'Carbon sequestration': The new trend that allows companies to operate more sustainably

PRESS RELEASE from SLR
May 2024

This is an automated translation of the press release issued in Spanish

Historically, climate change has been combated by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, which trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to increasing temperatures. Although effective, this logic is not the only one. Today, there are more and more companies that reverse the equation through carbon sequestration, an innovative process that allows CO2 to be captured from the atmosphere, to mitigate its environmental impact.

“Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing CO2 from the atmosphere and transferring it to the soil. In this way, plants convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic compounds, improving the resilience of agricultural ecosystems and mitigating the effects of greenhouse gases,” explains Ana Amar, director for Latin America at SLR, a global sustainability consultancy. .

Carbon sequestration is not an unknown technique in the rest of the world. In partnership with The Nature Conservancy, Microsoft launched its “Carbon Farming Innovation Network” project in 2020, which seeks to promote innovation in agricultural practices that increase carbon sequestration and improve the quality of agricultural systems.

There are even countries that have incorporated CO2 capture through their public policies. In the United States, the Department of Agriculture implemented the Conservation Soil Incentives Program (CSL), which provides subsidies to farmers to increase carbon sequestration from their lands through planting and crop rotation.

“Carbon sequestration has spread widely in other countries. It is relevant that Latin American and Chilean companies also join the trend and incorporate this process into their value chain, so that they are not left behind in the fight against climate change,” says the director for Latin America of SLR.

The agricultural industry can implement this process through planting cover crops . This technique involves planting plants in a field during periods when the main crop is not actively growing. In this way, the soil is kept covered for longer, promoting the capture of CO2 through an increase in organic matter and preventing erosion.

Another technique that stores carbon in the soil is zero tillage, which consists of planting directly in the soil, without the need to remove or eliminate the stubble that covers it.

“Carbon sequestration is an attractive investment for companies. Not only does it generate a real impact in mitigating climate change, but it also improves soil health and promotes biodiversity,” says Amar.

Although to a lesser extent, the process can also be replicated in the aquaculture industry, through the intensive cultivation of algae and its subsequent sinking to the seabed, seeking to take advantage of its ability to absorb carbon dioxide during its growth.

About SLR

Since 1994, SLR has worked with its clients to make sustainability a reality, thanks to its deep technical implementation capabilities. The firm is based in the United Kingdom, and today has operations in Europe, Latin America, Africa, the United States, Asia Pacific and Canada. It has a team of more than 3,000 advisors, capable of addressing the most complex and varied sustainability challenges.

In 2021, SLR arrived in Chile and Latin America with the acquisition of Corporate Citizenship, a global strategic consulting firm, specialized in sustainable and responsible businesses that create long-term value for all its stakeholders. In this way, the merger of both firms has allowed us to form a global leader in sustainability solutions, which provides its clients with a unique combination of strategic advice and on-the-ground technical support.