Jeonnam Provincial Council Enacts Nation's First 'Blue Carbon' Ordinance

Jeon Nam-do Councilor Choi Seon-guk Introduces 'Coastal Carbon Sink Ordinance' as Lead Sponsor

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] On the 6th, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Affairs Committee of the Jeonnam Provincial Council passed the "Jeonnam Coastal Carbon Sink Management and Utilization Promotion Ordinance," which was primarily proposed by Assemblyman Choi Seon-guk (Democratic Party of Korea·Mokpo 1).

This ordinance is the first in the nation to focus on blue carbon utilizing coastal carbon sinks, defining recognized carbon sinks and unrecognized carbon sinks as coastal carbon sinks.

Choi Seon-guk, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member

Blue carbon refers to carbon stored by marine ecosystems such as tidal flats, eelgrass, and halophytes. Under international agreements, salt marshes and eelgrass beds are recognized as blue carbon, but non-vegetated tidal flats, which account for 98% of tidal flats, and seaweed are not officially recognized as carbon sinks.

Accordingly, the ordinance defines both recognized and unrecognized carbon sinks as coastal carbon sinks.

Assemblyman Choi stated, "Jeonnam holds 42.4% of the nation's tidal flats, totaling 2,492 km², and 44.9% of the coastline, measuring 15,282 km, thus possessing abundant blue carbon resources. Once the ordinance is implemented, it will not only facilitate surveys on the status of coastal carbon sinks but also invigorate various investigations and research, including the discovery of carbon sinks."

He added, "If non-vegetated tidal flats are recognized as blue carbon, Jeonnam is expected to systematically respond to blue carbon issues, using the enactment of this ordinance as a turning point."