Seagrass

• Seagrass aims to unlock the potential of the carbon markets and transform carbon finance, which can make an important contribution to the net-zero transition.
• Seagrass will be based in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) financial centre located in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• The UAE will also host COP28, with the development of high-quality voluntary carbon markets expected to be a key area of focus.
• "Carbon markets will play a crucial role in the transition to a sustainable world," said Naveed Tariq, CEO of Seagrass.

• But as the UK’s coastal seas boil under what is an unprecedented marine heatwave, these calls have new urgency.
• At the time of writing, some areas off the coast of England are up to 5°C warmer than usual.
• Stopping the flow of pollution into our rivers is no longer a luxury for another day, but an urgent necessity.
• Failing to clean up our water systems now will result in the loss of marine and aquatic life, undermining the functioning of our natural world.

Algal growth

• However, these increased nutrient levels stimulate the growth of various types of algae in seawater, including those in the water, on seagrass leaves and on sediments.
• Seagrasses primarily extract nutrients directly from the sediment, while algae can access them in the water more effectively.
• However, when the water becomes overwhelmed by excessive algae growth, seagrass struggles to keep pace and eventually deteriorates.

Seagrass is suffocating

• In 2021, one study estimated that 88% of seagrass meadows worldwide are exposed to nutrient inputs from wastewater.
• Over the past two years, we’ve been documenting the health of seagrass meadows around the UK at Project Seagrass (a marine conservation charity dedicated to saving the world’s seagrass) and Swansea University.
• These results support our suspicion that the excess nitrogen found in seagrass primarily originates from sewage discharges and nutrients running off farmland.

Costly pollution

• Interestingly, seagrass meadows can also play a crucial role in controlling nutrient pollution.
• Research has demonstrated the significant financial value of seagrass meadows in terms of their capacity to absorb and store nutrients.
• This nitrogen release was more than three times the annual nitrogen load carried by rivers to Sweden’s north-west coastline.
• In our view, addressing water pollution, specifically from fertilisers and sewage, is just as urgent as tackling the climate and biodiversity crises.

• Belgard , the leader in outdoor living essentials for the patio and beyond, announces its 2023 Colors of the Year Tidepool and Seagrass.
• Tidepool, a deep teal, and Seagrass, a soft sage green, offer a soothing sense of calmness, representing both the land and the sea.
• This year, we selected two colors to emphasize a sense of calmness and connection to nature, says Joe Raboine, Director of Residential Hardscapes at Belgard.
• Complementary colors such as Tidepool and Seagrass create a coordinated effect that flows throughout a home.

• Barrell Craft Spirits (BCS), the award-winning independent blender of unique aged, cask-strength whiskey and rum, will introduce Barrell Vantage , a blend of straight bourbons finished in three distinct expressions of virgin oak: Mizunara, French and toasted American oak casks.
• View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220823005282/en/
  Barrell Craft Spirits (BCS), the award-winning independent blender of unique aged, cask-strength whiskey and rum, will introduce Barrell Vantage, a blend of straight bourbons finished in three distinct expressions of virgin oak: Mizunara, French and toasted American oak casks.
• Ultimately, Barrell Vantage is defined by balance and depth of flavor and highlights the blending expertise thats come to define Barrell Craft Spirits.
• Barrell Craft Spirits, Barrell, Barrell Bourbon and Barrell Rye are registered trademarks owned by Barrell Craft Spirits LLC.