Earth Equity News

UNEP Launches 'Blue Carbon' Initiative. By Jerome Rivet, AFP, February 25, 2010. "UN environmental experts Thursday issued an urgent call to study the crucial role the oceans -- as massive carbon stores -- can play in the fight against global warming. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched the Blue Carbon initiative together with the Indonesian government Thursday [at the Global Groups and Stakeholders Forum] on the resort island of Bali. 'A global scientific study of the role of marine and coastal ecosystems in meeting the climate change challenges is urgently needed in order to improve understanding,' UNEP director Achim Steiner said on the sidelines of the gathering of climate experts and environment ministers. 'There is now growing evidence that marine and coastal ecosystems, such as sea grasses, mangroves and salt marshes, may play an important role in climate mitigation,' he said. Unlike when dealing with emissions from land, scientists have said a lack of knowledge on how oceans and climate interact means discussions on including oceans in a future global climate agreement are at an early stage. It is estimated that the equivalent of half the world's transport emissions may be sequestered by marine ecosystems, said Steiner."