St Andrews scientist showcases blue carbon research at Nordic Ocean Conference

The University of St Andrews was represented at the Nordic Ocean Conference 2026 in Copenhagen this week, where Professor Bill Austin presented findings from a newly published paper produced through the Horizon Europe-funded Polar Ocean Mitigation Potential (POMP) project.

Published in Global Change Biology on 21 September, the paper is the latest output from the international research collaboration, of which Professor Austin is both a co-author.

The invitation to present at one of the Nordic region’s leading ocean policy events reflects growing international interest in research exploring the role of marine ecosystems in addressing climate challenges and supporting sustainable development.

At the conference, Professor Austin delivered a paper on behalf of the POMP project and join a panel discussion examining emerging blue carbon opportunities in northern waters. The event provides opportunities to engage with policymakers, including representatives connected with the Arctic Council, on the future of marine climate policy.

Within POMP, Bill leads the work package on the integration of science and policy, building on his role in leading the Scottish Government’s Blue Carbon Action Plan and his role as lead of the United Nations Ocean Decade Programme for Blue Carbon. The emerging opportunity for blue carbon policy in the North raises new challenges to both understand these rapidly transitioning environments and to work across country partnerships (such as the Arctic Council) to deliver a more sustainable future for the Arctic.

Professor Austin said:” The publication of this paper marks an important milestone for the POMP project and highlights the value of international collaboration in addressing shared environmental challenges. The opportunity to present this work at the Nordic Ocean Conference allows us to contribute to discussions on emerging blue carbon opportunities in the North and to engage directly with policymakers who are helping to shape future ocean and climate policy.”

Blue carbon refers to carbon captured and stored by marine and coastal ecosystems, including seagrass meadows, saltmarshes and other ocean habitats. Increasingly, these environments are being recognised for their potential contribution to climate mitigation and nature-based solutions.

The conference appearance underscores the contribution of University of St Andrews researchers to international debates on ocean sustainability and the growing importance of scientific evidence in informing policy decisions across northern maritime regions.