Our planet’s vast ocean, its natural ecosystems and economic sectors, provide key opportunities to support global efforts to combat climate change. Research commissioned by the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy found that full implementation of key ocean-based solutions in five sub-sectors (marine conservation, energy, transport, food and CCS) could reduce the emissions gap needed to limit temperature increase to 1.5°C by 21% annually by 2050.
In recent years, there has been a groundswell of momentum for these ocean-based climate solutions, including the Ocean for Climate Declaration, Rise Up – a Blue Call to Action, Because the Ocean Declarations, High Level Ocean Panel Call to Action, the Ocean Super Year Declaration, and the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People.
In addition to the increase in declarations, targets and pledges, what is needed now is the translation of this ambition into concrete action that delivers emissions reductions and increased resilience.
The Blue Breakthroughs: a direction of travel
At UNFCCC COP26, 42 world leaders endorsed the Breakthrough Agenda to rapidly scale up clean technologies in five economic sectors (Power, Road Transport, Steel, Hydrogen, and Agriculture) that collectively account for more than 50% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Implementation of the Breakthrough Agenda relies on increased collaboration between national governments and non-State actors towards specific milestones and targets, activating an “ambition loop” of climate action.
Using the Breakthrough Agenda as a framework and building on the United Nation Global Compact’s 5 Tipping Points for a Healthy and Productive Ocean, a set of five Blue Breakthroughs can be identified for ocean conservation, maritime transport, food from the ocean, renewable energy and coastal and marine tourism. Key to accelerating implementation of these ocean-based climate solutions is adequate and accessible public and private finance.
These Blue Breakthroughs are articulated in a new report along with highlights of non-State actor ambition towards each of the 2030 and 2050 goals, building from the Marrakesh Partnership Ocean Climate Pathway. Aggregating action towards each of the Blue Breakthroughs provides direction for investors and policymakers to enable the acceleration of ocean-based solutions. Together, non-State actor and government ambition towards each of these Blue Breakthroughs can create a Blue Ambition Loop that is fundamental to scalability and implementation.
In delivering ocean-based climate action, it is fundamental to simultaneously protect and restore the health of the ocean and its natural ecosystems. Climate change is a major driver of unprecedented biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, which in turn undermines the ocean’s ability to help mitigate climate change and to provide food and livelihoods to the coastal communities that rely on it.
The ocean is at the crossroads of all major challenges facing humanity today, and climate change and biodiversity loss are no exception. As these crises are so connected, the solutions must be as well. Across each of the Breakthroughs, impact on biodiversity is considered alongside impact on climate.
Tracking progress to drive implementation
To understand the current condition of non-State actor action, the Blue Ambition Loop report provides a snapshot of current targets, commitments or pledges from companies, organizations, NGOs and cities. It aims to raise awareness around the amount of non-state actor commitments and progress regarding ocean-based climate action ahead of key international political moments, including COP27, CBD COP 15, COP28, UNGA and annual ocean-climate dialogues. This report will serve as a basis for further development and stock taking exercise for non-state actor action across the Blue Breakthroughs in advance of the Global Stocktake in 2023.
As part of an ongoing series to support the Climate Champions’ Ocean Breakthroughs, the Edges of Earth expedition team spoke with Connie Crocker (Xwulslim). Connie shared her journey from a childhood immersed in fishing to leading efforts to restore vital kelp forests in British Columbia.
As part of an ongoing series to support the Climate Champions’ Ocean Breakthroughs, the Edges of Earth expedition team met with a woman whose family has been at the centre of Cabo Pulmo for generations —Judith Castro. During their conversation, Judith talked about how she has grown up alongside Cabo Pulmo, sharing the losses and the wins — and how she and her family transformed the oldest coral reef on the west coast of North America.
The Climate Champions are collaborating with the Edges of Earth expedition team, spotlighting local environmental champions around the planet to amplify the Ocean Breakthroughs via exclusively published content.
Discover the inspiring journey of Chuen in our latest Edges of Earth series, as she navigates the challenges of coastal tourism — one of five key sectors for the Ocean Breakthroughs — while upholding her deep commitment to community and nature.
