Valuing the Contribution of Blue Carbon to SIDS Climate Change Commitments & Covid-19 Recovery

Blue Carbon ecosystems (mangrove forests, tidal marshes, and seagrass meadows) provide climate regulation services by sequestering and storing carbon, presenting an opportunity to address climate change and implement Paris Agreement commitments, in particular for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). However, blue carbon has received relatively limited attention in climate mitigation policy globally, and the protection of blue carbon habitats has not been prioritised. This is an issue because blue carbon habitat removal and decline not only reduces carbon sequestration benefits provided, but can also result in sediment disturbance and the release of previously stored carbon back into the atmosphere.

This webinar will present the interdisciplinary research findings of the recently published paper: “Valuing the contribution of blue carbon to small island developing states' climate change commitments and Covid-19 recovery”. In this work, a scenario analysis, informed by a stakeholder workshop, was used to examine and value the carbon impacts of four plausible scenarios of blue carbon habitat change in Grenada, over 10-, 20- and 50-year time horizons, following the Covid-19 pandemic.

This event will be delivered by Ellen McHarg and Elena Mengo

Ellen McHarg is an environmental economist at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), with a particular interest in determinants of pro-environmental preferences and behaviour. Her recent research focuses on the valuation and management of coastal and marine natural capital and ecosystem services in the UK and internationally.

Elena Mengo is an environmental social scientist. She has a multidisciplinary background in Economics and International Relations with an interest in ocean governance. Elena has contributed to advice related to the costs and benefits of the designation of the network of Marine Coastal Zones in England and investigated the poverty - environment nexus for sustainable ecosystem-based management. Elena's research also focuses on the social dimension of aquaculture, particularly on gender equality.