The expansion of the **Arctic peatlands** – wetlands formed by partially decomposed organic matter rich in carbon – could be acting as a **new natural carbon sink** driven by **climate change**.
However, this beneficial capacity could turn against the climate if extreme temperatures continue to rise, warns a study published in the journal *Communications Earth and Environment*.
The work was carried out by an **international team of scientists** that combined **satellite observations, drones, and field monitoring** in various Arctic regions.
Their findings confirm that over the past **40 years**, there has been a **lateral expansion of peatlands**, especially in areas such as the Norwegian archipelago of **Svalbard**, where **summer temperatures increased faster than in other parts of the planet**.
*”The permafrost partially thaws, provides water to the vegetation, and the surface turns greener,”* explained **Chantelle Nixon**, co-author of the study and professor at the University of Quebec in Montreal. *”All these new areas are actively capturing carbon,”* she added.
## Arctic Peatlands: from carbon sequestration to the risk of climate setback
**Peatlands constitute the largest natural carbon reserve on Earth**, and their initial expansion can help mitigate emissions. However, when **dry areas turn into peatlands**, they often emit **methane** first, a **greenhouse gas** more potent than CO₂.
*”Over time, if they remain wet, methane emissions stabilize, and peatlands become even more effective sinks,”* explained **Karen Anderson**, co-author of the study and expert from the University of Exeter (UK).
The problem is that this **sustained moisture condition** is at risk. **Extreme heatwaves or fires** could transform these sinks into **active carbon sources**, accelerating warming.
*”In the short term, this expanding peatlands are good news. But if the climate continues to change uncontrollably, the benefit could be reversed,”* Anderson warned.
## An urgency that should not be diluted by optimism
Although the study provides encouraging evidence of the **resilience of certain cold ecosystems**, the authors insisted that **rapidly reducing global greenhouse gas emissions remains essential**.
*”We cannot allow these findings to divert us from the fundamental goal: stabilizing the climate and reducing emissions,”* Anderson concluded.
