Blue Carbon International Policy Challenge (BCIPC)
COP26 in Glasgow highlighted the need for urgent action to tackle the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, and the important role of the ocean for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
At the Scottish Blue Carbon Forum’s international conference “Blue Carbon: Beyond the Inventory”, held during COP26, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Mairi Gougeon, announced the Blue Carbon International Policy Challenge (BCIPC).
The aim of the BCIPC is to bring together the global blue carbon community to focus on and inform the policy actions required, in Scotland and internationally, to maximise the potential of blue carbon nature-based solutions, for climate, people and biodiversity. It seeks to enable new international partnerships, to support knowledge exchange, to learn from international best practise and identify ways to move from research to action.
Applications are now open! Minister for Environment and Land Reform, Mairi McAllan, launched the BCIPC as part of a statement to Scottish Parliament on blue carbon on 21 April 2022.
The Scottish Government and Scottish Blue Carbon Forum are seeking applications from blue carbon research and policy specialists who are committed to progressing science-policy dialogues, fostering international collaboration and driving forward ocean climate action.
The BCIPC topics are:
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IPC-1: Maximising the co-benefits of blue carbon restoration – for nature, blue economy, and communities.
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IPC-2: Blue Forests – how macroalgae farming can be used in a net-zero policy framework.
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IPC-3: International experience of marine planning policies to safeguard and enhance blue carbon.
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IPC-4: An assessment of the potential for a blue carbon partnerships between Scotland and International Partners.
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IPC-5: Blue carbon ocean literacy: Communicating blue carbon research and evidence to diverse stakeholder communities.
Additional information about each of the BCIPC topics can be downloaded from the following link.
Application guidance. Applications open on 21 April 2022 and close on 19 May 2022. The grant period runs from June 2022 until October 2022, with final outcomes expected ahead of COP27 in Egypt. Organisations can apply for a maximum of £10,000 per IPC, and must deliver the project in collaboration with at least one international partner.
Further information on how to apply, including eligibility and assessment criteria, key dates, and tips on filling out the application form and budget template can be found in the below links.
Completed applications should be submitted to marineclimatechange@gov.scot by 17:00 BST on 19 May 2022.
If you have questions regarding the BCIPC that are not answered in the application guidance please contact marineclimatechange@gov.scot.
We will be running a virtual information session and Q&A, hosted by Chair of the Scottish Blue Carbon Forum, Professor William Austin, on 28 April 2022, 11:00-12:00 BST. All interested applicants are encouraged to attend. To register, please visit EventBrite.
