Last week, at the thirty-fifth session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), in Bonn Germany, Norway introduced text supporting blue carbon. Under issues to be addressed in the upcoming Research Dialogue meeting to be held in conjunction with next SBSTA meting (the thirty-sixth session), Norway proposed the following specific theme:
"The role of marine and coastal carbon sinks. While the bodies of the UNFCCC have developed strategies and mechanisms to enhance the terrestrial carbon sinks less attention has been given to the marine and coastal ecosystems."
Norway referenced UNEP’s 2009 report titled "Blue carbon – the role of healthy oceans in binding carbon" (produced by GRID-Arendal), and proposed the further exploration of policy options and strategies identified in the blue carbon report and the new scientific and technical findings produced since 2009.
Norway support could be significant for the blue carbon concept - Norway is the largest funder of the United Nations’ Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) Programme.
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Norway's submission to the UNFCCC can can be found here:
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2012/sbsta/eng/misc02a02.pdf
UNEP's Blue Carbon report can be found here:
http://www.grida.no/publications/rr/blue-carbon/
Climate Change at Norway's Ministry of the Environment:
http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/md/Selected-topics/climate.html?id=1307
Climate Change and the Environment at the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad):
http://www.norad.no/en/thematic-areas/climate-change-and-the-environment
