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Blue Carbon Solutions in the Fight Against the Climate Crisis

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Blue Carbon Solutions in the Fight Against the Climate Crisis blue carbon solutions in the fight against the climate crisis A report by the Environmental Justice Foundation 1 Executive Summary We are facing the existential threat of the climate crisis, which will devastate the lives and livelihoods of millions of people and destroy our Earth’s natural systems. The ocean is the ‘blue beating heart’ of our precious planet and its largest ecosystem. A healthy ocean with abundant marine and coastal biodiversity is fundamental to our life on Earth. As the world’s largest active carbon sink, the ocean is the greatest nature-based solution for climate change mitigation and its marine ecosystems offer essential adaptation opportunities.1 Our ocean and coasts provide a natural way of reducing the impact of greenhouse gases: through sequestration of carbon in natural environments including living plants and marine organisms; in the form of organic- rich detritus; or as dissolved organic carbon.2 The carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems is called “blue carbon”.3 Photos credit: upper left: © NOAA, upper right: © EJF, lower left: © EJF, lower right: John Turnbull (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Front cover photo: Jorge Vasconez 2 The ocean: champion for climate mitigation and adaptation Our ocean drives global systems that make our planet A 2015 study that investigated the cumulative impacts inhabitable for humankind and countless other species. of human activities found that almost the entire It regulates our oxygen, water, weather, and our ocean (97.7%) is affected by a combination of coastline ecosystems. According to the World Register human-driven stressors.16 The dominant pressures of Marine Species, the ocean is home to some 238,000 are the impacts of anthropogenic climate change, known species,4 with an estimated 91% of marine such as ocean acidification and increased surface species not yet described by science.5 The ocean is also temperatures, as well as effects of the industrial fishing our planet’s largest carbon sequestration opportunity.6 and shipping industries.17 Marine vegetated habitats rich in blue carbon such as mangroves, seagrass meadows, intertidal salt The health of the ocean is not only important to our marshes, and macroalgae such as kelp, cover only 0.2% planet, it is also directly linked to more equitable of the ocean surface, yet contribute 50% of carbon societies and economies, especially for coastal sequestered in marine sediments.7 If properly restored communities. Many of those who depend on ocean and and protected, these coastal blue carbon ecosystems coastal ecosystems, especially in developing nations, alone could sequester up to 200 million tonnes (2%) belong to marginalised, minority, impoverished or of the CO2 humans are currently emitting every year.8 otherwise vulnerable communities, which are often Carbon is also sequestered by the ‘powerhouses’ of the the first and worst affected by pollution, overfishing ocean: phytoplankton, which are thought to contribute or climate-driven disasters such as floods and storms. up to 45% of the planet’s net photosynthesis of CO2,9,10 Ocean conservation and climate change mitigation as well as by all living organisms in the sea that store must therefore come hand in hand with sustainable, carbon in bodies which are buried on the seafloor inclusive and equitable development outcomes for when they die.11,12 these communities. A healthy ocean and vibrant blue carbon ecosystems also provide important adaptation opportunities for The ocean governance gap communities faced with the threat of runaway global heating. Currently, over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods,13 Numerous national, regional and global conventions, and some 680 million live in low-lying coastal zones,14 agreements and programmes have a role in ocean where thriving marine-vegetated ecosystems such as governance, including binding international legal mangrove forests provide a defence against climate frameworks such as the UN Convention on the Law of threats such as tropical cyclones. A healthy ocean the Sea, and non-legally binding agreements like the is therefore key to protecting the human rights of UN Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development communities worldwide, as recognised by the UN’s Goal 14 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets signed Sustainable Development Goals. in 2010, where the world pledged to protect 10% of coastal and marine areas. However, none of these, either individually or collectively, facilitate the level Our ocean under attack of oversight and governance necessary to ensure truly sustainable and equitable management of our seas and ocean.18 Additionally, existing marine protected The stability and security of ocean ecosystems are areas (MPAs) too often lack effective management profoundly threatened by global heating and this will and financial resources, and many are, in fact, simply damage the other natural systems that we depend on. ‘paper parks’ with no meaningful management or Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, governments agreed enforcement capacity.19 The fact that none of the to limit global heating to 1.5°C, but we are falling far Aichi Biodiversity Targets were fully met by the 2020 behind this goal: the latest UN Emissions Gap Report deadline20 demonstrates how governments have predicted that under our current emissions trajectory, failed to live up to their commitments and give ocean we could be heading towards at least 3°C of heating by protection the urgent priority it needs. the end of this century.15 The battle to prevent runaway global heating will also depend on the battle to protect ocean ecosystems and species. 3 Prioritising blue carbon conservation In light of the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the Crucially, the protection of marine ecosystems and Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15) and the UN biodiversity must not be used as a substitute for Climate Change Conference (COP 26), it is critical that ambitious decarbonisation actions, which must take governments act now to deliver on their promises and place across all sectors in a ‘whole of the economy’ show urgent, visionary leadership to protect our ocean, approach, in order to meet the targets set out in and the people and planet it sustains. The significant the Paris Agreement. In this sense, it is critical that carbon sequestration capacity of marine ecosystems we uncover any activities that use the language of the demonstrates that the protection of biodiversity and climate emergency as a disguise for unsustainable use climate mitigation and adaptation are inextricably of the ocean and jeopardise human rights. linked. Therefore, the European Union must lead the international community in setting legally binding, Blue carbon is not a ‘silver bullet’ for the climate crisis we measurable and ambitious ocean protection targets all face, but realising its importance could pave the way as an inherent part of climate policies. Policymakers to the much-needed shift towards a holistic approach around the world must work towards ocean governance in tackling the climate crisis. Blue carbon can be one that is led by a global, integrated and justice-oriented of the tools we use to halt global heating and protect approach and driven by the collective action of all communities from the worst impacts of climate change. stakeholders.21 The experience and knowledge of local communities should be acknowledged and represented Protecting the ocean means protecting ourselves. The in policies and practice, and true participation in ocean ocean and its flourishing diversity of life depends on our and climate action facilitated. committed actions. Designed to fail?: European MPAs are not fit for purpose European seas still lack effective management and impactful conservation measures. According to the European Court of Auditors, the current EU framework for protecting the marine environment does not provide the necessary protection for marine biodiversity, which is threatened by overfishing in European seas.22 Less than 1% of MPAs in the EU are strictly protected and can be considered effective marine reserves.23,24,25 To be effective, European MPAs must specifically cover (critically) endangered and vulnerable species and their habitats and restrict fishing in those areas as appropriate.26 4 Blue Carbon Recommendations The European Union and its Member States have a leadership role to play in centering ocean and coastal ecosystem protection within global climate and conservation policy. The ocean forms part of our common global heritage, and as such requires collaborative global policies to protect and preserve marine and coastal ecosystems for all. EJF recommends as a matter of priority that the EU: • Integrate blue carbon and the climate control function of the ocean in their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and address ocean conservation issues throughout the ‘Fit for 55%’ legislative package. The EU’s NDC must meet the commitments made in the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C, and include specific, legally binding targets to protect and restore blue carbon in addition to emissions reductions targets across all sectors. • Commit to the 30x30 ocean protection plan and designate at least 30% of the ocean as ecologically representative fully or highly protected marine protected areas by 2030.27,28 EU Member States must further commit to protecting 30% of national and coastal waters, and to providing the resources necessary to fully protect designated MPAs. • All climate and marine policies must
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