Explainer
Carbon sinks are responsible for reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere by absorbing and capturing it. Carbon sinks can be either natural (forests, soil, and oceans) or artificial (technologies and chemicals). The Congo Basin in Central Africa, also known as the “lungs of Africa” , is the world’s largest carbon sink. At COP27, Brazil, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, homes to the three largest rainforests, formed a strategic pact to coordinate the conservation and protection of the forests, a step forward in mitigating deforestation and conserving some of the world´s largest carbon sinks.