Featured: Read the new Blue Paper: ‘Co-producing Sustainable Ocean Plans with Indigenous and traditional knowledge holders’ Arrow Featured: Ocean Panel announces the ‘100% Alliance’, a new campaign that calls on all ocean and coastal states to commit to 100% sustainable ocean management. Arrow Featured: The Ocean Panel publishes its second progress report. Arrow Featured: Leaders Call for All Ocean States to Join Alliance For 100% Sustainable Ocean Management; Welcomes UAE as Newest Member Arrow

Climate

The ocean is a solution to climate change.

For decades, the ocean has buffered the planet from the negative effects of excess greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and this has taken a toll on the ocean’s health.

It was once thought the ocean was too big to fail—but, in reality, it is too big to ignore. We now know that not only do human actions impact the ocean, but that they can also play a much bigger role in combatting climate change.

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Ocean health and the livelihoods and economies that depend on it require the world to urgently reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The only way we can achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement is through greater climate action by all countries. Ocean-based climate solutions can deliver up to 35% of the annual greenhouse gas emission cuts needed in 2050 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

These solutions include:

  • Scaling ocean-based renewable energy
  • Decarbonising ocean-based transport
  • Conserving and restoring coastal and marine ecosystems
  • Utilising low carbon food from the ocean
  • Developing marine carbon dioxide removal and carbon capture and storage under the seabed
  • Decarbonising ocean-based tourism
  • Reducing offshore oil and gas

In 2019, Ocean Panel launched a ‘Call to Ocean-Based Climate Action’ at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York to outline a pathway towards greater action on ocean-based climate solutions.

While significant global progress has been made, the latest IPCC reports emphasise the gap that remains between ambition and action.

The Ocean Panel remains committed to ocean-based climate action and urges all actors to join them in advancing ambitious ocean-based solutions to support global efforts to urgently reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Ocean Panel leaders discuss the value of ocean-climate solutions in tackling climate change.

Featured Resources

Full Report
Summary
Accelerating Ocean Climate Action Booklet
Full Report
Summary
Call to Action
Statement

Recent News

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11/12/2024

Events to watch out for at COP29

Countries, NGOs and representatives from the private sector will come together in Baku for UNFCCC COP29 under the presidency of Azerbaijan, marking a critical milestone in the year for climate negotiations and campaigns. Finance will…
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09/25/2024

Ocean Panel 2024 Annual Leaders’ Communiqué

We, the members of the Ocean Panel, are working collectively to protect the ocean’s health, unlock economic opportunities and empower communities. The health of the ocean is in a state of emergency and urgent action…
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09/25/2024

Leaders Call for All Ocean States to Join Alliance For 100% Sustainable Ocean Management; Welcomes UAE as Newest Member

NEW YORK (September 25, 2024) - Today, at the United Nations (UN) in New York City, world leaders and representatives from the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel) officially launched the…
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06/03/2024

USA Confirms Sustainable Ocean Plan

Washington DC, USA – 3 June 2024  The White House has released three new strategies to advance sustainable ocean management, including a National Strategy for A Sustainable Ocean Economy.  This will serve as the USA’s…
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05/16/2024

Ocean Panel representatives visit the Elysée in Paris

PARIS (16 May, 2024) - The Ocean Panel Sherpa group, representing 18 member countries, and 50% of global coastlines, convened at the office of the French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss key priorities for the…
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12/14/2023

Top Ocean Moments at COP28

COP28 negotiations in Dubai ended early on the morning of 13 December, as countries agreed on a new deal to tackle climate change. For the first time, fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) are mentioned…
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12/05/2023

New Green Shipping Challenge Announcements made at COP28

Last year at COP27, two members of the Ocean Panel, Norway and the USA launched a new initiative to cut greenhouse gas emissions from shipping and challenged other countries, ports and companies to join them.  One…
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12/04/2023

Ocean Panel Calls for Nations to Adopt 100% Sustainable Ocean Management Target

DUBAI (December 2, 2023) — On December 2, the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel) launched the Joint Declaration on Ocean and Climate Action, calling for countries around the world to sustainably…
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12/02/2023

Joint declaration on ocean and climate action

The health of the ocean, and the livelihoods and economies that depend on it, requires the world to urgently reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Achieving this goal…
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11/30/2023

10 ocean events to watch out for at COP28

This year’s COP offers a unique and historic opportunity to correct the course on climate change through the first-ever “Global Stocktake”, shining a spotlight on whether the world is doing enough to curb emissions, build…
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Publications

Co-producing Sustainable Ocean Plans with Indigenous and traditional knowledge holders

Launched at COP16 In Cali, Colombia in 2024, this Blue Paper, 'Co-producing Sustainable Ocean Plans...

How can a healthy ocean improve human health and enhance wellbeing on a rapidly changing planet?

However far we live from it, a healthy ocean is imperative to human health, from...

Tracking Blue: From Ambition to Action for a Sustainable Ocean Economy

The First Progress Report from The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy In...

Opportunities for Transforming Coastal and Marine Tourism: Towards Sustainability, Regeneration and Resilience

In December 2020, the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel) released...

The Ocean as a Solution to Climate Change: Updated Opportunities for Action

The ocean regulates our climate and can significantly buffer the worst impacts of climate change,...

100% Sustainable Ocean Management: An Introduction to Sustainable Ocean Plans

In 2020, the members of the Ocean Panel announced their shared ambition to sustainably manage...
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