© TNC
The Nature Conservancy (TNC), together with its partners Vizzuality and Bain & Company, have launched the Blue Carbon Cost Tool (BCCT). The interactive tool is designed to assist NGOs, researchers, investors and policymakers in aligning investment decisions with environmental sustainability and community prosperity within the blue carbon market.
The BCCT provides stakeholders with a comprehensive list of different blue carbon project options, such as mangrove, marsh and seagrass, to deepen their understanding of where conservation and restoration is needed, the cost to develop projects at those sites and the potential carbon revenue.
“As a member of the Symbiosis coalition, Salesforce is committed to supporting high-quality nature-based solutions. Understanding the cost to develop blue carbon credits is an incredible step forward in the market and an invaluable contribution to the space,” said a Salesforce spokesperson in a press release.
Blue Carbon - The carbon mitigation powerhouse of the ocean
Blue carbon ecosystems – including mangroves, salt marshes and seagrasses – are among the most powerful tools to fight climate change. Although they cover just two percent of the world’s surface, they provide essential services for both marine life and coastal communities. For example, seagrasses capture carbon up to two times faster than tropical rainforests, while mangroves support over 700 billion juvenile fish and invertebrates.
Despite their vital properties, these ecosystems are disappearing at an alarming rate. The BCCT helps to address this problem by providing science and financial data to inform decision-making, offering a tailored approach to protecting these critical ecosystems.
“Assessing blue carbon market projects holistically, with relevant and accurate data, will identify the level of investment needed to yield financial returns,” said Jennifer Morris, CEO of The Nature Conservancy. “The Blue Carbon Cost Tool (BCCT) will enable smarter investing in blue carbon from the start – which will build the much-needed trust to unlock scalable investment opportunities.”
The challenges facing blue carbon investment
Carbon markets could grow from their present $1-2 billion annually to $100 billion by 2030. While industrial carbon capture and storage (CCS) supports sectors like cement and fossil fuels at a high cost, it delivers little beyond emissions reduction. Blue carbon projects, by contrast, store carbon while also enhancing coastal resilience, biodiversity and sustaining fisheries.
Investment lags as projects remain costly and complex, with developers and investors misaligned on risks and returns. NGOs often fill funding gaps, while companies pay below true project costs. The Blue Carbon Cost Tool aims to bridge this divide, bringing transparency and fairer pricing to support ecosystems, communities and long-term viability.
“We’re grateful to partner with The Nature Conservancy on a tool that translates science into practical solutions. The Blue Carbon Cost Tool builds on our shared commitment to making complex data accessible, actionable and impactful for communities and decision-makers,” said Clara Linos, project manager at Vizzuality.
The BCCT is already being applied in projects from New Zealand to Virginia, with plans for expansion in India and Mexico, signalling its potential to reshape global blue carbon investment.
