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Indigenous and scientific perspectives of blue carbon in focus at international event

03 October 2024

PML’s Senior Environmental Economist Dr Olivia Rendón and Honorary Fellow Torsten Thiele are among the 80+ experts attending the annual International Partnership for Blue Carbon Dialogue in Cairns.

The four-day dialogue event brings together scientists, policymakers, and finance experts from around the world to discuss the critical role of blue carbon ecosystems in climate change mitigation and the multiple benefits from these ecosystems.


Blue carbon refers to “biologically driven carbon fluxes and storage in marine systems that are receptive to management”. Most commonly, it relates to the role that ‘blue carbon’ habitats, such as tidal marshes, mangroves and seagrass meadows, can play in long-term carbon storage.


Co-hosted by the Fiji Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the dialogue is focused on “merging indigenous and scientific perspectives, exploring synergies between blue carbon and coral reef ecosystems, and highlighting Pacific Regional projects”.

The event opened with a fireside chat between Minister Plibersek, Australian Minister for Environment and Water, Dr Russell Reichelt, Australian Sherpa for the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, and global expert on ocean governance and innovative finance and PML Fellow Torsten Thiele.

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Left to right: Chris Fulton (Australian Institute of Marine Science), Torsten Thiele (PML Hon. Fellow) and Dr Olivia Rendón (PML Senior Environmental Economist)

“We need large-scale ocean and coastal stewardship initiatives, 100% sustainable ocean plans and multiple financing efforts in order to build coastal resilience and restore ocean health,” Mr Thiele reflected.

“Nature, and in particular marine ecosystems as blue natural capital, are critical assets for long-term investment as we develop blue finance pathways”.

Dr Rendón, who is the Blue Carbon  lead within PML’s Climate Change Science to Impact Team, said: “The diversity of expertise and projects represented is remarkable and the discussions timely for the rapidly growing blue carbon market. It’s a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between different sectors and develop innovative solutions to ensure sustainability for blue carbon ecosystems. The finance session stood out for me as we discussed how to reach enabling environments for blue carbon investment”

Related information

The International Partnership for Blue Carbon (IPBC) “connects government agencies with non-governmental organisations, intergovernmental organisations and research institutions from around the world, with a joint vision to protect, sustainably manage and restore global coastal blue carbon ecosystems contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity, ocean economies and livelihoods of coastal communities”.

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