Abstract
The global carbon sequestration and avoided emissions potentially achieved via blue carbon is high (∼3% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions); however, it is limited by multidisciplinary and interacting uncertainties spanning the social, governance, financial, and technological dimensions. We compiled a transdisciplinary team of experts to elucidate these challenges and identify a way forward. Key actions to enhance blue carbon as a natural climate solution include improving policy and legal arrangements to ensure equitable sharing of benefits; improving stewardship by incorporating indigenous knowledge and values; clarifying property rights; improving financial approaches and accounting tools to incorporate co-benefits; developing technological solutions for measuring blue carbon sequestration at low cost; and resolving knowledge gaps regarding blue carbon cycles. Implementing these actions and operationalizing blue carbon will achieve measurable changes to atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, provide multiple co-benefits, and address national obligations associated with international agreements.
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Blue carbon offers an immense opportunity as a natural climate solution (NCS); however, uncertainty serves as a barrier to widespread implementation of blue-carbon projects. We identify critical social, governance, financial, technical, and scientific uncertainties impeding the operationalization of marketable blue-carbon projects. We propose key fundamental research needed to design blue-carbon projects that are beneficial to both the natural environment and society in a way that is scalable, replicable, and cost effective.