The IORA Blue Carbon Hub Inaugural Think Tank Meeting on Blue Carbon Finance was a landmark event aimed at building regional knowledge and capacity to protect and restore blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs) such as mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes. Held from 25–26 February 2020 in Mauritius, the meeting’s primary purpose was to explore innovative financing mechanisms, emission markets, and policy frameworks to reverse the loss of these vital ecosystems.
Key objectives included sharing global successes in blue carbon finance, identifying barriers to sustainable investment, and fostering collaboration to sequester carbon while supporting coastal livelihoods and food security. Jointly organized by the IORA Blue Carbon Hub and the IORA Secretariat, the event featured high-level representation with delegates from 14 IORA Member States and two Dialogue Partners. The participation also included a diverse array of experts from prominent organizations such as CSIRO, UNCTAD, and Verra, alongside regional stakeholders and academic researchers.
The program was structured around four thematic sessions: payments for ecosystem services and carbon markets, sustainable trade, Blue Bonds, and de-risking/blended finance. Blue Economy activities were specifically highlighted through practical case studies, such as Kenya’s Mikoko Pamoja project and SeyCCAT’s debt-for-nature swap in Seychelles, which demonstrated how market mechanisms can provide a source of income for developing states while achieving climate mitigation goals.
Main outcomes included strategic recommendations to coordinate regional research, develop standardized methodologies for carbon stock potential, and map the status of blue carbon finance across the region. A critical takeaway was the initiative to develop an IORA Blue Financing White Paper to present regional findings at global forums.
This meeting is directly relevant to IORA’s Blue Economy work plan as it established the foundational financing architecture necessary for sustainable marine management and regional economic resilience.
