Output
1) Preliminary Research Report
Preliminary Research Report will be conducted to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the development of blue carbon ecosystems among 21 member economies, consisting of the scientific basis of blue carbon measurement and methodology, climate policy and legal framework of blue carbon ecosystems at the economy level, and blue carbon financing mechanisms in public and private sectors. The Preliminary Research Report, a minimum of 15 pages excluding annexes, tentative structure covering executive summary, introduction, the scientific basis of blue carbon ecosystems, current blue carbon policy and regulatory landscape in APEC economies, blue carbon market mechanisms and finance models, gender and inclusion in blue carbon initiatives, case studies and best practices, will be produced electronically and in PDF format presented at the Workshop and integrated the Workshop’s results into the Summary Report.
The Research consists of three parts:
(a) Data Collection: Collect data on blue carbon ecosystems and blue carbon financing mechanisms in APEC economies, including literature review (preliminary method), statistical data analysis, case studies, and best practices of existing reports, policy documents, legislation, academic research and international studies (e.g., IPCC, UNFCCC, World Bank).
(b) Data Analysis: The collected data will be summarized to sketch the landscape of blue carbon ecosystems, climate policies and actions, legal framework, and blue carbon pricing mechanisms at both the economy- level and the APEC region.
(c) Case studies and Best practices: Based on the research findings, at least 3 case studies or best practices from member economies will be introduced and passed onto participants and speakers before the Workshop as the addendum of the mentioned Research.
2) 24th APEC Roundtable Meeting
A 2-day Workshop taking place in Taipei will be conducted in October 2025. An estimated 50 participants are expected to attend, including at most 22 participants from travel-eligible economies and other economies, 12 experts (3 sessions including 1 moderator and 3 speakers each), and stakeholders related to blue carbon ecosystems, climate policies, and blue carbon pricing mechanisms. Bring together government officials, policymakers, academia, business, and NGOs to discuss a variety of topics regarding the current status, latest developments, public and private partnerships, opportunities, and challenges. The target audience will be explained further in the section on Beneficiaries. A on-site visit at the Danshui River Mangrove Nature Reserve will be organized following the Workshop tentatively; all the speakers and participants from the participating member economies are welcome to attend to have a first- hand experience of the work carried out in the host economy and exchange accordingly. The tentative is as follows:
(a) Day 1
8:45-9:15 Registration
9:15-9:30 Opening & Group Photo
9:30-10:45 Session 1: Science and Policy Integration of Blue Carbon Ecosystems (The Science of Blue Carbon Ecosystems–Why It Matters for Climate Resilience; Blue Carbon Ecosystems in APEC’s Climate Strategies– Current Status and Gaps; Case Study–Successful Integration of Blue Carbon Ecosystems into Climate Policies)
10:45-11:00 Networking Break
11:00-12:15 Session 2: Blue Carbon Markets and Financing Mechanisms (Understanding Blue Carbon Markets–Compliance vs. Voluntary Trading; Unlocking Investments–Public and Private Sector Collaboration; ESG as a Driver for Blue Carbon Investments)
12:15-13:30 Lunch Break
13:30-14:45 Session 3: Enhancing Inclusive Participation in Blue Carbon Ecosystems Initiatives (Women in Science–Advancing Blue Carbon Ecosystems Research and Innovation; Women in Coastal Communities– Guardians of Blue Carbon Ecosystems; Women in Leadership–Driving Blue Carbon Ecosystems Policies and Investments)
14:45-15:15 Networking Break
15:15-16:00 Guided Group Discussion (Experts and participants be assigned to groups based on expertise; give each group a guiding topic and key questions, 20 minutes for discussion and brainstorming, have a spokesperson from each group share their main takeaways, close with a facilitator summary.)
