Belém, Brazil, November 12 — At the 30th Session of the Conference of the Parties(COP30) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the “Blue Carbon, Thriving Mangroves” Shenzhen Session was successfully held at the COP30 Cities Pavilion in Parque da Cidade, Belém. The event was organized by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, under the guidance of the International Mangrove Center (IMC) and the Shenzhen Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Bureau. Through experience-sharing, presentation of results, and interactive dialogue, the session presented Shenzhen’s innovative approaches and cooperation vision in the field of blue carbon to the international community.
Blue Carbon Methodologies and Cooperative Achievements Drive Global Project Development
Mangroves are among the three internationally recognized coastal blue carbon ecosystems. In recent years, Shenzhen has advanced the “Mangrove+” initiative and actively explored new mechanisms for realizing the ecological value of mangrove resources.
In September 2023, Shenzhen completed China’s first mangrove conservation carbon credit auction, achieving a transaction price equivalent to USD 68 per ton—then the highest carbon credit price in China. This pioneering achievement marked a breakthrough in the market-based transformation of mangrove carbon sequestration value and catalyzed the replication of the blue carbon model in other cities across Guangdong, supporting the exploration of cross-regional blue carbon cooperation mechanisms.
As a key contributor to Shenzhen’s blue carbon development, the Shenzhen Natural Resources and Real Estate Assessment Research Center presented systematic insights into Shenzhen’s methodologies and practices across mangrove carbon accounting, valuation, transaction organization, and scenario application. The Institute also released the English Edition of the Methodology for Mangrove Conservation, providing technical guidance for global mangrove carbon assessment and project development.
Advancing Multilateral Cooperation for Blue Carbon and Promoting Global Knowledge Sharing
During the panel discussion, representatives and experts from Shenzhen, Brazil’s Sergipe State, the City of Teresina, and international organizations engaged in in-depth exchanges on cross-regional cooperation in blue carbon development.
Participants noted that Shenzhen’s experience demonstrates how nature-based solutions can achieve synergies between ecological protection and urban development, offering valuable support for global efforts in mangrove conservation and blue carbon project development and transactions.
The Shenzhen session enhanced global awareness of the value of mangroves and other blue carbon ecosystems. Moving forward, IMC will continue to leverage its global network to strengthen cooperation with countries worldwide in blue carbon research, project development, and capacity-building, contributing to broader application of sustainable mangrove conservation practices across coastal regions globally.