Incorporating blue carbon into climate change mitigation policies: Multi-level governance challenges for carbon credits and NDCs
International expectations push countries conserving blue carbon ecosystems (like mangroves and seagrasses) to integrate them into NDCs or carbon markets. However, implementation in SIDS and coastal nations remains limited. Using Fiji’s case, we show multilevel governance misalignments, data gaps, funding issues, and local complexities create “blue carbon inertia” that hinders practical progress.