Blue carbon for biodiversity and climate action - A projects info pack by CORDIS

The EU, through its research and innovation Framework Programmes Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, has supported with over 140 projects representing a budget of over EUR 750 million for research contributing to the protection, restoration and ecosystem‑based management of marine and coastal biodiversity and its ecosystem functioning.

Over 30 projects with a budget of EUR 197 million specifically address the carbon cycle and carbon-rich ecosystems and research the potential effectiveness, benefits and risks of boosting blue carbon stores, as a nature-based solution for mitigating and adapting to climate change. The EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030’ also plays an important role in this respect. In this Projects Info Pack, you will discover 15 projects on blue carbon research and innovation that are contributing to closing critical research gaps in observing, valuing, estimating, managing and rolling out blue carbon solutions. The projects highlighted in this Pack are dedicated to improving our understanding of blue carbon processes and advancing research in this essential field of study. 

The work is divided into three chapters. The first explores how carbon moves through ocean ecosystems, and the impacts that human activity and climate change are having on these processes. The second explores new solutions, tools and techniques, from robotic sampling vehicles to environmental DNA analysis. The final chapter examines how to value blue carbon ecosystem services, placing them at the heart of socioeconomic and environmental policymaking.