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. Decision 1/CP.27 entitled "Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan", the Conference of the Parties, at its twenty-seventh session, mandated that Ocean and Climate Change Dialogues will, from 2023, be facilitated by two co-facilitators, selected by Parties biennially, who will be responsible for deciding the topics for and conducting the Dialogue, in consultation with Parties and observers, and preparing an informal summary report for consideration at the subsequent session of the Conference of the Parties. Mr. Julio Cordano (Chile), and Niall O'Dea (Canada) were the Ocean and Climate Dialogue co-facilitators for the biennium 2023-24. For the biennium 2025-26, developing country Parties selected Sivendra Michael (Fiji) for 2026 and Carlos Márcio Bicalho Cozendey (Brazil) for 2025, to co-facilitate the Dialogue on a rotational basis. Developed country Parties selected Ulrik Lenaerts (Belgium) to co-facilitate the 2025-26 Dialogue.
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. 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 as appropriate. The case studies and good practices shared by Parties and observers during the Dialogue proceedings can be found here.
The 2024 Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue, held in conjunction with SBSTA 60, focused on the topics of marine biodiversity conservation and coastal resilience, and technology needs for ocean climate action, including finance links. 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 case studies and good practices shared by Parties and observers during the Dialogue can be found here.
The 2025 Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue, held in conjunction with SBSTA 62, focused on three topics: first, Ocean-based measures in the Nationally Determined Contributions, second, the Ocean under the Global Goal on Adaptation, and third, Ocean-climate-biodiversity synergies. The cross-cutting issues included means of implementation, particularly finance, as well as science. The informal summary report prepared by the co-facilitators of the 2025 Ocean Dialogue, which summarizes the key discussions and outcomes under the three topics, can be found here. The case studies and good practices shared by Parties and observers during the Dialogue can be found here.
The 2026 Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue, held in conjunction with SBSTA 64, focused on three topics chosen in consultation with Parties and observers, namely Ocean-based priorities in Nationally Determined Contributions, means of implementation, and Ocean-climate-biodiversity synergies and international cooperation. The informal summary report of the 2026 Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue prepared by the co-facilitators summarizes discussions and key messages for consideration by Parties and observers as they prepare for the Conference of the Parties at its thirty-first session. The case studies and good practices shared by Parties and observers during the Dialogue can be found 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 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020 informal summary reports.
The UNFCCC secretariat continues to strengthen cooperation with UN agencies and relevant UN processes and initiatives to advance ocean-based climate action. Annex 2 of the 2026 Information Note prepared by the co-facilitators contains the recent updates from UN agencies on ocean-climate action.
For further information on ocean related matters, please contact: ocean@unfccc.int
