Pioneering Carbon Flux Tower to Unlock UK Saltmarshes’ Climate Mitigation Role: Aviva and WWF Investigate Carbon Storage and Coastal Restoration

Pioneering Carbon Flux Tower to Unlock UK Saltmarshes’ Climate Mitigation Role: Aviva and WWF Investigate Carbon Storage and Coastal Restoration

(IN BRIEF) Aviva and WWF have launched a pioneering research project aimed at harnessing the potential of UK saltmarsh habitats to combat climate change by capturing carbon emissions. A carbon flux tower will be installed in the Ribble Estuary, Lancashire, to measure the carbon cycle and assess saltmarshes’ capacity as long-term carbon stores. The research will also study the impact of rising sea levels on these habitats. This initiative supports Aviva’s goal of making the UK the most climate-ready large economy by 2030. Saltmarshes are critical for biodiversity and flood protection, and this project aims to restore and expand these ecosystems while capturing carbon emissions.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 9-Oct-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Aviva plc (LON: AV), a British multinational insurance company, and WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) are excited to unveil a pioneering research project focused on harnessing the climate mitigation potential of UK saltmarsh habitats and their role in carbon removal from the atmosphere. This groundbreaking initiative, featuring a state-of-the-art saltmarsh research platform, will enable scientists to assess the carbon storage and sequestration capabilities of saltmarshes across the United Kingdom.

The centerpiece of this endeavor involves the installation of a cutting-edge carbon flux tower on the picturesque Ribble Estuary in Lancashire. This tower will comprehensively measure the entire carbon cycle, validating the vital role of saltmarshes as long-term natural carbon reservoirs. Furthermore, it will investigate the impact of rising sea levels on these precious habitats, providing essential insights for prioritizing saltmarsh restoration and conservation efforts. By continuously monitoring the flow of carbon between the landscape and the atmosphere, in conjunction with conventional methods for analyzing carbon stored in saltmarsh soils, this research will quantify the amount of carbon captured, the rate of capture, and the duration of storage. Aviva’s involvement in this project aligns with its commitment to making the UK the most climate-ready large economy by 2030.

This groundbreaking research, conducted in partnership with WWF, and in collaboration with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), will contribute valuable insights into the carbon capture and storage potential of saltmarshes, ultimately contributing to the establishment of a UK Saltmarsh Code.

Native to the British Isles, saltmarshes play a pivotal role in combatting climate change by serving as enduring natural carbon reservoirs, a phenomenon often referred to as ‘blue carbon’ when it occurs in coastal and marine ecosystems. Additionally, saltmarshes are vital for reversing biodiversity loss and creating a rich and unique habitat for flora and fauna uniquely adapted to their conditions. Unfortunately, historical conversions to agricultural land have resulted in the loss of approximately 85% of English saltmarsh over the past two centuries.

Saltmarsh Structure:

1. Tidal/Mudflat: The lowest part of the saltmarsh, submerged except during low tide, and home to various marine life.
2. Low Marsh: Frequently submerged by high tide, hosting wading birds, grasses, and more.
3. Upper Marsh: Only submerged during very high tides, supporting diverse plant life and nesting migratory birds.
4. Inland: The border of the saltmarsh, rarely submerged, providing protection against coastal flooding and hosting woodland, grasses, and wildlife.

In addition to their carbon storage role, saltmarshes act as a natural barrier against coastal flooding and erosion, offering invaluable protection to nearby communities. The remaining saltmarshes are estimated to provide over £1 billion in flood resilience benefits to UK homes. A 2019 report identified approximately 22,000 hectares of coastal land in the UK that could potentially be restored to saltmarsh, capturing more than 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

As the research progresses, Aviva and WWF are committed to identifying restoration sites that will yield benefits for climate, biodiversity, and coastal communities. This endeavor will contribute to the restoration of an ecosystem featuring iconic native species, including herons, egrets, otters, and various marine life such as crabs, mussels, clams, and diverse fish species. Moreover, it will support the breeding grounds of numerous migratory birds within the UK.

Claudine Blamey, Aviva Group Sustainability Director, said: “We are delighted to work with WWF to fund research that will make a genuine contribution to the wider understanding of how saltmarsh can help us move towards net zero.

“Saltmarsh is a precious habitat that removes significant volumes of carbon from the atmosphere as well as being home to a wide range of native and migratory species. It also delivers flood mitigation benefits for the communities based nearby, worth over £70 million for England and Wales, protecting more than 90,000 properties and more than £2 billion of assets”³.

Tom Brook, Blue Carbon Technical Officer at WWF, said: “Aviva and WWF are working together to demonstrate how the business sector can take leadership in moving toward a low-carbon future. Our work will enable sustainable investment in saltmarsh as a nature-based solution to tackling the climate emergency, with added benefits to coastal defence, biodiversity, and water quality.”

“Through this climate research, Aviva are also making an important contribution to achieving societal Net Zero ambitions. This project represents a significant step in addressing critical knowledge gaps in saltmarsh management, ensuring that blue carbon action is underpinned by robust science and research, driving positive outcomes for climate, nature and people.”

-ENDS-

References

1. State of the environment: the coastal and marine environment. Environment Agency. Chief Scientist’s Group report released January 2023.
2. Saltmarsh Blue Carbon in UK and NW Europe – evidence synthesis for a UK Saltmarsh Carbon Code. Released March 2022.
3. Saltmarsh flood mitigation in England and Wales, natural capital: 2022. Released 15 July 2022.

• Blue carbon is the term used for carbon captured by the world’s ocean and coastal ecosystems. For more information, see Protecting and effectively managing blue carbon ecosystems to realise the full value to society- a sea of opportunities, WWF. Released November 2020.

Media contacts:

Philippa Terry
Financial Communications
+44 (0)7385 537 458
philippa.terry@aviva.com

Joe Booth
Financial Communications
+44 (0)7800 698 836
joe.booth@aviva.com