The ocean has a vital role to play in stabilizing the Earth’s climate, absorbing 90% of excess heat and 40% of man-made carbon dioxide emissions. However, as these greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have continued to increase, so have the impacts on the ocean: rising temperatures, increased acidification, episodes of coral bleaching, melting ice caps, sea level rise and more intense hurricanes. All of these, over time, can reduce the ability of the ocean to withstand impacts and play a supporting role in mitigating climate change.

And as the ocean continues to bear the brunt of climate impacts, there remains an opportunity to maximize its potential to deliver solutions. A healthy ocean can contribute up to 21% of the emission reductions needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, which limits global temperature increase to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). This can be achieved by advancing a holistic approach to the ocean, including technical solutions such as expanding offshore wind power capacity and nature-based solutions such as protecting coastal wetland habitats. .

As the scientific knowledge base has broadened, policymakers have introduced more policy options and financing arrangements that support climate adaptation, which focuses on adjusting to the impacts of climate change. and mitigation, which aims to prevent and reduce additional GHG emissions, through marine solutions. A recent wave of support for ocean-climate action has catalyzed calls for further collaboration on the subject.

Building on the success of the inaugural dialogue on oceans and climate change at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), governments agreed that discussions should take place annually going forward. These dialogues will allow governments and civil society to regularly exchange ideas on the best ways to use marine solutions to climate change.

As of June 6, 2022, the UNFCCC Ocean-Climate Dialogue has received 47 submissions (to read them, search “ocean”) from governments, UN agencies and civil society exploring the continuation of these dialogues. Analyzing the submissions, Pew found that the overwhelming majority focused on building adaptive capacity, reducing emissions through marine climate solutions, and increasing funding for ocean-climate action. Many submissions offered concrete proposals to deepen understanding and scale up action on these fronts, moving from theoretical concepts to case studies on the ground.

Thirty-five submissions highlighted the critical need to address climate impacts on the ocean through climate adaptation, especially in the most vulnerable communities. As GHG emissions continue to rise unabated, unprecedented impacts like sea level rise and deoxygenation have worsened. Submissions showed broad agreement to focus on approaches that enhance the adaptive capacity of those whose lives and livelihoods depend on a healthy and sustainable ocean. In addition, several highlighted the role that preserving and restoring marine habitats can play in supporting ocean health and biodiversity, alongside efforts to reduce emissions in economies.

Climate change mitigation, which focuses on preventing and reducing GHG emissions, was another popular topic that featured in 28 submissions. Twenty-two of them specifically called for the need to protect and restore blue carbon habitats, namely mangroves, seagrass beds and salt marshes, for their high carbon sequestration and storage benefits, as well as than their habitat and livelihood value. Five of these submissions further emphasized that blue carbon efforts must go hand in hand with lower carbon emissions, not as a replacement or offset.

Other marine solutions have been suggested as a way to reduce GHG emissions. Seventeen submissions identified improving GHG efficiency in fisheries and aquaculture as another way to reduce emissions from ocean activities. Eleven highlighted the need to reduce GHG emissions from the shipping and shipping industry. Seven called for increasing marine renewables like offshore wind.

Although the submissions showed broad consensus that adaptation and mitigation are of paramount importance, progress in these areas will be hampered without adequate funding to support their implementation. Investment strategies and financing mechanisms for the ocean, also called blue finance, as well as technical resources, are necessary to implement adaptation and mitigation measures. Some funding mechanisms to support ocean-climate action were noted, including the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility and the Adaptation Fund. However, 29 submissions said these mechanisms should be expanded, access should be streamlined, and funding cycles should be more transparent and predictable.

Submissions also requested research on new funding trends and investment opportunities as well as analyzes of funding gaps. Additionally, there was strong recognition that access to finance needs to be increased for developing countries and vulnerable coastal communities.

Importantly, 21 submissions identified the need to better engage with historically marginalized groups such as Indigenous Peoples and local communities to incorporate their traditional knowledge and experience into ocean-climate solutions, as they are in front line of climate impacts and have always been left out. important international political discussions.

What is clear is that momentum continues to build for ocean-climate action around the world. Bridging the gaps between science, policy and finance will be key to success as decision-makers assess all possible pathways to reduce emissions, build adaptive capacity and ensure fairness in decision-making and sharing advantages. Marine solutions, coupled with rapid emission reductions in all economic activities, can play a valuable role in the fight for a healthy, just and sustainable future.

Lauren Swaddell is a senior associate and Courtney Durham is a manager working on international conservation efforts at The Pew Charitable Trusts.