Blue Carbon: The Role of Healthy Oceans in Binding Carbon

This analytical report aims to highlight the critical role of the oceans and ocean ecosystems in maintaining the Earth climate and to assist policy makers in mainstreaming an oceans agenda into national and international climate change initiatives. Improved integrated management of the coastal and marine environments, including protection and restoration of ocean’s blue carbon sinks, provides one of the strongest win-win mitigation efforts known today, as it may provide value-added benefits well in excess of its costs, but has not yet been recognized in the global protocols and carbon trading systems.