Evolution of blue carbon management policies in China: review, performance and prospects

Since 1982, China’s blue carbon management policies have made significant contributions to blue carbon’s development. Blue carbon is carbon captured and stored by marine ecosystems and it plays an important role in addressing climate change. Analyzing the evolution of blue carbon management policy is necessary to understand its potential to contribute to climate action, and to improve its management and maximize its effectiveness. This paper considers these issues in China. It used content analysis and ROSTCM6 software to empirically analyze 82 blue carbon management policy documents from China. The evolution of relevant policies and their performance is as follows: First, policy focus has gradually shifted from protecting blue carbon ecosystems to increasing blue carbon stocks; second, policy participants became increasingly diversified; and third, the policy approach has changed from simple protection to comprehensive, integrated land use – marine system management. Although the Chinese government has made progress in blue carbon management policies, it still faces many challenges including blue carbon ecosystem protection; legal status; trading mechanisms; and international cooperation. The development of future blue carbon management policy should focus on optimizing the land use structure of coastal zones, on promoting environmental legislation highlighting blue carbon issues, on supporting the establishment of blue carbon trading mechanisms, and on strengthening its international cooperation in this arena.Key policy insightsChina’s blue carbon management approaches shows that relevant policies contribute greatly to addressing climate change and sustainable development. This provides new theoretical support to promote future development of blue carbon management policies.Establishing a blue carbon trading mechanism provides economic incentives for its management.Blue carbon’s property rights, accounting standards, and trading entities need to be further clarified.A detailed legal definition of blue carbon is needed to ensure that appropriate penalties are imposed for the destruction of blue carbon ecosystems.