Blue Carbon captures CO2 Faster Than Forests. This is a main reason why we refer to the Ocean as our main ally against climate change.
Seagrasses, mangroves, and salt marshes—humble coastal ecosystems that occupy just 0.2% of the globe—lock in up to 10 times more carbon dioxide (CO2) than terrestrial forests. Despite their immense ecological value, blue carbon remains nearly worthless in economic terms.
Ocean Community, is a founding member of Lisbon Ocean Professionals' Network/LOPN together with Island Innovation and United by the Sea.
On December 5, LOPN arranged a meetup with the theme Blue Carbon and the Natural Capital of the Ocean.
The topic was explored through a professional panel with moderator José Gamito Pires, from Blue Finance, Climate Adaptation, Sustainability and Innovation for International Finance Corporation
“We have an economy problem, an ecology problem, and a society problem,” said Nuno Gaspar de Oliveira, CEO of Natural Business Intelligence, at the Lisbon Ocean Professionals Network’s panel Blue Carbon and the Natural Capital of the Ocean on December 5. The panel also featured José Gamito Pires (International Finance Corporation), Prof. Gonçalo Calado (Lusófona University), Prof. João Vaz (Nova SBE), and Cristina Melo Antunes (Santander).
The Value of Blue Carbon
Blue carbon ecosystems provide critical services—coastal resilience, CO2 sequestration, and heat absorption—but are undervalued. Prof. Gonçalo Calado, a researcher at MARE, highlighted the EU’s Nature Restoration Law, which aims to restore 20% of EU land and sea by 2030. “Every euro invested adds €4 to €38 in benefits,” Calado said, emphasizing the law’s mandate for countries to submit National Restoration Plans by 2026.
Projects like A-AAgora are already making strides in Portugal, Ireland, and Norway. The €8.5 million initiative restores native seagrasses and measures their carbon capture potential to use as funding mechanisms, such as carbon offsets. However, Prof. João Vaz noted that blue carbon struggles in carbon markets due to limited data and high restoration costs.
Financing Solutions
To address funding gaps, innovative approaches are emerging. Cristina Melo Antunes pointed to the European Investment Bank’s commitment to financing climate projects, as well as tools like blue bonds and blended finance. A 2023 report, Bonds to Finance the Sustainable Blue Economy, provides criteria to standardize funding for blue carbon initiatives, reducing information asymmetry and attracting more investment.
Nuno Gaspar de Oliveira highlighted additional mechanisms, such as Debt for Nature Swaps and parametric insurance. The latter offers rapid payouts after specific events like hurricanes, enabling faster recovery for ecosystems.
Shifting Perspectives
The key to advancing blue carbon is redefining societal values. As De Oliveira pointed out, projects that absorb CO2 and generate oxygen should be seen as essential investments, not questionable risks. Shifting this mindset is critical to unlocking blue carbon’s potential for climate action.
This panel underscores that with proper valuation, innovative financing, and collaborative action, blue carbon can become a cornerstone of sustainable climate solutions.
Ocean Community, keeps focus on this invaluable innovation space, to protect the Ocean and it's Blue Carbon, so the Ocean can continue to protect us.
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