National Marine Hazard Mitigation Service, MNR

Overview

In recent years, the global economic landscape has increasingly prioritized a green and low-carbon transition. The urgent challenges of global warming and implications of climate change have galvanized collective action, leading to the political commitments of achieving carbon neutrality in the mid of the century in order to bridge the gap between their emission reduction targets and the overarching goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C relative to pre-industrial level. While many countries have articulated their commitments through policy announcements, there remains a significant shortfall in concrete implementation and actionable measures to back these ambitious promises.

The pressing challenges of climate change necessitate innovative solutions and collaborative efforts across diverse sectors and regions. Coastal and marine ecosystems play a crucial role in mitigating climate impacts, particularly through carbon sequestration, yet they are often undervalued and underfunded within climate action frameworks. The Mediterranean region, characterized by its unique biodiversity and socio-economic complexities, offers a vital context for examining climate policies and potential opportunities. Countries like China, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and Japan are leading the way in blue carbon initiatives, demonstrating effective practices for sustainable management and conservation. PEMSEA is working towards a blue carbon certification initiative to incentivize conservation, restoration and management of blue carbon ecosystem at regional level.

This seminar aims to get together experts from various fields to exchange insights and best practices on legal, policy, and financial mechanisms to enhance blue carbon ecosystems and ocean negative carbon emissions as ocean-based climate solutions. By exchanging knowledge and practices of current state and future prospects of blue carbon initiatives, the program seeks to stimulate collaboration and foster discussions towards developing innovative strategies to enhance climate resilience in coastal regions. The seminar will specifically focus on marine carbon sinks, exploring relevant policies, laws, and blue carbon accounting methodologies that can ensure the sustainable development of blue carbon resources while achieving co-benefits of climate mitigation and biodiversity enhancement.

Objectives

1. Explore Legal and Policy Frameworks: Assess the current laws and policies to facilitate climate action in various Mediterranean and East Asian contexts, highlighting opportunities for improvement and adaptation.
2. Share Regional Insights: Present the status of blue carbon initiatives in specific countries, including China, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and Japan, to showcase successful practices and potential challenges.
3. Facilitate Knowledge Exchange: Encourage dialogue among experts, researchers, and policymakers to share best practices and innovative approaches to blue carbon sequestration and ecosystem management.
4. Discuss Financial Modalities: Identify and evaluate financing options and mechanisms that can support blue carbon programs and initiatives, focusing on sustainable investment strategies.
5. Promote Certification Standards: Examine the role of blue carbon certification in incentivizing conservation efforts and explore frameworks for effective implementation.
6. Encourage Collaborative Efforts: Foster partnerships between countries and organizations to enhance regional cooperation and collective action in addressing climate change through blue carbon initiatives.

Through these objectives, the seminar aims to create a comprehensive understanding of the interface between climate policy, economic viability, and environmental stewardship, ultimately contributing to more effective climate action in the two regions.

Programme: