NOAA Coastal Blue Carbon

2016 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

ENHANCED INCORPORATION OF COASTAL CARBON INTO SCIENCE AND POLICY 

NOAA COASTAL BLUE CARBON GOALS FOR 2017

Led efforts to incorporate coastal wetlands into the 2017 U.S. National Greenhouse Gas Inventory 

through the work of the Coastal Wetlands Carbon Work Group (CWCWG). This fulfills a key deliverable 

for the White House Climate and Natural Resources Working Group’s Priority Agenda.

Improved federal agency coordination on blue carbon science and policy under the National Ocean 

Council’s Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology. 

Led cross-agency effort to include coastal wetlands into the U.S. Mid-Century Strategy for Achieving 

Deep Decarbonization by 2050, submitted under the Paris Agreement to the UNFCCC in November 

2016.

Shared findings with a number of national and international parties, fostering 

partnerships and promoting links between NOAA and partner priorities. Highlights 

include:

 Presented NOAA’s blue carbon activities and priorities to members of Congress at a 

Blue Carbon briefing in September 2016.

 Presented on blue carbon at multiple conferences including the Atlantic Estuarine 

Research Society (AERS), Society of Wetland Scientists, A Community on Ecosystem 

Services (ACES), International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC), and the IUCN 

World Conservation Congress.

 Published two papers including one on international blue carbon projects using 

different funding mechanisms, including UNFCCC options, in Marine Policy.

Image : NOAA

STREGNTHENED PARTNERSHIPS TO SUPPORT COASTAL MANAGEMENT AND RESILIENCE

 Support the completion of the first U.S. National Greenhouse Gas Inventory to include coastal wetlands.

 Work with partners to implement carbon finance projects that utilize the “Tidal Wetland and Seagrass Restoration 

Methodology” and carry out a project development plan and a feasibility assessment at two project sites.

 Support a National Academies of Sciences study that will develop a national research agenda for CO2removal and reliable 

sequestration, including through coastal blue carbon.

Continued to advance a Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC) blue carbon project 

focused on improving seagrass carbon data in North America, conducting policy analyses of how 

blue carbon can be incorporated into Mexico and Canada’s federal policies, and developing a 

Verified Carbon Standard wetland conservation methodology.

Provided funds to Restore America’s Estuaries to conduct projects in the Herring River and 

Snohomish Estuary, which will determine the efficacy of coastal management and restoration 

for removing CO2from the atmosphere and receiving carbon credits. 

Co-organized a workshop with key partners in July 2016 on blue carbon ecosystems in Puerto 

Rico such as the Culebra Habitat Focus Area and the Jobos Bay NERR, and their relevance to 

regional climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE HTTP://WWW.HABITAT.NOAA.GOV/COASTALBLUECARBON.HTML 

Image Courtesy: NOAA

Image Courtesy: NOAA

Image Courtesy: NOAA

INCREASED AWARENESS OF BLUE CARBON PROGRESS AND OPPORTUNITIES

NOAA’s coastal blue carbon activities are a collaborative effort across the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Ocean Service (NOS) 

and Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)