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ROUND TABLE 1

CLIMATE CHANGE
MITIGATION AND

BLUE CARBON

To address the climate emergency, many coun-
tries, institutions and companies have pledged
to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. In addition
to emission reduction, carbon sequestration is
an important tool for reaching this goal. Often
“OCEAN INNOVATORS” DAY less factored in than terrestrial forests in this
role, marine ecosystems can in fact absorb
A blue large quantities of carbon. Innovation plays a
key role in the development of these highly effi-
cient carbon sinks.
innovation This round table presented a range of ocean-re-

lated technological innovations by the Sustai-
ecosystem nable Ocean Alliance and turned the spotlight
on existing and extremely promising blue car-
bon projects based on the restoration of some
marine ecosystems.

The 2022 edition of Monaco Ocean Week The kelp-based marine reforestation initiative
developed by The Climate Foundation and the
featured a new flagship event which turned restoration of coral reefs and mangroves set
the spotlight on sustainable solutions and up by Tenaka in the Indian Ocean are already
showing results. Whale Seeker is supporting a
innovations to preserve marine life and carbon credit programme for whales and points
out the need to export carbon credits to marine
accelerate the ecological transition. ecosystems and to use artificial intelligence. Fi-
nally, as the representative of European Lead
On 23 March, within the walls of the Monaco Yacht Club, the Prince pointed out, we should bear in mind that blue
Albert II of Monaco Foundation invited world leaders involved in the carbon initiatives also create jobs.
areas of blue carbon, development and sustainable and blue investing,
regenerative aquaculture, the fight against plastic pollution and coastal
conservation, to present their initiatives. These individuals offering future- ■ 1 whale sequesters
oriented solutions for the ocean took the floor during the 6 round table 33 tonnes of CO
2
sessions throughout the day. As solutions and approaches converged, An ecosystem service provided
the change towards a true blue economy began to take shape, and by thousands of trees.
with it, the possibility of building bridges between various players, of
breaking silos and of learning to co-design. “We need to adopt ambitious
multidisciplinary approaches commensurate with the alerts raised by
the IPCC’s latest reports, to link environmental challenges to the current
economic situation, to upscale existing blue solutions”, introduced Olivier
Wenden, Vice-President of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
Julien Barbiere, Coordinator for the Ocean Decade launched by the
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, urged the
attendees to “develop an ecosystem of action, a supportive environment
based on ocean science”.