06 Nov Blue Carbon for Policymakers Online Training Course Launched at COP 26

CTC, in collaboration with the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science Energy and Resources (DISER), is proud to announce that our new online training module on blue carbon for policymakers was launched at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), on Saturday, November 6, 2021 in Glasgow.

The launch was part of an event entitled ‘Designing Blue Carbon Policy for Sustainable Outcomes,” hosted by the Australian Government. Australian, Indonesian and Pacific Island officials sought to answer the question: “How can blue carbon policies be designed to drive sustainable and effective change?”

Blue carbon ecosystems, such as mangroves, seagrasses, and tidal marshes found in coastal areas, have been scientifically recognized as critically important to mitigating the negative consequences of global climate change for their ability to sequester and store significant amounts of carbon dioxide. However, there are numerous threats to their survival.

The online blue carbon policy training course seeks to enhance understanding and management of coastal blue carbon ecosystems and is aimed at junior to mid-level policymakers in Indonesia and the Pacific region. As part of the training course, there are several short ‘snap-shot’ recordings from blue carbon experts all over the world to further explain the concept of blue carbon, identify nature-based solutions, and illustrate how the preservation of blue carbon ecosystems can contribute to each country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Climate Agreement. NDCs are at the heart of the Paris Agreement and contain each country’s action plans and key metrics for these long-term goals. NDCs embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Apart from the expert interviews, interactive games are also included in the training to familiarize each training participant with the international treaties and agreements that govern blue carbon systems and aim to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

During the event, Minister Angus Taylor, the Australian Minister for Energy and Emissions Reductions, noted the need to take action to preserve blue carbon. He highlighted the work that the Coral Triangle Center (CTC) and the Australian Government have done together to provide a useful tool that policymakers can use in their work, and why this collaboration is significant in global climate change mitigation efforts .

Dr. Tonney Wagey from Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS) also highlighted Indonesia’s blue carbon policy framework and the efforts the government has made to protect its blue carbon ecosystems, especially mangrove ecosystems, which are extensive in Indonesia. Ms. Debra Sungi from the Papua New Guinea Climate Change Development Authority also noted how PNG has started taking steps to conserve its blue carbon ecosystems while Dr. Mat Vanderklift, from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) highlighted the importance of engaging local communities in preserving blue carbon ecosystems .

The blue carbon training modules for policymakers tackle similar topics discussed during the side event and will be available online as self-paced training programs via this link: https://bluecarbonpartnership.org/resources/.