Side Event

Blue Carbon

Organizer
United Nations Environment Programme

Date and Time
3 May 2012 18:15 - 19:45

Meeting
Sixteenth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice

Blue carbon refers to the carbon sequestered and stored in coastal vegetated ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrass or tidal salt marshes. This carbon can build up over millenia, but is then be susceptible to oxidation and significant release into the atmosphere if habitats are degraded. Maintaining and managing coastal carbon is thus an important tool for climate change mitigation. Furthermore, coastal ecosystems are also valuable for climate change adaptation by protecting coastal societies from storm surges and flooding. This event will showcase the importance of coastal ecosystems for climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as identifying management, science and policy needs.