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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 2024, Japan estimated and reported CO₂ removals from seagrass meadows and macroalgal beds. This was the first time in the world that such estimation and reporting has been made.
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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.
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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 seagrass meadows, macroalgal 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".
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.
The Fisheries Agency supports the efforts of local governments and regional organizations to conserve and create seagrass meadows, macroalgal 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 meadows and macroalgal 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.