Seagrass Restoration Tied to Scope 3 Carbon Reduction

Climate Impact Partners and Deloitte are working alongside Project Seagrass and the UK’s National Oceanography Centre to accelerate the recovery of seagrass meadows.

The initiative supports critical research across the UK, aimed at protecting marine ecosystems and paving the way for scalable restoration methods. 

By funding seagrass restoration, companies can now advance this work more rapidly and on a larger scale, contributing to a more sustainable future and reaching net-zero.

These efforts not only align with corporate environmental goals but also directly impact Scope 3 emissions, as companies seek to reduce carbon footprints across their entire value chains.

The importance of seagrass

Seagrass meadows play a crucial role in mitigating climate change, yet almost 30% of the world’s seagrass has been destroyed over the last century. Seagrass is vital for:

• Carbon sequestration – trapping and storing atmospheric carbon
• Coastline protection
• Providing nutrition, habitats and camouflage for marine biodiversity

Despite its importance, seagrass restoration has been historically underfunded. Strengthening the connection between science and business is key to maintaining long-term finance for restoration efforts.

As funding increases, so will propagation, helping mitigate climate change and contributing to broader net-zero goals by addressing carbon sequestration in these blue carbon ecosystems.

Dr Leanne Cullen-Unsworth, CEO and Co-Founder of Project Seagrass, emphasised the urgency of acting now: “We need to protect and restore seagrass whilst supporting the continuation of sustainable human activities that occur amongst or depend directly upon seagrass ecosystems.” 

Partnering for net-zero goals

Deloitte, one of Europe’s 2023 climate leaders, is using its influence to support nature-based solutions like seagrass restoration.

Through this initiative, companies will be able to channel funding into seagrass recovery, an essential step towards reducing Scope 3 emissions, which cover indirect emissions in a company’s value chain, including those from ecosystems.

Climate Impact Partners, known for delivering high-quality climate projects, is working closely with leading companies to meet carbon-neutral and net-zero targets. This partnership is key to unlocking new methods for scaling seagrass restoration.

Dr Claire Evans, biogeochemist at the UK’s National Oceanography Centre, highlighted the importance of this effort: “Seagrass meadows are the powerhouses of coastal seas providing a nature-based solution to climate change.

"They have been neglected for decades, which has led to their large-scale degradation and loss. This program exemplifies how we can turn that loss into an opportunity for environmental renewal through large-scale restoration.”

Seagrass restoration impacts multiple scope 3 categories, whilst providing a nature-based solution to the following: 

1. Category 13: Downstream leased assets
   Seagrass restoration can help sequester carbon in coastal ecosystems, potentially offsetting emissions from assets that companies lease to other entities.
2. Category 15: Investments
   Companies investing in or funding seagrass restoration projects can count the carbon sequestration benefits towards reducing their Scope 3 emissions from investments.
3. Category 1: Purchased goods and services
   By supporting seagrass restoration, companies may be able to offset some of the emissions associated with their supply chains and purchased materials.
4. Category 12: End-of-life treatment of sold products
   Seagrass restoration could help offset emissions from the disposal or end-of-life treatment of products sold by companies.
5. Category 11: Use of sold products
   The carbon sequestration from restored seagrass meadows may help counterbalance some emissions from the use of products sold by companies.

Seagrass: A long-term carbon solution

The restoration of seagrass meadows is not only about safeguarding marine life; it also has significant implications for carbon storage. Healthy seagrass ecosystems can act as long-term carbon sinks, capturing vast amounts of carbon and helping companies meet their Scope 3 targets.

As Smruti Naik-Jones, Chief Sustainability Officer of Deloitte UK and North & South Europe, explains: “Reaching net-zero will require the global economy to decarbonise as part of a connected system.

"This incredible seagrass program, developed by Climate Impact Partners, enables us to learn more about these marine ecosystems, fund critical research and help unlock a powerful tool in the fight against the climate crisis.”

Kirsty Schneeberger, Head of Product Innovation at Climate Impact Partners, added: “Deloitte is demonstrating true climate leadership through this program. Seagrass offers a unique opportunity to mitigate climate change while delivering significant co-benefits for biodiversity and coastal communities.”

By restoring seagrass meadows, companies not only contribute to carbon reduction but also help to preserve biodiversity and coastal ecosystems.

As Schneeberger puts it, “Imagine seagrass meadows as underwater vaults – they lock away enormous amounts of carbon for long periods, potentially millennia, as long as they remain healthy and undisturbed.

"We need to ensure they receive long-term and large-scale financing to accelerate the restoration and protection of these underwater wonders.”

A sustainable investment for the future

As the Paris Agreement deadline approaches, this initiative offers companies an opportunity to invest in nature-based solutions that contribute to Scope 3 carbon reductions.

The restoration of seagrass is within reach thanks to the collaboration between Climate Impact Partners, Deloitte, Project Seagrass and the National Oceanography Centre.

These efforts will not only help businesses achieve their net-zero goals but also demonstrate their commitment to protecting the environment and restoring ecosystems.

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