Implementation pathways and China's proposals for Antarctic blue carbon protection under the framework of international laws

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2025.08.20240339

Abstract

Abstract:

In recent years, with the continuous development and extension of the meaning and scope of blue carbon captured by marine organisms, the importance of blue carbon protection has attracted widespread attention from the international community. The ocean is the largest carbon pool on Earth. The Southern Ocean absorbs 40% of the global marine carbon dioxide, and is forming the world's largest blue carbon sink. It is a key region in the global effort to achieve carbon neutrality and address climate change. Through preliminary analysis of the mechanism of Antarctic blue carbon cycle, three important pathways for the formation of Antarctic blue carbon are found, including sea ice melting, ice shelf calving and glacier retreat, which would further stimulate the potential of Antarctic blue carbon to cope with global climate change. Based on the international law framework of the Paris Agreement and the Antarctic Treaty System, it is proposed to realize the protection of Antarctic blue carbon through the establishment of Non-Market Approach framework, Antarctic Specially Protected Area, and Antarctic Marine Protected Area. However, there are many governance dilemmas to be faced from international law, scientific evidence, economic rights and geopolitics. Therefore, it is suggested that China should strengthen the research on key scientific issues, participate in the formulation of rules, establish the system of Antarctic protected areas, promote international cooperation, and eventually build an all-dimensional, multi-layered and multi-dimensional protection system for Antarctic blue carbon based on the framework of international law.

Key words: Antarctica, blue carbon, climate change, Paris Agreement, Antarctic Treaty System, blue carbon protected areas

摘要：

近年来，蓝碳保护的重要性引起了国际社会的普遍关注。海洋是地球上最大的碳库，南大洋吸收了全球海洋二氧化碳总量的40%，在南极地区正在形成世界上最大的蓝色碳汇，成为全球实现碳中和、应对气候变化的关键区域。对南极蓝碳循环的作用机理进行分析，发现海冰消融、冰架崩解与冰川退缩是南极蓝碳形成的3种重要路径，这将进一步激发南极蓝碳应对气候变化的潜力。基于《巴黎协定》与南极条约体系形成的国际法框架提议，通过建立南极蓝碳非市场方法框架、南极蓝碳特别保护区、南极蓝碳海洋保护区等保护机制来实现南极蓝碳的有效保护。然而，南极蓝碳保护还需面对来自国际法、科学证据、经济权益与地缘政治层面的诸多治理困境。因此，建议我国通过加强南极蓝碳关键科学问题研究、参与南极蓝碳保护规则制定、构建南极蓝碳保护区体系、推进南极蓝碳保护国际合作，构建起基于国际法框架的全方位、多层次与立体化的南极蓝碳保护体系。

关键词: 南极, 蓝碳, 气候变化, 巴黎协定, 南极条约体系, 蓝碳保护区

Xuefeng LI, Xinchun SANG, Xiangguo ZHANG, Qi YUE, Xin TENG. Implementation pathways and China's proposals for Antarctic blue carbon protection under the framework of international laws[J]. World Regional Studies, 2025, 34(8): 74-86.

李学峰, 桑新春, 张祥国, 岳奇, 滕欣. 国际法框架下南极蓝碳保护的实施路径及中国方案[J]. 世界地理研究, 2025, 34(8): 74-86.

