The Ocean and Climate Change
The ocean plays a crucial role in regulating Earth's climate and is central to our global response to climate change, as highlighted in the IPCC's Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate. The ocean, covering 71% of Earth's surface and containing 97% of its water, has absorbed about 90% of the excess heat generated by greenhouse gas emissions and 25% of carbon dioxide emissions. While these processes have mitigated some effects of climate change, they have also led to significant challenges, including ocean warming, acidification, and sea level rise. These changes endanger marine life and coastal communities, where 680 million people currently live—a figure projected to exceed 1 billion by 2050. Protecting the ocean is essential for climate stability, marine biodiversity, and the well-being of coastal populations.
The ocean under the Convention and Paris Agreement
Parties have explicitly recognized the crucial role of the ocean and its ecosystems in both the Convention and the Paris Agreement. In the Convention, in Article 2, Parties agreed to protect the climate system, defined in Article 1.3, as the totality of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and geosphere and their interactions. Further, Article 4(d) of the Convention specifically calls for the promotion of sustainable management practices for these vital carbon sinks. In the Preamble of the Paris Agreement, Parties noted the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems, including oceans, and the protection of biodiversity, recognized by some cultures as Mother Earth.
Status of the Ocean under the UNFCCC process
The recognition of the ocean's critical role in climate action under the UNFCCC has evolved significantly. At COP 25, the Chile Madrid Time for Action 2019, governments recognized the need to strengthen the understanding of, and action on, ocean and climate change under the UNFCCC.
At COP 26, in the Glasgow Climate Pact 2021, Parties invited the relevant work programmes and constituted bodies under the UNFCCC to consider how to integrate and strengthen ocean-based action in their existing mandates and workplans and to report on these activities within the existing reporting processes.
At COP 27 in 2022, Parties were encouraged to integrate ocean-based actions into their national climate goals, including the nationally determined contributions (Decision 1/CP.27 para. 50 and Decision 1/CMA.4 para. 79). A key outcome was the establishment of facilitated annual ocean and climate change dialogues. The COP27 Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan mandates that these dialogues be led by two co-facilitators, biennially selected by the Parties who decide on the two topics based on consultations with Parties and observers, conduct the dialogue, and prepare a summary report to present at COP. Mr. Julio Cordano (Chile), and Niall O'Dea (Canada) are the ocean and climate dialogue co-facilitators for the biennium 2023-24.
These dialogues have since become crucial platforms for exchanging knowledge, highlighting efforts, and enhancing collective ocean-based climate action. The first facilitated ocean dialogue was held during SBSTA 58, and more than 250 case studies and good practices were discussed over a course of 2 days by Parties and observers. The two topics addressed were: first, coastal ecosystem restoration, including blue carbon and second, fisheries and food security. In the outcome of the first global stocktake, Parties welcomed the outcomes of and the informal summary report of the 2023 dialogue, encouraging further strengthening of ocean-based action where appropriate.
The 2024 ocean dialogue, held during SBSTA 60, focused on the topics of marine biodiversity conservation and coastal resilience, and technology needs for ocean climate action, including finance links. Around 400 representatives from Parties and observers attended the dialogue, sharing more than 300 case studies and good practices. Read the informal summary report of the 2024 Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue here. Read the article on the publication of the 2024 informal summary report and the key messages here.
The dialogue aims to be a multi-year exercise, that builds knowledge in relevant topics on the ocean and climate change, and on previous years’ experience, inputs and the 2023, 2022, 2020 informal summary reports.
For further information on ocean related matters, please contact: ocean@unfccc.int