New measurement methods and applications for blue carbon quantification

Abstract

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) first coined the term “blue carbon” in 2009. At that time, of course, almost no one in Japan or the world had heard of the term. Today, however, it appears daily in newspapers and magazines in Japan and has even appeared as a question on a TV quiz show. Here, I explain that the use of blue carbon is one of the essential carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies and nature-based solutions (NbS) to achieve the domestic and international goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Also, I show (1) the latest examples of research and technology development and national policy trends on blue carbon in Japan, and (2) the latest information on social implementation, such as carbon credit trading through voluntary participation of various stakeholders, including fishermen, citizens, local governments, and private companies.