C, with a target of 1.5°C. This agreement reflects a worldwide effort to reduce emissions, build climate resilience, and promote sustainable development. As the effects of climate change intensify, countries and industries alike are seeking modern ways to meet emissions targets. Techniques like decarbonization and carbon sequestration show how we can work with nature to confront the climate crisis head-on.

Decarbonization refers to the process of reducing CO2 other GHG emissions from the atmosphere, resulting from human activities such as energy production and consumption. It involves transitioning from fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas to cleaner, renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower. It also encompasses improving energy efficiency, adopting sustainable practices in industry and transportation, and enhancing carbon capture and storage technologies. By lowering CO2 emissions, decarbonization plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change. To achieve decarbonization, all aspects of the economy must change—from how energy is generated, and how we produce and deliver goods and services, to how lands are managed.

Carbon sequestration is the capturing, removing, and permanently storing CO2 from the earth’s atmosphere. Around 45% of the CO2 emitted by humans remains in the atmosphere, which is a significant factor behind global warming. Carbon sequestration can prevent further emissions from contributing to the heating of the planet.

Biological carbon sequestration happens when CO2 is stored in the natural environment. This includes ‘carbon sinks’, such as forests, grasslands, soil, oceans and other bodies of water, which play a crucial role in balancing the global carbon cycle, offsetting a portion of human-generated emissions and helping to stabilize the planet’s climate.

Geological carbon sequestration takes place when CO2 is stored in places such as underground geological formations or rocks. To achieve this, there are a growing number of artificial carbon-trapping technologies that efficiently capture carbon in large amounts and store it away for a long time. Examples of artificial sequestration include techniques like direct air capture, where CO2 is extracted directly from the air using special technology, and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), where CO2 emissions from industrial processes are captured before they are released into the atmosphere or compressed and transported to deep underground facilities, where it’s injected into rock formations for permanent storage.

In the face of climate change, sustainability has shifted from a mere buzzword to a critical global necessity. With a heightened sense of urgency and the advent of new technologies, sustainability efforts are reshaping life in unprecedented ways. Understanding these evolving dynamics is crucial as we navigate the path toward a more sustainable future.