Episode #47: Kelp Farms are Trending, but Can They Really Fight Climate Change?

For years, civilizations have engaged in kelp cultivation for a myriad of reasons, including food production, the development of health supplements, the production of renewable sources and as a way to protect ocean habitats and biodiversity. But as concerns over climate disasters grow, researchers and companies around the world are now looking to seaweed as a way to fight climate change.

While kelp has proven to remove carbon from the atmosphere, scientists say seaweed farming would not make enough of a contribution to lowering worldwide emission levels.

With us to discuss the issue is Robert Eagle, UCLA Assistant Professor, with the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.