carbon sequestration

noun

plural carbon sequestrations

1

: any of various methods or processes for capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere : carbon capture

Carbon sequestration is capturing the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels and storing it safely away from the atmosphere.

—National Academy of Engineering

… carbon sequestration, the process of taking carbon dioxide—the greenhouse gas associated with global warming—and removing it from circulation by compressing it and injecting it deep underground.

—Phred Dvorak

especially : the capture and use of carbon dioxide by living vegetation : carbon capture sense 2

Carbon sequestration is a process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere, which can be done by forests or in the soil, among other processes.

—Eliza Noe

2

: the storage of carbon and especially carbon dioxide in carbon sinks (such as oceans, soil, or forests) by natural or artificial means

While measurements of carbon sequestration in trees is well documented, there has been very little work on how much carbon … grasslands can capture …

—John Lovett

Greater Toledo has the potential to be a national leader in carbon sequestration thanks to geological formations that support burial of the captured carbon.

—Toledo (Ohio) Blade

Examples of carbon sequestration in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Scientists predict that there may not be enough arable land available or ocean capacity to support the level of carbon sequestration required to meet climate goals, requiring a turn towards geologic storage. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 25 July 2025

Delaying tree harvests and protecting older forests enhances carbon sequestration, making untouched forests vital for reducing carbon dioxide and combating climate change. —Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025

Now, in the new study, researchers have gathered data that supports the theory that the demise of tropical forests, and their slow recovery, limited carbon sequestration – a process where carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and held in plants, soils or minerals. —Doyle Rice, USA Today, 5 July 2025

Benefits of being certified include verification of GHG emissions and carbon sequestration claims, data analytics, benchmarking and advisory services, and use of the Regenagri trust mark for public claims. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 18 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1989, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for carbon sequestration

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization