A healthy ocean is a protected climate

In  the context of  the  upcoming  COP21, several representatives  of  civil society and of  the research community assembled to create the Ocean and Climate Platform, officially launched in June 2014. The Platform aims not only to contribute to the general mobilization for a universal, ambitious and binding climate agreement, but also  to ensure that the ocean is fully taken into account in the future climate regime. The ocean is a key component of the climate machine. Its degradation has  a direct impact on climate, and climate change affects in turn  marine and coastal environments and their dependant populations.

OCEAN AND CLIMATE PLATFORM ADVOCACY

As COP21 is set to create a momentum for new climate commitments, the Ocean and Climate Platform presents the following policy recommendations to ensure that issues  related to ocean and coastal zones are taken into account in the climate negotiations. An ambitious Paris Agreement is essential to maintaining the ocean healthy, but a truly effective agreement must be complemented by specific measures enabling the ocean to fulfill its essential functions in the climate system. These measures include mitigation, adaptation, science and financing.

I. Mitigation: reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve marine ecosystems

It is essential for the ocean that the Paris negotiations yield an agreement to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) to limit warming below 2 degrees C by the end of the century in accordance with the objectives set out at the Copenhagen Conference in 2009 and adopted in Cancun in 2010. The reduction of carbon dioxide (CO ) is also indispensable to limit acidification, which constitutes a major threat to the ocean. Specific measures targetting ocean  and maritime activities can also contribute to reducing GHG emissions. To this end, it is urgent to:

• Strengthen the ocean’s mitigation capacity by protecting marine ecosystems
• Develop marine renewable energy (MRE) while preserving marine biodiversity
• Reduce maritime transport emissions by developing innovative solutions

II. Adaptation: develop strategies of adaptation for ecosystems and the most vulnerable populations

The  risks and  vulnerabilities related  to the impact of  climate change on the ocean are already visible and increasing. Adaptation measures are therefore necessary to protect property and the most vulnerable populations, especially in island states and territories, and in developing countries.

III. Science: promote research and disseminate scientific knowledge about ocean-climate interactions

In order to implement relevant and effective strategies for mitigation and adaptation, we must increase scientific knowledge and effectively disseminate findings among political and decision makers. It is essential to:

• Develop the means  necessary  for research: research vessels and related equipment, technologies and databases, participatory science, etc.
• Improve  existing ocean observation  systems to better assess the impacts of climate change by  developping  integrated data  networks  on acidification, warming and oxygen depletion of  the ocean.
• Support  the strengthening of technical and scientific capacity   in developing  countries through the transfer of  technology and knowledge, development of research capacity, data access, and the establishment of observation systems.
• Support monaco’s proposal submitted to the ipcc in february 2015 to elaborate a special report on the ocean that would provide policy makers with a strong scientific foundation to implement solutions.

IV. Financing: earmark specific funding for the ocean

The first priority is to hold on to and achieve the goal of mobilizing $100  billion per  year for the Green Climate Fund  by 2020.  A significant share of these funds should be allocated to finance adaptation measures. Climate financing must also  support ocean-based mitigation and adaptation actions.

In conclusion, The Ocean and Climate Platform calls for:

The State Parties of the UNFCCC to:

• Adopt a universal, ambitious and binding agreement at the COP21.
• Integrate a review mechanism in the agreement to review and strengthen national contributions by 2020, within the 2°C warming ceiling, or even 1.5° C.
• Incorporate mitigation and adaptation solutions linked to the ocean in the implementation of the Paris Agreement as well as dedicated financing, in particular concerning ecosystem-based solutions.
• Allocate a part of the Green Climate Fund  to marine and coastal projects for adaptation and mitigation, and especially for conservation and restoration of the most vulnerable ecosystems.
• Set   up  procedures to  ensure the  transfer of technology and capacity development.
• Encourage coordination of   the  UNFCCC with ocean-related  conventions and agreements, especially the  Sustainable Development  Goal14  on oceans, seas and marine resources,  the 14 on oceans, seas and marine resources, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Convention  on Biological Diversity  and the Regional Seas Conventions.

All stakeholders  involved the implementation of the future climate regime to

• Recognize the role   of   marine and coastal ecosystems as natural carbon sinks.
• Accelerate the implementation of   a global, coherent and representative network of resilient Marine Protected Areas, and take into consideration the importance of healthy ecosystems to reduce vulnerability and increase natural resilience to the effects of climate change.
• Develop MRE while preserving marine biodiversity;
• Reduce maritime transport emissions and develop innovative solutions in the shipping sector.
• Strengthen international scientific research on ocean and climate, and   support Monaco’s proposal to elaborate an IPCC Special Report on the ocean.
• Prioritize support for adaptation measures in the most vulnerable regions, particularly the coastal areas of developing countries and Small Island States.