De Beers Growing Underwater Forests to Lock Away CO2

NEW DELHI (IANS) – De Beers Group announced a US$2 million investment in Kelp Blue, an innovative start-up focused on growing and managing large-scale giant kelp forests, initially off the Namibian coast. These underwater forests have the potential to permanently and safely store vast amounts of CO2 in the ocean.

Kelp forests have carbon sequestration properties that outperform terrestrial forests, and they help to sustain healthy marine ecosystems by providing food and shelter for countless species, according to research.

Kelp Blue was granted a licence to cultivate Giant Kelp off the coast of Namibia in 2021, and the company is now in the pilot phase. The company will contribute to the development of infrastructure in and around Luderitz, benefiting the local community by creating employment and upskilling opportunities in kelp cultivation and processing.

The initiative will also help De Beers achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral across all of its operations by 2030. While De Beers Group’s primary focus in achieving this goal will be on increasing efficiency and replacing fossil fuel and fossil-based energy from its operations with renewable alternatives, carbon credits generated by the investment in Kelp Blue will assist the company in removing any remaining emissions, in addition to other nature-based initiatives.