Blue Carbon Activities in Japan
Important Notices
【New!!】The Blue Carbon event at COP28, co-hosted with Australia, is now available!
・"Case study on Blue Carbon Initiatves in Japan" is now available(11th Dec 2023)
・This page is open(21th Nov 2023)
・"Case study on Blue Carbon Initiatves in Japan" is now available(11th Dec 2023)
・This page is open(21th Nov 2023)
1. What is Blue Carbon?
(1) What is Blue Carbon?
Blue carbon is carbon that is taken up by coastal and marine ecosystems and store most of the carbon buried in marine sediments. It was introduced in the 2009 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report ’Blue Carbon’ and has attracted worldwide attention as a new option for carbon sink measures. The main carbon sinks for Blue Carbon are seaweed beds (sea grass and seaweed), salt marshes such as tidal flats, and mangrove forests, which are called "Blue Carbon ecosystems”.
(2) Characteristics of Blue Carbon Ecosystems
■Sea grass
Seagrasses, such as eelgrass, are marine flowering plants that bloom in the sea, reproduce by seeds, and spend their entire lives in the sea. They are found in relatively shallow areas and do not grow deep in the sea floor. e.g., eelgrass, sea duck, etc.
■Seaweed
Algae living in the sea. They reproduce by spores. The roots of seaweed don’t exist to absorb nutrients ; they exist to adhere to rocks. e.g., kelp, wakame seaweed, etc.
■Tidal flat
An area of sandy or muddy shallow water in the intertidal zone that dry up at low tide and submerges below the sea surface at high tide. They are formed when sediments carried by rivers and coastal currents accumulate on beaches and estuaries. Wetlands with thick reeds and other vegetation that develop close to land in tidal flats are called salt marshes.
■Mangrove Forests
Trees that inhabit brackish water areas where river water and seawater mix, such as estuaries in the tropics and subtropics. In Japan, they are distributed along the coasts further south than Kagoshima Prefecture.
(3) Multifaceted Value of Blue Carbon Ecosystems
Blue carbon ecosystems have a variety of values in addition to their function as CO2 sinks. For example, they provide many benefits to our daily lives, such as water purification, revitalization of fishery resources, and educational and recreational opportunities. Promoting activities to conserve blue carbon ecosystems will not only prevent global warming, but will also foster an ocean rich in biodiversity, which in turn will lead to a richer life for all of us.
Blue carbon is carbon that is taken up by coastal and marine ecosystems and store most of the carbon buried in marine sediments. It was introduced in the 2009 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report ’Blue Carbon’ and has attracted worldwide attention as a new option for carbon sink measures. The main carbon sinks for Blue Carbon are seaweed beds (sea grass and seaweed), salt marshes such as tidal flats, and mangrove forests, which are called "Blue Carbon ecosystems”.
(2) Characteristics of Blue Carbon Ecosystems
■Sea grass
Seagrasses, such as eelgrass, are marine flowering plants that bloom in the sea, reproduce by seeds, and spend their entire lives in the sea. They are found in relatively shallow areas and do not grow deep in the sea floor. e.g., eelgrass, sea duck, etc.
■Seaweed
Algae living in the sea. They reproduce by spores. The roots of seaweed don’t exist to absorb nutrients ; they exist to adhere to rocks. e.g., kelp, wakame seaweed, etc.
■Tidal flat
An area of sandy or muddy shallow water in the intertidal zone that dry up at low tide and submerges below the sea surface at high tide. They are formed when sediments carried by rivers and coastal currents accumulate on beaches and estuaries. Wetlands with thick reeds and other vegetation that develop close to land in tidal flats are called salt marshes.
■Mangrove Forests
Trees that inhabit brackish water areas where river water and seawater mix, such as estuaries in the tropics and subtropics. In Japan, they are distributed along the coasts further south than Kagoshima Prefecture.
(3) Multifaceted Value of Blue Carbon Ecosystems
Blue carbon ecosystems have a variety of values in addition to their function as CO2 sinks. For example, they provide many benefits to our daily lives, such as water purification, revitalization of fishery resources, and educational and recreational opportunities. Promoting activities to conserve blue carbon ecosystems will not only prevent global warming, but will also foster an ocean rich in biodiversity, which in turn will lead to a richer life for all of us.
2. Activities by the Ministry of the Environment in Japan
(1) Global Warming Countermeasures
Currently, Japan is also studying the calculation and accounting of emissions and sinks of blue carbon ecosystems while taking into account the IPCC Wetland Guidelines prepared in 2013.In the inventory reported to the United Nations in April 2023, Japan reported blue carbon sinks in the GHG inventory for the first time in April 2023, which are CO2 removals from mangrove habitat (which are not categorized as forest).
■About Blue Carbon
(2) Biodiversity
The goal is to legislate an environmental symbiosis site system that leads to OECM, as well as certifying more than 500 nature positive activities by FY2026, and create incentives to promote nature positive activities.
■Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation Bureau HP
(3) Water environment conservation
In Japan's coastal areas, especially the Seto Inland Sea and other enclosed waters, we promote not only water quality control measures, but also efforts to conserve, restore, and create seaweed beds and tidal flats that contribute to biodiversity and ensuring abundant fishery resources (satoumi creation). Since FY2022, we have been supporting local efforts as a model project for "Satoumi creation in 2022".
■Satoumi Net
■SATOUMI STORY: Stories about Satoumi
Currently, Japan is also studying the calculation and accounting of emissions and sinks of blue carbon ecosystems while taking into account the IPCC Wetland Guidelines prepared in 2013.In the inventory reported to the United Nations in April 2023, Japan reported blue carbon sinks in the GHG inventory for the first time in April 2023, which are CO2 removals from mangrove habitat (which are not categorized as forest).
■About Blue Carbon
(2) Biodiversity
The goal is to legislate an environmental symbiosis site system that leads to OECM, as well as certifying more than 500 nature positive activities by FY2026, and create incentives to promote nature positive activities.
■Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation Bureau HP
(3) Water environment conservation
In Japan's coastal areas, especially the Seto Inland Sea and other enclosed waters, we promote not only water quality control measures, but also efforts to conserve, restore, and create seaweed beds and tidal flats that contribute to biodiversity and ensuring abundant fishery resources (satoumi creation). Since FY2022, we have been supporting local efforts as a model project for "Satoumi creation in 2022".
■Satoumi Net
■SATOUMI STORY: Stories about Satoumi
3. Activities by Relevant Ministries and Agencies in Japan
(1) Activities by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) aims to realize a "carbon-free port" by taking measures to absorb CO2 through the use of blue carbon ecosystems, etc. Therefore, the "Study Group on the Role of Blue Carbon in Contributing to Global Warming Prevention" was established in FY2028 to conduct specific studies for utilizing blue carbon as an absorbent source. The "Study Group on the Role of Blue Carbon in Contributing to the Prevention of Global Warming" was established in FY2049.
■Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Bureau of Ports and Harbors website
(2) Activities by the Fisheries Agency in Japan
The Fisheries Agency supports the efforts of local governments and regional organizations to conserve and create seaweed beds and tidal flats, which nurture a rich ecosystem and are important for fishery resources. In addition, the Fisheries Agency has formulated the "Guidelines for Measures against Seawater Burn", which outlines the methods of countermeasures against seawater burns, in order to enable local organizations to take the initiative in planning and implementing the conservation and restoration of seagrass beds. The National Council on Isoyake Countermeasures has been held to share information on measures taken by the government and local communities to strengthen their efforts.
■Support Programs 1
■Support Programs 2
■Guidelines for rocky shoreline erosion countermeasures: middle part of the page
■National Council for Seashore Burn Prevention
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) aims to realize a "carbon-free port" by taking measures to absorb CO2 through the use of blue carbon ecosystems, etc. Therefore, the "Study Group on the Role of Blue Carbon in Contributing to Global Warming Prevention" was established in FY2028 to conduct specific studies for utilizing blue carbon as an absorbent source. The "Study Group on the Role of Blue Carbon in Contributing to the Prevention of Global Warming" was established in FY2049.
■Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Bureau of Ports and Harbors website
(2) Activities by the Fisheries Agency in Japan
The Fisheries Agency supports the efforts of local governments and regional organizations to conserve and create seaweed beds and tidal flats, which nurture a rich ecosystem and are important for fishery resources. In addition, the Fisheries Agency has formulated the "Guidelines for Measures against Seawater Burn", which outlines the methods of countermeasures against seawater burns, in order to enable local organizations to take the initiative in planning and implementing the conservation and restoration of seagrass beds. The National Council on Isoyake Countermeasures has been held to share information on measures taken by the government and local communities to strengthen their efforts.
■Support Programs 1
■Support Programs 2
■Guidelines for rocky shoreline erosion countermeasures: middle part of the page
■National Council for Seashore Burn Prevention
4. Other
■Case Study on Blue Carbon Initiatives in Japan
Note: Some of the slides in this case study collection are copyrighted by third parties.
■COP28UAE"Sustainably developing global blue carbon through international cooperation"【New!!】
Note: Some of the slides in this case study collection are copyrighted by third parties.
１．Event Overview
２．Opening remarks from Minister of the Environment Ito
３．Presentation of blue carbon activities
①Blue Carbon Creation by Nippon Steel Corp.（Chika Kosugi,Manager）
②DCCEEW（Chenae Neilson, Director）
４．Panel Discusion
①Decarbonized Society Promotion Office, the Ministry of the Environment Japan（Ito,Director）
②Environmental Policy Office, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan（Aoyama,Director）
③Climate Change Policy Headquarters, city of Yokohama（Takahashi,Director）
④Research & Development, Advanced Technology Research Laboratories, Nippon Steel Corporation（Kosugi,Manager）*same as above
⑤DCCEEW（Chenae Neilson, Director）*same as above
⑥IUCN（Joao Sousa, Director）