Key Insights
This exclusive session convened investors, blue carbon project developers, and thought leaders to explore the rapidly evolving investment landscape for blue carbon. From pricing trends and community-led models to innovative financing strategies, the discussion highlighted how far the market has come—and the scale of opportunity ahead.
1. Blue carbon is emerging as a premium asset class, with credits trading/bidding at up to $50/tonne—well above typical voluntary market prices. This reflects their combined value in carbon removal, community impact, biodiversity, and coastal resilience. Mangroves, in particular, store up to 10xmore carbon than tropical forests. For a deeper dive into how this new market segment is emerging, see our report: Unlocking the Blue Carbon Premium.
2. Investor demand is accelerating, especially among corporates and family offices, as long-term offtake agreements become more common. But urgency is high—many coastal ecosystems are approaching tipping points. Now is the time for capital to step in with scale and speed.
3. Blended finance is enabling scale, with leading developers combining grants, risk insurance, concessional loans, andrevenue-linked structures. These models reduce reliance on discounted forward sales and increase value capture for communities and local partners.
4. Community-led approaches are critical. Projects that embed trust, governance, and shared ownership with local communities are not only more impactful, they’re also more resilient. From long-term land agreements to microenterprise development, inclusion drives results.
5. Market infrastructure needs fixing. Project certification delays, fragmented standards, and slow funding processes are stalling progress. There is a growing call for more transparent, efficient systems and stronger alignment between voluntary and compliance markets.
6. Strategic partnerships will drive what comes next. Investors are encouraged to share risk, commit early, and align with governments and philanthropies. Earth Security is supporting this through its curated portfolio of 30+ blue carbon opportunities and growing capital collaborations.
We look forward to deepening this dialogue and working with you to curate the blue carbon pipeline. Please do not hesitate to contact Susan Wang at sw@earthsecurity.org to explore opportunities or set up a follow-on conversation.
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