Oceans and Coastal Zones - Climate Action Pathway

A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE OCEAN FOR A RESILIENT AND NET-ZERO FUTURE

It’s 2050. To the naked eye, the world’s Oceans look much the same as they did three decades ago. They still cover 71% of the Earth’s surface; they still helps stave off the worst effects of temperature rise through their capacity for heat storage, absorbing 25% of the CO2 emissions; and they still house an abundance of marine life that support the diets of billions of people.

Many changes have occurred which have rendered our Oceans and coastal zones much healthier and more resilient than previously.

A vibrant, equitable and sustainable Ocean economy has spurred inclusive wellbeing around the world. We have succeeded in adopting a holistic and sustainable approach where Ocean production and protection go hand-in-hand. Oceans are 100 per cent sustainably managed, and the objective of protecting 30 per cent of the world’s Oceans by 2030 has been met and even exceeded.

The impulse for many of these changes came from the collective decision by world governments to promote Ocean-related natural solutions as a key part of global efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Particularly critical were measures to strengthen the carbon-storage capacity of coastal blue carbon ecosystems (mangrove forests, sea grass meadows and saltwater marshes). Ongoing efforts to protect and restore these ecosystems reduced their release of carbon and increased the removal of atmospheric carbon. Numerous social benefits also resulted, from improved storm and flood protection to the provision of sustainable livelihoods (especially in fisheries).

Companies underwent a radical transformation to conduct nature-positive activities and significantly contribute to reverse the loss of these ecosystems.
Recent decades also saw additional major transformations in marine-linked industries. The shipping sector is particularly notable in this respect, with advances in sustainable fuels making long-distance ocean transport far cleaner than previously.
In parallel, energy companies are finally tapping the potential of the Oceans’ innate power. After decades of large-scale investment, offshore wind farms now occupy an important place in the global clean electricity mix.

The aquatic food industry adopted sustainable and climate-smart practices. The supply chain and consumption patterns fostered responsible consumption, improved diets and minimized loss and waste. The industry has sustainably increased its production to feed a population of 10 billion.
While our Oceans still face many challenges, the risk of them becoming a tipping point for catastrophic climate change has receded significantly.

Climate Action Pathway 2021

Messages of support 2021

The High-Level Champions sincerely thank the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action and other partners for their messages of support to the Climate Action Pathways. Together with their leadership and contributions, this support adds considerably to the authority of the Pathways.
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	The Ocean and Coastal Zones Pathway provides a compelling vision for a net zero future, and offers concrete actions that will help us achieve needed breakthroughs in the Race to Zero and Race to Resilience in the next ten years. Well-managed, climate-adaptive wild fisheries, alongside the expansion of responsible aquaculture production, are key to achieving these critical goals.
	The Global Climate Action Pathway for Ocean Renewable Energy captures the enormous potential for offshore wind to drive the transition to a resilient, zero carbon world. As a co-author for this sector Pathway, the Global Wind Energy Council encourages every actor within this ecosystem to follow this path and work together to scale up offshore wind deployment globally. We stand ready to support the critical near-term Breakthroughs in the Race to Zero, including greater offshore wind recognition in NDCs and integrated national ocean planning which allocates space for offshore wind.
	The Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO as a co-author for the Ocean and Coastal Areas Pathway encourages all stakeholders contributing to defining this pathway to play their part in accelerating our global efforts to reach net zero emissions. This Pathway captures the best thinking on how we will achieve critical breakthroughs in the Race to Zero in the next ten years and build a resilient, zero carbon world in the 2040s.
	The Global Climate Action Pathway for Oceans and Coastal Zones captures the best thinking on the contribution of Nature-based Solutions in this sector for the transition to a resilient, zero carbon world in the 2040s. IUCN as a co-author for this Pathway encourages each player within this ecosystem to follow this path, its actions and milestones towards a well-managed ocean.
	MSC is delighted to endorse the Ocean & Coastal Zones Pathway. Our ocean and the challenge of managing resources are profoundly affected by climate change so it’s critical that we act swiftly and decisively together to mitigate & reduce these impacts. We invite all in the sustainable seafood movement to commit to the Race to Zero and to manage our ocean sustainably. MSC is committed to playing its part through its globally recognised program for sustainable fishing.
	The Ocean & Climate Platform as a co-author for this Pathway for Ocean & Coastal Zones encourages every actor within this ecosystem to play their part in accelerating our global efforts to reach net zero emissions. This Pathway captures the best thinking on how we will achieve critical Breakthroughs in the Race to Zero in the next ten years and build a resilient, zero carbon world in the 2040s.
	Ocean Conservancy encourages all actors to further the priorities and actions included within the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action Pathway for Ocean and Coastal Zones. The Pathway lays out ambitious and essential targets for corporate, civil society, and government actors committed to a sustainable future that protects our ocean, coastal communities, and climate. The actions outlined in the Pathway align with our priorities to decarbonize the shipping industry; advance sustainable offshore renewable energy production; and support nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation. We encourage all actors to help take this Pathway forward and commit to the Race to Zero.
	Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, as a contributing author for this Pathway for Oceans and Coastal Zones, encourages every ocean-related stakeholder to play their part in accelerating global efforts to reach net-zero emissions. This Pathway captures the best thinking on how we will achieve critical Breakthroughs in the Race to Zero in the next decade and build a resilient, zero-carbon world in the 2040s.
	Plymouth Marine Laboratory is delighted to endorse this Ocean & Coastal Zones – Climate Action Pathway which captures the best thinking on how we will achieve critical breakthroughs in the Race to Zero in the coming decade and build a resilient, zero-carbon world in the 2040s. As a contributing author, we welcome all planet Earth stakeholders to play their part in accelerating global efforts to reach net zero emissions.
	The Oceans and Coastal Zones Climate Action Pathway clearly lays out the vital and integral role the ocean must play in achieving a net-zero, resilient future. The ocean-based climate solutions identified in the pathway — nature-based solutions, aquatic food production, zero-emission shipping and ocean renewable energy — will undoubtedly play a crucial role in adaptation and mitigation. In this decisive decade, it is time for solutions such as these to be widely recognized and for stakeholders to adopt the highest levels of climate and ocean stewardship. The United Nations Global Compact will continue to mobilize collective action from businesses, governments and other key stakeholders to harness the full potential of the ocean to deliver on a 1.5C future.
	The Global Climate Action Pathway for Ocean Renewable Energy captures the best thinking on how this sector will transition to a resilient, zero carbon world in the 2040s. Vattenfall as a co-author for this Pathway encourages every actor within this ecosystem to follow this path, including rigorous, proactive and concerted marine spatial planning (MSP), environmental impact assessments, and sustainable multi-use of sea space, as this is critical for a near-term Breakthrough in the Race to Zero.

Climate Action Pathway 2020