Public Service Europe News

Offshore Windfarms Harmful to Ocean Claims MEP

Writing in 'Public Service Europe' online, MEP Struan Stevenson says we cannot afford to sanction the continued destruction of our remaining 'blue carbon' habitats merely to fast track wind farm development. The role played by forests and peat bogs in capturing and storing carbon is well-known. We call this 'green carbon'. But now, there is increasing awareness and attention being paid to the crucial role of our oceans and marine ecosystems in maintaining our climate. Around 55 per cent of all the biological carbon captured in the world is sequestered by marine living organisms in the sea. This is 'blue carbon'. Every day, we add a further 22 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide to our oceans.