Key Impact Points:
- Ocean-based climate solutions remain underrepresented at COP29 despite their critical role as the world’s largest carbon sink.
- 73% of coastal and island nations include at least one ocean-based climate action in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), but advocates stress the need for more measurable, fundable initiatives.
- Financing remains a significant barrier, with calls to supercharge funding for renewable ocean energy and ecosystem restoration projects.
Marine Issues: Slow Progress at COP29
The ocean, as the planet’s largest carbon sink, plays a pivotal role in mitigating climate change, yet it remains on the sidelines of global climate discussions. While the COP29 conference in Baku is dubbed the “finance COP,” marine climate solutions are notably absent from formal negotiations.
At the Ocean Pavilion—a COP29 side event—panels are discussing topics like marine carbon dioxide removal and sustainable ocean finance. Advocates hope these discussions will lead to tangible actions, especially through updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) due in 2025.
Ocean and Climate: The Path Forward
Co-facilitator Niall O’Dea stated: “Blue carbon ecosystems, renewable ocean energy, and advanced ocean technologies are key to scaling ocean-based solutions but require sustainable financing and capacity-building support to maximize their potential.”
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Calls for Inclusion in NDCs
A 2023 UN report found that 73% of coastal and island nations include at least one ocean-based measure in their NDCs. However, many initiatives lack specificity or measurable goals.
Karen Sack, executive director of the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance, explained: “We are increasingly seeing countries include ocean-related issues and coastal resilience into their NDCs, but it is still not high enough on the international agenda.”
Ocean advocates are pushing for measurable actions such as mangrove restoration or tidal energy systems to make ocean-based solutions eligible for financing.
Bridging the Financing Gap
Despite progress, financing remains a hurdle. Anna-Marie Laura of the Ocean Conservancy emphasized the potential of offshore wind energy: “The restoration of [coastal] habitats absolutely is a solution but some of the most important solutions on the mitigation side are yet to be recognized in the way that we hope they could be.”
Sack underscored the urgency of scaling up funding: “The bottom line is we don’t really have time to negotiate for the next 10 years as to what the key words are that recognize the ocean as a climate solution.”
By focusing on expanding marine solutions in NDCs and securing funding for actionable projects, advocates aim to elevate the ocean’s role in combating climate change beyond the limited discussions of COP29.
Related Article: COP29: What’s at Stake Now
