Is California a ‘Blue Carbon’ pioneer?

A new California state bill could require blue carbon measures to mitigate the effects of coastal development on marshes and wetlands. 

Californian’s AB 2593, authored by Assemblymember Boerner Horvath, D-Encinitas, would require projects on public lands to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions by building or contributing to ‘blue carbon’ projects.

The new rules would apply to any projects on public land, which may include marine projects such as offshore wind, offshore oil and gas platform decommissioning, underwater pipelines, cables, marinas, ports and docks, Christie said. 

Dredging, aquaculture operations and coastal bridge and roadwork could also fall under its provisions.

Public developments on the California coast would also be required to capture carbon in wetlands or other natural ‘blue carbon’ mitigation strategies.

 “It’s a way to develop our coastline, while protecting some of California’s remaining unique important areas,” Boerner Horvath said. 

“Instead of damaging them, we can double down and reinforce the things that are really valuable - seagrass, flora and fauna.”

For projects that affect tidal or ocean habitat, plans may include planting new eelgrass beds or restoring marshland.

For now, mitigation plans focus on improving habitat for native plants and wildlife, along with building amenities such as trails and bike lanes.  Under Boerner Horvath’s bill, ‘blue carbon’ would become another factor the Coastal Commission would evaluate.

Last November, the White House and U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) reintroduced the ‘Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act’ - federal legislation focused on conserving, restoring, and understanding how coastal ‘blue carbon’ ecosystems help mitigate climate change, and how we can better leverage that capacity in the future.

Everything in nature is about balance!