Carbon Sinks
Natural systems like forests and oceans that absorb more CO₂ than they release, slowing climate change by storing carbon long-term.
Carbon sinks are natural systems—such as forests, oceans, soil, and wetlands—that absorb and store more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they release. They play a critical role in regulating Earth's climate by reducing atmospheric CO₂ levels. These systems accumulate carbon over time through biological or chemical processes, helping to mitigate the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions.
What this means in real life
A mature forest acts as a carbon sink: trees absorb CO₂ while growing, storing carbon in wood and leaves. When you plant trees to offset emissions from a flight, you're relying on that forest's ability to pull carbon from the air over decades.
What it isn’t
A carbon sink is not a place where carbon simply disappears or is destroyed. Carbon is stored or locked away temporarily; if a forest burns or soil is disturbed, that stored carbon can be released back into the atmosphere.
Commonly misused online
People often treat all forests as equal carbon sinks, ignoring that old-growth forests store more carbon than young plantations, and that a forest only acts as a sink while actively growing—mature forests may be carbon-neutral.
Based on 2 reference sources, including primary sources. Last verified July 12, 2026.