16:00-16:30 Recap of Day 1 (including distribution of the Post-event Evaluation)
(b) Day 2
9:00-9:30 Registration and Welcome
9:30-10:30 Travel to Danshui River Mangrove Nature Reserve (no offshore/on-water travel involved, accessible via land-based transportation and boardwalk trails)
10:30-12:00 Ecological Tour (including expert-led walkthrough and Q&A session with local conservationists)
12:00-12:15 Travel to the Restaurant 12:15-14:00 Lunch Break
14:00-15:00 Return to Downtown Taipei
The Danshui River Mangrove Nature Reserve serves as a living example of blue carbon ecosystem conservation, providing participants with firsthand exposure to mangrove restoration efforts and their role in carbon sequestration, climate resilience, and biodiversity protection. By observing on-the-ground implementation, participants will gain practical insights into policy-driven conservation strategies, coastal ecosystem management, and community engagement, which directly align with the project’s goal of integrating blue carbon ecosystems into climate policies. The site visit offers an experiential learning opportunity that complements the discussions, reinforcing theoretical knowledge with real-world applications and inspiring participants to implement similar initiatives in their economies.
3) Summary Report
Based on the findings from the Preliminary Research Report and Workshop discussions, this Report will be published with a minimum of 20 pages, excluding annexes, produced electronically and in PDF format as an APEC publication for further dissemination to promote a climate-resilient future for policymakers or stakeholders to serve as a piece of baseline information for future events.
The structure of this Report is listed below:
(a) Introduction: background brief; intro, goals, expectations of this Research.
(b) Preliminary Research Report on blue carbon ecosystems in climate policies or actions and blue carbon pricing mechanisms.
(c) Workshop: method, agenda, lists of speakers and participants, summary, evaluations.
(d) Policy recommendations.
(e) Conclusions.
Outcome
1) Advancing the Integration of Blue Carbon Ecosystems into Climate Policies: This project seeks to provide member economies with a comprehensive understanding of the untapped potential of blue carbon ecosystems and how these ecosystems can be effectively integrated into climate policy frameworks. The Summary Report will serve as a guidebook structured around three core pillars: scientific basis, policy and legal frameworks, and pricing mechanisms. By addressing these aspects, the Report will support informed decision-making, guide economies in developing actionable blue carbon strategies, and promote further research. Additionally, it will highlight financial approaches and incentives to foster cross-sectoral collaboration, aiding member economies in incorporating blue carbon ecosystems into their broader climate objectives.
2) Identifying Challenges in Blue Carbon Markets and Opportunities for Blue Investments: Drawing on insights from the “Unlocking Blue Carbon Development: Investment Readiness Framework for Governments” (World Bank, 2023), this project will examine both the challenges and opportunities in blue carbon markets. Currently, most carbon markets are government-supported and operate within domestic compliance frameworks (e.g., Australia, China, and the EU). However, a growing voluntary market led by nonstate actors is emerging. Through this initiative, participants will gain critical knowledge of internationally recognized standards, including the Verified Carbon Standard and the Gold Standard, enabling cross-border carbon credit trading. Furthermore, understanding the distinctions between compliance and voluntary markets will empower member economies to develop tailored blue carbon pricing mechanisms that align with their financial and environmental contexts.
3) Fostering a sustainable green economy through concerted efforts of public-private partnerships: An essential outcome of this project is the translation of knowledge on blue carbon ecosystems and pricing mechanisms into tangible actions. Policymakers, while central to this effort, cannot succeed in isolation. Collective action from a broad range of stakeholders—including private sectors, educational institutions, and NGOs, will be necessary to drive the transition toward an equitable, sustainable, resilient blue economy. This project seeks to foster robust public-private partnerships, underpinned by clear and measurable commitments, to ensure a cohesive and sustainable approach to economic development within the blue economy.
Beneficiaries
The direct beneficiaries (target participants and speakers) include: (1) government officials or policymakers responsible for the ocean, climate change, and finance relevant policies from ministries or agencies of environmental protection, ocean and fisheries, and economic development among member economies; (2) businesses and industries, driven by the accountability and ambition of achieving low/zero carbon emissions and valuing the spirit of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) as the core management strategy, and the potential of blue carbon credits on the international market; (3) research institutions and academia place emphasis on the areas involving coastal blue carbon ecosystems, marine biodiversity, extreme weather events, natural disasters, ocean-climate nexus or nature-based solutions, and blue carbon pricing mechanisms; (4) speakers will comprise those with experience or expertise from public, private, and academia in member economies and international non-governmental organizations (such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature, World Economic Forum and Asia Development Bank). 
