EU-China international cooperation on blue carbon
European Comission
ExpectedOutcome :
Blue carbon, understood as coastal marine ecosystems such as seagrass, saltmarshes and mangroves are reported under the chapter of the IPCC inventory guidelines devoted to wetlands. The project aims to investigate this reporting and whether other ecosystems could be included.
Actions are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes:
- An understanding of how the different elements of blue carbon in coastal waters of European countries and the People’s Republic of China contributes to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
- Better knowledge of how human activity in managing, destroying or regenerating blue carbon affects its emissions and sequestration of greenhouse gases.
- Measurement techniques for calibration, validation and monitoring blue carbon sequestration and emissions.
- A preliminary estimate of the actual and potential contribution of greenhouse gas emissions and removals by blue carbon ecosystems for the EU and the People’s Republic of China. Scope :
The project(s) should:
- Classify the main parameters that affect emissions and sequestration.
- Develop and test methods for measuring, modelling, and monitoring emissions and removals of greenhouse gases.
- Propose and test a portfolio of methods for managing blue carbon to reduce emissions and increase sequestration.
- Cover representative sample sites on European coasts and those of the People’s Republic of China.
- Assess the current and potential contribution of blue carbon to national greenhouse gas inventories and reporting to UNFCCC and determine how the verification and monitoring could be improved.
- Identify whether and how net carbon removals through algae cultivation and human activity in other coastal ecosystems could be quantified.
- Engage with international bodies and researchers tackling the same issue.
Development of specific technologies above TRL 4 are out of the scope of this topic.
This topic is part of the EU-China flagship initiative on Climate Change and Biodiversity, which will promote substantial coordinated and balanced cooperation between the EU and China, and is within the scope of the Administrative Arrangement between the European Commission and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (MOST) on a Co-funding Mechanism for the period 2021-2024 to support collaborative research projects under the Climate Change and Biodiversity (CCB) and the Food, Agriculture and Biotechnologies (FAB) flagship initiatives.
Interactions with other actions developed under the EU-China Climate Change and Biodiversity Research Flagship and/or the Flagship on Food, Agriculture and Biotechnologies are encouraged.
Actions should, during their lifetime and within the framework applicable to the cooperation with Chinese entities, establish synergies with relevant Horizon Europe projects and initiatives, such as under cluster 5 destination 1 topic D1-5: Enhanced quantification and understanding of natural and anthropogenic methane emissions and sinks, as well as under cluster 6, in particular topic HORIZON-CL6-2023-CLIMATE: Ocean and coastal waters carbon- and biodiversity-rich ecosystems and habitats in Europe and the Polar Regions, Copernicus Marine Services and the Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030.
General conditions
- Admissibility conditions: described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System
- Eligible countries: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide .
- Other eligibility conditions: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
Following the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2506 , as of 16 th December 2022, no legal commitments (including the grant agreement itself as well as subcontracts, purchase contracts, financial support to third parties etc.) can be signed with Hungarian public interest trusts established under Hungarian Act IX of 2021 or any entity they maintain. Affected entities may continue to apply to calls for proposals. However, in case the Council measures are not lifted, such entities are not eligible to participate in any funded role (beneficiaries, affiliated entities, subcontractors, recipients of financial support to third parties). In this case, co-applicants will be invited to remove or replace that entity and/or to change its status into associated partner. Tasks and budget may be redistributed accordingly.
If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).
In order to achieve the expected outcomes and to implement the Climate Change and Biodiversity Flagship in compliance with the provisions of the Administrative Arrangement between the European Commission and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (MOST) on a Co-funding Mechanism for the period 2021-2024 to support Collaborative Research and Innovation projects under the “Food, Agriculture and Biotechnologies”, and the “Climate Change and Biodiversity” Joint Flagship Initiatives”, and in accordance with the requirements of the Inter-governmental Science and Technology Innovation (STI) Cooperation Special Programme of MOST.
- Consortia must also include as associated partners at least three independent legal entities established in China.
- Legal entities established in China can only participate as associated partners; and
- Chinese participants must be awarded co-funding by MOST *.
*This condition will not be fulfilled if, at the time of grant agreement signature, the Chinese participants have not concluded a grant agreement with MOST.
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes
Evaluation and award:
Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes
Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual
Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes
- Legal and financial set-up of the grants: described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes
Grants awarded under this topic will be linked to the specific grants awarded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, China (MOST) to the Chinese partners. The respective options of the Model Grant Agreement will be applied.
Specific conditions
- Specific conditions: described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
Documents
Call documents:
Standard application form — call-specific application form is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Standard evaluation form — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
MGA
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2024 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2024 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2024 – 13. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual