Global study sets urgent priorities for blue carbon climate action

Urgent gaps identified in blue carbon science

An international study warns that critical scientific and practical gaps are slowing the use of blue carbon ecosystems in global efforts to tackle climate change. The research, led by an international team that included Professor William Austin of the University of St Andrews, identifies the most urgent questions that must be addressed to scale up credible, equitable and effective blue carbon conservation and restoration worldwide.

The paper, published in *Nature Ecology & Evolution*, sets out a global agenda for the next decade of blue carbon science. Researchers said the field has advanced quickly as improved measurement of carbon stocks and fluxes in coastal and marine ecosystems has made it more feasible to incorporate blue carbon into national climate strategies, greenhouse gas inventories and emerging carbon markets.

Despite that progress, only about 20% of eligible countries currently include blue carbon in their National Inventory Reports, the study says, leaving a substantial gap in opportunities available under the Paris Agreement.

Ten questions for the next decade

The paper, titled "Priority questions for the next decade of blue carbon science", is intended to guide researchers, practitioners and policymakers who need robust evidence to support governance of blue carbon ecosystems. Through conservation and restoration, those ecosystems could offset a further 1% to 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the study.

Developed through a priority-setting exercise, the paper identifies 10 questions that define the future direction of blue carbon science. It involved researchers from 15 institutions and drew on a broad range of expertise, including early-career researchers, senior academics and Indigenous peoples' contributions.

Of 116 submissions considered by an international panel of experts, the highest-ranked question focused on how to manage coastal ecosystems at scale while supporting local livelihoods. The study emphasizes the need to balance scientific rigor with practical action.

Collaboration and equity at the center

First author Professor Peter Macreadie of RMIT said the field has shifted rapidly toward implementation, governance and equity, and that reaching agreement across a large international group was both challenging and worthwhile.

Co-author Professor Pere Masque-Barri of the International Atomic Energy Agency said IAEA support helped gather 30 scientists in Vienna to establish the GO-BC Science Technical working group and build an international roadmap for blue carbon research. He said the effort reflected a commitment to marine research and capacity building worldwide.

Dr. Hannah Morrissette of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center said conserving blue carbon ecosystems for the livelihoods of coastal communities is a universal responsibility for those working in the field. She added that combining traditional and academic ecological knowledge can support scientifically robust strategies tailored to local contexts.

Professor Austin said the study brought together blue carbon experts from around the world as part of the United Nations Ocean Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. With the initiative now past its midpoint, he said, the need for multilateral scientific cooperation and a shared vision for protecting and restoring the world's blue carbon habitats is more urgent than ever.