Article 11 Nov, 2021

New Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund to support blue carbon entrepreneurs and leverage private sector finance

Jointly with the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, IUCN is setting up the Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund (BCAF)

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Photo: Ocean Image Bank - Ben Jones

The Fund builds on the concept of Blue Natural Capital - the idea that we can conserve and restore coastal and marine ecosystems through revenue generating income streams based on their multiple ecosystem services.

By leveraging private sector finance, entrepreneurs can create a real and measurable impact on the ground.

The Fund will provide

Funds will be provided to eligible project developers and entrepreneurs for:

  1. Readiness support that will help project developers with activities to get projects ready for implementation and future private sector finance.
  2. Implementation support for on-the-ground blue carbon ecosystem restoration or conservation projects that will demonstrate and measure climate, biodiversity and livelihood benefits and enhance the business case for private sector investment in coastal blue carbon ecosystems.

First call for proposals to be announced in early 2022.

The Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund follows the successful model developed by the Blue Natural Capital Financing Facility (BNCFF). It will similarly strive to identify, foster and support start-ups, entrepreneurs and the conservation community for better managed, and better financed coastal and marine Nature-based Solutions.

Entrepreneurs and project developers please take note: first proposals will be called for in early 2022.


More information and calls for proposals will be announced on the BNCFF website: www.bluenaturalcapital.org