In today’s world, the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly severe, highlighting the urgent need for solutions that not only mitigate these effects but also support long-term sustainability. Wetlands, especially coastal wetlands, represent a powerful nature-based solution, offering a range of environmental benefits that can aid in the fight against climate change. 

The newly published Policy Brief by the RESTORE4Cs project, titled “How can coastal wetlands help achieve EU climate goals?”, to which MedWet contributed as an editor, underscores the significant role European coastal wetlands play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions when they are well-preserved and restored. 

The policy brief shares key messages:

• Coastal wetlands are important natural carbon stores, given their capacity to sequester carbon efficiently while emitting relatively less methane – a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) with much higher warming potential than CO2 at medium term.
•  When well-preserved or restored, coastal wetlands deliver key ecosystem services and have positive impacts on the environment and society. The conservation and restoration of coastal wetlands in Europe is therefore a cost-effective climate mitigation strategy in line with the European Climate Law and can contribute to reach climate neutrality by 2050.
• Robust carbon certification sche­ mes can offer additional tools to finance projects for protecting and restoring European coastal wetlands. Coastal wetland protection and restoration activities that contribute to reduce GHG emissions, sequester carbon and provide long-term storage should qualify and be recognised under the EU Certification Framework for Carbon Removals. These measures provide an opportunity for unlocking new financial sources for wetland conservation and restoration while ensuring ecological and social benefits with the necessa­ry safeguards in place.
• Actions to protect and restore carbon sinks – including the sustainable management and restoration of wetlands – are qualified by the EU Taxonomy Regulation as ‘environmentally sustainable’ economic activities. These actions can create incentives for companies that aim to become more climate-friendly and attract new investments for restoration by labelling certain activities as ‘environmentally friendly’ or reducing their financial transaction costs.

You can download the policy brief here. 

Citation: 

Otero, M., Camacho, A., Abdul Malak, D., Kampa, E., Scheid, A., Elkina, E., 2024.
How can coastal wetlands help achieve EU climate goals? Policy Brief. RESTORE4Cs project.