New C‑BLUES Summary for Policymakers on Blue Carbon Now Available

Blue carbon ecosystems—such as mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and tidal salt marshes—play a vital role in tackling climate change. They store carbon, protect coastlines, and support the livelihoods of coastal communities worldwide.

C‑BLUES is pleased to share the publication of its Deliverable 5.4, “Summary for Policymakers – Gaps in Ambitions and Potentials for Conservation & Restoration.” A refined version of this deliverable has also been published as part of the IOC‑UNESCO Technical Series, making the key findings more widely accessible through the UNESCO Digital Library.

Developed under the Horizon Europe C‑BLUES project, the summary brings together the latest scientific knowledge to support policymakers in strengthening climate action through coastal ecosystems.

What the Summary Covers

The publication provides a clear, policy‑relevant overview of key findings from the C‑BLUES project, including:

• The distribution of blue carbon ecosystems across Europe and China, and their associated carbon stocks and burial rates

• Current policy integration, assessing how blue carbon ecosystems are reflected in EU and Chinese frameworks within the global climate context

• Gaps and opportunities, identifying barriers to ambition and highlighting the potential to scale up conservation and restoration efforts

Together, these insights support informed decision‑making and help highlight pathways for strengthening the role of blue carbon in climate mitigation and adaptation.

Supporting Climate Policy and Action

By translating scientific results into an accessible format, this summary aims to bridge the gap between research and policy. Strengthening the inclusion of blue carbon ecosystems in climate strategies—such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)—will be key to unlocking their full potential.

Published just ahead of the recent UNFCCC Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue in Bonn, the document contributes timely, science‑based input to ongoing international discussions on ocean‑based climate solutions.

Authors and Acknowledgements

This publication reflects the collaborative effort of the C‑BLUES consortium and its partners.

Authors:
Elisabetta Bonotto, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO

Ariane Arias-Ortiz, Autonomous University of Barcelona

Charles Galdies, University of Malta

Kirsten Isensee, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO

Hilary Kennedy, Bangor University

Xiuzhen Li, East China Normal University

Dimitris Poursanidis, Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH)

Saskia Trubbach, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA)

Tao Wang, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences

Emma Ward, Bangor University

Pingjian Yang, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences

For more information

Find the summary for policymakers at the UNESCO Digital Library.

Find an overview of all our project deliverables here.