Greenhouse Gases Emission from Coastal Wetlands and Their Impact on Climate Change

Wetlands have a significant influence on global climate because of their ability to regulate atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), which together account for 87% of the increase in global radiative forcing since 1750 . Wetlands are usually known for their regions of mass carbon storage and sequestration in the form of biomass, but they are reported to be the largest source of CH4 and a significant source of N2O. Even though it is evident that under certain circumstances, the same wetlands could either be net sinks or sources of GHGs, this aspect has been poorly studied. Improper wetland management and ignorance of wetland services may spoil the delicate balance between the GHGs sequestration abilities of wetlands, shifting this equilibrium in a detrimental direction. According to the Ramsar Secretariat, approximately 1/3rd of the world's terrestrial carbon is trapped and stored in wetlands; however, when drained and destroyed, wetlands emit large amounts of GHGs, pushing us closer to climate emergencies. Wetland ecosystems are being lost at a faster rate than any other ecosystem, making it imperative to include wetland ecosystem services as an integral part of water management to make the transition to a resource-efficient sustainable economy. Efforts to protect and restore wetlands and promote their wise use will help countries achieve Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement on climate change and contribute to the SDG-13 targets. Restoring lost wetlands is vital for reducing the costs of climate disasters.