Blue Carbon Initiative
Description
UNEP’s Blue Carbon Initiative aims to develop a global partnership to advance the sound management of coastal and marine ecosystems in order to ensure that their carbon sequestration and storage functions are maintained, and emissions of greenhouse gases are avoided. Furthermore, ecosystem-based management of Blue Carbon sinks should be appropriately incorporated into global climate change mitigation discussions and financing schemes. It supports the development both of global, regional and national policies for ecosystem management and of possible financial instruments to maintain and enhance sequestration in Blue Carbon ecosystems.Its proposed key elements are:1. Developing methodologies, standardized around the world, for carbon accounting and economic valuation of ecosystem services in coastal blue carbon ecosystems;2. Using these methodologies in a range of small-scale interventions;3. Filling gaps in our knowledge of ecosystem services and of carbon sequestration and fluxes in blue carbon ecosystems;4. Exploring how the international community can adopt the methodologies to influence international climate frameworks and create incentives for protecting ecosystem services and carbon sequestration.These objectives are aligned with the UNEP Marine and Coastal Strategy under its stream on Ecosystems for Human Well-being.(source: http://www.unep.org/ecosystemmanagement/Portals/7/Documents/factsheets/…)
Conservation International
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
Tropical Agriculture Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE)
Fundacao Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG)
ESA-PWA
Instituto Mediterraneo de Estudios Avanzados and The University of Western Australia
Silvestrum
Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines
Florida International University
USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
Research Center for Coastal and Marine Resources (KKP)
Bates College
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
Oregon State University
School of Ocean Science, Bangor University
University of Queensland
Research Council of Spain at the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies
Smithsonian Institution
University of South Carolina
Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
Indiana University
University of Technology Sydney
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
New South Whales (NSW) Office of Environment and Heritage
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Agency for Marine Fisheries and Research, Indonesia; Arafura and Timor Seas Expert Forum (ATSEF)
SDGS & Targets
Goal 14
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
14.1
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.1.1
(a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density
14.2
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
14.2.1
Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas
14.3
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
14.3.1
14.4
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
14.4.1
14.5
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
14.5.1
14.6
By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
14.6.1
Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
14.7
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
14.7.1
Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries
14.a
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
14.a.1
14.b
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
14.b.1
Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries
14.c
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"
14.c.1
Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources
SDG 14 targets covered
Deliverables & Timeline
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
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Timeline
Entity
SDGs
Region
- North America
More information
Countries
Contact Information
Gabriel Grimsditch, Programme Officer, Ecosystems Branch (FMEB), Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI) - UNEP