Reise, Judith, Fallasch, Felix, Siemons, Anne, Schneider, Lambert, Jennerjahn, Tim ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1022-5126 and Rickels, Wilfried (2026) Climate protection measures in coastal ecosystems - Reporting, accounting and financing of Blue Carbon measures. , ed. by Umweltbundesamt, UBA and Voß, Katja. Climate Change, 37 . Umweltbundesamt, Berlin, 45 pp. DOI https://doi.org/10.60810/openumwelt-8209.

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Abstract

In order to achieve climate neutrality, it is essential to not only drastically reduce emissions across all sectors, but also to protect and enhance natural terrestrial and marine carbon sinks. Blue Carbon ecosystems (BCEs) like mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and tidal marshes are highly relevant and efficient natural carbon sinks. Yet despite their importance, BCEs have long been overlooked as a potential climate solution. Besides storing carbon in biomass and sediments, BCEs offer important and extensive co-benefits like biodiversity support, flood protection and climate adaptation. However, about 50% of BCEs have been degraded since the 20th century, mostly due to the conversion to aquaculture and agriculture, and infrastructure development. Causing the disturbance of carbon-rich sediments, which in turn can lead to CO₂ emissions. With only 2.4% of the ocean being classified as highly protected to date, only 2% of marine carbon stocks are safeguarded - indicating low incentives for protection and potential hurdles of implementation. In order to provide appropriate incentives for protecting BCEs, it is crucial to demonstrate that human interventions can result in additional carbon sequestration. This in turn requires comprehensive knowledge of reporting and accounting frameworks in the context of BCEs.

This paper summarises the findings of an UBA-funded research project to analyse financing and accounting approaches for Blue Carbon measures (“Climate mitigation measures in coastal regions and waters - Accounting, crediting and financing of Blue Carbon measures”). It first defines the term "Blue Carbon” (chapter 1; Oeko-Institut; ZMT 2024). Chapter 2 summarises findings on the climate mitigation potential of Blue Carbon ecosystems, implemented measures and the role of Blue Carbon in international climate policy (Oeko-Institut; ZMT 2024). Chapter 3 summarises an assessment of existing Blue Carbon projects carried out under the research project (ZMT; Oeko-Institut 2025). Chapter 4 discusses findings on available funding approaches and an analysis of associated risks and opportunities (Oeko-Institut; IfW 2025). Chapter 5 discusses questions related to carbon accounting of Blue Carbon activities, including relevant IPCC reporting guidelines and opportunities to expand reporting (Oeko-Institut; ZMT 2024; UBA 2025a; UBA 2025b) and accounting of related activities. Chapter 6 draws overarching conclusions.

Document Type:	Report (Research Report)
Programme Area:	PA3
Research affiliation:	Ecological Biogeochemistry
Document Access:	Open access
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.60810/openumwelt-8209
ISSN:	1862-4359
Date Deposited:	16 Jun 2026 15:56
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 15:56
URI:	https://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/6234

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