APPG welcome parliamentarians to discuss blue carbon inquiry report and key asks

The APPG for the Ocean held a drop-in event in Parliament, focused on the key recommendations made in the APPG’s first inquiry report into blue carbon and ocean-based solutions to climate change.

The report, The Ocean: Turning the Tide on Climate Change, was released in late 2022 and makes the following eight recommendations:

1.       Blue carbon habitat mapping to be included in UK’s EEZ.

2.       No trawl or dredge zone in the UK MPAs.

3.       Establish Highly Protected Marine Areas.

4.       Government should include more aspects of marine carbon storage and sequestration into UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory.

5.       Government to adopt code of conduct into ocean-based carbon dioxide removal.

6.       Government to prioritise funding into ocean-based CDR approaches.

7.       Government to re-align and restore 20% of UK’s saltmarsh and seagrass habitats by 2030.

8.       Creation of a Minister for the Ocean role in government.

The APPG for the Ocean was also delighted to welcome scientists from the National Oceanography Centre, Dr Claire Evans and Dr Christopher Pearce, who spoke to parliamentarians about a range of issues, including seagrass, saltmarsh and ocean-based carbon dioxide removal approaches.

Many thanks to all who attended and to all parliamentarians who supported the APPG’s calls to the Prime Minister to meet with the APPG and to discuss the inquiry report’s recommendations.

Please find further information about the report here.