Whales can fight climate change, scientists discover

Whales, like all living things, are composed largely of carbon

Whales could be important allies in the fight against climate change, scientists have discovered.

Storing and capturing carbon dioxide (CO2), the most common of greenhouse gases, is a crucial part of curbing global heating. This process, called carbon sequestration, is typically talked about in relation to planting trees or restoring wetlands but less so with mammals.

But researchers have found that some of the planet’s largest mammals can potentially contribute to overall reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere.