Photo by Dominic Wodehouse, Mangrove Action Project
A Global Effort
The world’s coastal ecosystems hold immense promise in the fight against climate change and biodiversity decline, and the International Partnerships for Blue Carbon (IPBC) is leading the charge to protect and restore these vital natural assets. From mangroves to seagrasses and salt marshes, blue carbon ecosystems are invaluable for their ability to store carbon, support biodiversity and sustain coastal communities.
Here’s how the IPBC is making an impact:
Raising Awareness and Driving Action
Blue carbon ecosystems are among nature’s most powerful tools for addressing climate change, but their importance is often overlooked. The IPBC is changing that by:
- Highlighting their role in sequestering carbon faster than many terrestrial ecosystems of the same size, while also providing benefits for nature and people.
- Helping to advance the inclusion of blue carbon in international frameworks and national strategies through knowledge exchange and drawing from the experience and expertise of the global community.
- Providing real-world examples of high-integrity projects and new finance mechanisms such as the Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund.
Fostering Global Collaboration
Collaboration is key to tackling the challenges of ecosystem decline. The IPBC unites governments, research institutions, NGOs, and other stakeholders to:
- Share knowledge, experiences, and best practices.
- Create synergies that amplify the impact of conservation and restoration efforts.
In 2024, the IPBC Participated in Major World Forums
The Sixth IPBC Partner Dialogue, was co-hosted by the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), the Fiji Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and with support from the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO.
Over the ten thematic sessions of the Dialogue, participants discussed different aspects of blue carbon action, including:
- How to best account for their diverse value beyond carbon benefits.
- Best practices in project development and implementation.
- Ensuring the right national policies are in place.
- How to navigate the variety of finance mechanisms that are available to support blue carbon action.
A summary report on the Dialogue is available through our Resource Library.
IPBC Partners attended the Global Nature Positive Summit, which brought together leaders from government, corporate sectors, research and environmental organisations and Indigenous Peoples to explore effective ways to realise global commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
At the UNFCCC COP29 the IPBC Coordinator Team joined with Partners Rare, Conservation International, and The Pew Trusts to host an official side event in Baku, Azerbaijan. This event explored innovative financial mechanisms to protect, restore and sustainably manage coastal blue carbon ecosystems for climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience.
New Partners
Now with over 60 members, the IPBCs growth in 2024 continued with new Partners joining, including the Ocean & Climate Platform, the Global Ocean Decade Programme for Blue Carbon (GO-BC), and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS).
Advancing Science and Research
Building knowledge, and understanding the ecological, social and economic value of blue carbon ecosystems is essential. The IPBC is working with our science Partners to:
- Amplify cutting-edge research that quantifies blue carbon stocks and emissions from actionable and emerging blue carbon ecosystems.
- Share knowledge on innovative methodologies to integrate blue carbon into accounting systems.
Helping to Guide Policy and Governance
Blue carbon is gaining traction in climate and environment agendas and the IPBC will continue to:
- Support integration into international and national frameworks.
- Support Partners as they develop and share solutions to regulatory and governance challenges to help incentivise conservation and restoration.
Unlocking New Finance
The IPBC is helping to pave the way for blue carbon’s participation in carbon markets and other appropriate finance pathways to achieve high-quality outcomes for communities and nature. The IPBC is:
- Facilitating knowledge exchange between Partners and stakeholders on different financing approaches and opportunities.
- Promoting appropriate frameworks and actions to achieve high-quality and high-integrity projects and financial engagement.
Building Capacity for Success
Knowledge sharing and strengthening collaboration are central to the IPBCs mission. The IPBC website hosts a comprehensive repository of Partner resources, training and educational materials available for anyone to access. The Partnership:
- Empowers countries and organizations to incorporate blue carbon into their planning and strategies.
- Helps to ensure all people have access to the knowledge and resources to sustainably manage these ecosystems.
Real-World Impacts
The IPBC-inspired Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund has provided project funding for a variety of restoration and conservation projects around the world.
In partnership with the Australian Government and the IUCN, BCAF offers an increasing range of tools, case studies and insights that support the development and implementation of sustainable blue natural capital projects.
Looking Ahead
The momentum doesn’t stop here.
The upcoming Third United Nations Ocean Conference in June 2025 in Nice, France, and the highly anticipated UNFCCC COP30 in November 2025 in Belém, Brazil, promise to be pivotal moments for advancing ocean, climate and nature action on a global scale.
Why This Work Matters
By protecting blue carbon ecosystems, we are not only addressing climate change but also:
- Preserving critical habitats and biodiversity.
- Strengthening coastal resilience against rising sea levels and storms.
- Supporting sustainable livelihoods for millions of people.
Join the Partnership
The IPBC shows that when we come together, we can unlock nature-based solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. By investing in blue carbon ecosystems, we are investing in a healthier, more sustainable future for our planet.
IPBC Partners represent a depth of knowledge and expertise across blue carbon science, policy development and program implementation. If you or your organisation want to contribute to international efforts to protect, sustainably manage and restore global coastal blue carbon ecosystems, please get in touch [email protected].