Figures/Tables 1

References 48

[1]	IPCC. Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press, 2022.
[2]	LUDERER G, VRONTISI Z, BERTRAM C, et al. Residual fossil CO₂ emissions in 1.5-2 °C pathways. Nature Climate Change, 2018, 8: 626-633.
[3]	SOGNNAES I, GAMBHIR A, VAN DE VEN D, et al. A multi-model analysis of long-term emissions and warming implications of current mitigation efforts. Nature Climate Change, 2021, 11: 1055-1062.
[4]	MACREADIE P I, COSTA M, ATWOOD T, et al. Blue carbon as a natural climate solution. Nature Reviews Earth and Environment, 2021, 2: 826-839.
[5]	ZINKE L. The colours of carbon. Nature Reviews Earth and Environment, 2020, 1: 141.
[6]	NELLEMANN C, CORCORAN E, DUARTE C, et al. Blue Carbon: The Role of Healthy Oceans in Binding Carbon. Arendal: UN Environment, GRID-Arendal, 2009.
[7]	林婧. 蓝碳保护的理论基础与法治进路. 中国软科学, 2019, 346(10):14-23.
	LIN J. Theoretical basis and ruling of law to blue carbon protection. China Soft Science, 2019, 346(10): 14-23.
[8]	赵鹏, 胡学东. 国际蓝碳合作发展与中国的选择. 海洋通报, 2019, 38(6): 613-619.
	ZHAO P, HU X. International blue carbon cooperation and China's choice. Marine Science Bulletin, 2019, 38(6): 613-619.
[9]	CUNHA-LIGNON M, MENDONÇA J, CONTI L, et al. Mangroves and Seagrasses. In: Urban E R, Ittekkot V. Blue Economy: An Ocean Science Perspective. Singapore: Springer, 2022: 55-85.
[10]	REGNIER P, RESPLANDY L, NAJJAR RG, et al. The land-to-ocean loops of the global carbon cycle. Nature, 2022, 603: 401-410.
[11]	SALLÉE J B, MATEAR R, RINTOUL S, et al. Localized subduction of anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the Southern Hemisphere oceans. Nature Geoscience, 2012, 5: 579-584.
[12]	BARNES D, SANDS C, PAULSEN M, et al. Societal importance of Antarctic negative feedbacks on climate change: Blue carbon gains from sea ice, ice shelf and glacier losses. The Science of Nature, 2021, 108: 43.
[13]	BAX N, SANDS CJ, GOGARTY B, et al. Perspective: Increasing blue carbon around Antarctica is an ecosystem service of considerable societal and economic value worth protecting. Global Change Biology, 2021, 27(1):5-12.
[14]	LONG M, STEPHENS B, MCKAIN K, et al. Strong Southern Ocean carbon uptake evident in airborne observations. Science, 2021, 374(6572):1275-1280.
[15]	李志文, 寇勇栎. 碳中和背景下蓝碳保护与发展趋势及中国因应. 科技管理研究, 2024, 44(2):156-162.
	LI Z, KOU Y. Blue carbon protection and development trend in the context of carbon neutrality and China's response. Science and Technology Management Research, 2024, 44(2): 156-162.
[16]	JIAO N, HERNDL G, HANSELL D, et al. The microbial carbon pump and the oceanic recalcitrant dissolved organic matter pool. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2011, 9: 555.
[17]	VENABLES H, MOORE C. Phytoplankton and light limitation in the Southern Ocean: Learning from high-nutrient, high-chlorophyll areas. Journal of Geophysical Research, 2010, 15: C02015.
[18]	FOGT R, SLEINKOFER A, RAPHAEL M, et al. A regime shift in seasonal total Antarctic sea ice extent in the twentieth century. Nature Climate Change, 2022, 12: 54-62.
[19]	NASA Earth Observatory. Antarctic sea ice reaches record low. (2022-02-25) [2024-05-14]. .
[20]	NASA Earth Observatory. Antarctic sea ice reaches another record low. (2023-02-21) [2024-05-14]. .
[21]	RINTOUL S, CHOWN S, DECONTO R, et al. Choosing the future of Antarctica. Nature, 2018, 558: 233-241.
[22]	SANDS C, ZWERSCHKE N, BAX N, et al. Perspective: The growing potential of Antarctic blue carbon. Oceanography, 2023, 36: Supplement 1.
[23]	BARNES D, FLEMING A, SANDS C, et al. Icebergs, sea ice, blue carbon, and Antarctic climate feedbacks. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences, 2018, 376: 20170176.
[24]	HOEGH-GULDBERGH O, NORTHROP E, LUBCHENCO J. The ocean is key to achieving climate and societal goals. Science, 2019, 365:1372-1374.
[25]	PÖRTNER H, SCHOLES R, AGARD J, et al. Scientific outcome of the IPBES-IPCC co-sponsored workshop on biodiversity and climate change. Bonn: Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, 2021.
[26]	GREENE C, GARDNER A, SCHLEGEL N, et al. Antarctic calving loss rivals ice-shelf thinning. Nature, 2022, 609: 948-953.
[27]	POST A, GALTON-FENZI B, RIDDLE M, et al. Modern sedimentation, circulation and life beneath the Amery Ice Shelf, East Antarctica. Continental Shelf Research, 2014, 74:77-87.
[28]	INGELS J, ARONSON R, SMITH C, et al. Antarctic ecosystem responses following ice-shelf collapse and iceberg calving: science review and future research. WIREs Climate Change, 2021, 12: e682.
[29]	COOK A, HOLLAND P, MEREDITH M, et al. Ocean forcing of glacier retreat in the western Antarctic Peninsula. Science, 2016, 353: 283-286.
[30]	BARNES D, SANDS CJ, COOK A, et al. Blue carbon gains from glacial retreat along Antarctic fjords: What should we expect? Global Change Biology, 2020, 26: 2750-2755.
[31]	ZWERSCHKE N, SANDS CJ, ROMAN-GONZALEZ A, et al. Quantification of blue carbon pathways contributing to negative feedback on climate change following glacier retreat in West Antarctic fjords. Global Change Biology, 2022, 28(1):8-20.
[32]	United Nations. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. New York: United Nations, 1992.
[33]	United Nations. The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Kyoto: United Nations, 1997.
[34]	United Nations. Paris Agreement to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Paris: United Nations, 2015.
[35]	羊志洪, 周怡圃. 南极条约体系面临的困境与中国的应对. 边界与海洋研究, 2022, 7(3): 68-86.
	YANG Z, ZHOU Y. The dilemma faced by the Antarctic treaty system and China's strategy. Journal of Boundary and Ocean Studies, 2022, 7(3): 68-86.
[36]	李学峰, 吴姗姗, 岳奇,等. 浅谈南极半岛系统保护规划的背景、进展与启示. 海洋湖沼通报, 2022, 44(4): 160-165.
	LI X, WU S, YUE Q, et al. A brief discussion on the background, progress and enlightenment of Systematic Conservation Plan for the Antarctic Peninsula. Transactions of Oceanology and Limnology, 2022, 44(4): 160-165.
[37]	The Pew Charitable Trusts. A Network of Marine Protected Areas in the Southern Ocean: Protecting One of Earth's Last Great Wilderness Areas. Washington: The Pew Charitable Trusts, 2020.
[38]	GOGARTY B, MCGEE J, BARNES D, et al. Protecting Antarctic blue carbon: As marine ice retreats can the law fill the gap? Climate Policy, 2020, 20(2): 149-162.
[39]	HUGHES K, GRANT S. The spatial distribution of Antarctica's protected areas: A product of pragmatism, geopolitics or conservation need? Environmental Science and Policy, 2017, 72: 41-51.
[40]	HUGHES K, CONSTABLE A, FRENOT Y, et al. Antarctic environmental protection: Strengthening the links between science and governance. Environmental Science and Policy, 2018, 83: 86-95.
[41]	李学峰, 陈吉祥, 岳奇, 等. 南极特别保护区体系:现状、问题与建议. 生态学杂志, 2020, 39(12): 4193-4205.
	LI X, CHEN J, YUE Q, et al. Antarctic Specially Protected Areas system: Status, problems and proposals. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2020, 39(12): 4193-4205.
[42]	陈力, 刘思竹. 论冰架在南极条约体系中的法律地位. 复旦学报(社会科学版), 2023, 65(1): 161-172.
	CHEN L, LIU S. The legal status of ice shelves in the Antarctic Treaty System. Fudan Journal (Social Sciences Edition), 2023, 65(1): 161-172.
[43]	CCAMLR. Conservation Measure 24-04: Establishing Time-limited Special Areas for Scientific Study in Newly Exposed Marine Areas Following Ice-shelf Retreat or Collapse in Statistical Subareas 48.1, 48.5 and 88.3. Hobart: CCAMLR, 2017.
[44]	CCAMLR. CCAMLR-41/29: Antarctic Blue Carbon. Hobart: CCAMLR, 2022.
[45]	刘惠荣, 齐雪薇. 设立南极海洋保护区的法律困境与出路:兼谈中国的应对. 海洋开发与管理, 2021, 38(4): 58-68.
	LIU H, QI X. Legal dilemma and outlet of establishing and building Antarctic Marine Protected Area: Concerned with China's response. Ocean Development and Management, 2021, 38(4): 58-68.
[46]	吴宁铂, 王勤. 南极海洋保护区的设立及阻碍因素评析. 中华海洋法学评论, 2021, 17(3): 77-107.
	WU N, WANG Q. On the establishment and obstructive factors for the Antarctic Marine Protected Areas. China Oceans Law Review, 2021, 17(3): 77-107.
[47]	赵海伦,朱国平. 南极海洋保护区:科学与政策博弈中的养护之路. 上海海洋大学学报, 2023, 32(4): 883-892.
	ZHAO H, ZHU G. Antarctic Marine Protected Area: The way of game between science and policy. Journal of Shanghai Ocean University, 2023, 32(4): 883-892.
[48]	李学峰, 马琛, 岳奇, 等. 南极菲尔德斯半岛环境保护与人类活动管理对策研究. 世界地理研究, 2024, 33(3):15-28.
	LI X, MA C, YUE Q, et al. The Fildes Peninsula in Antarctica: Environmental protection status, impacts of human activities and management strategies. World Regional Studies, 2024, 33(3):15-28.