Featured: Ocean Action welcomes UNCDF and OceanMind to coalition Arrow Featured: New member announcement: Brazil joins the Ocean Panel Arrow Featured: Explore: Ocean events to watch out for at COP30 Arrow Featured: Students at California Institute of the Arts create exhibition ‘Blue Echo’ around Ocean Panel research Arrow Featured: Canada hosts workshop on 100% Sustainable Ocean Management at 2025 Osaka World Expo in Japan Arrow Featured: Ocean Panel Leaders publish Communiqué at 2025 UN General Assembly 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
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Full Report
Summary
Call to Action
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Statement
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Recent News

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11/20/2025

Ghana Publishes Sustainable Ocean Plan

The SOP establishes an overarching framework to guide the sustainable management and long-term stewardship of Ghana’s marine and coastal environments and is structured around six strategic pillars: ocean wealth, ocean health, ocean knowledge, ocean equity, ocean finance and maritime security.…
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11/18/2025

Ocean Action 2030 welcomes new members, UN Capital Development Fund and OceanMind

These organisations will significantly expand Ocean Action 2030’s ability to support countries in both the financing and implementation of Sustainable Ocean Plans – a critical step to building a sustainable ocean economy and delivering real…
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11/18/2025

RELEASE: Brazil Pledges 100% Sustainable Management of National Waters by 2030, Joins the Ocean Panel at COP30

Belém, Brazil (November 18, 2025) – Today at COP30 in Belém, Brazil announced a landmark commitment to sustainably manage all 3.68 million km² of its national waters by 2030. Joining the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel) as its nineteenth member, Brazil brings important leadership and momentum…
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11/14/2025

Ocean events to watch out for at COP30

Week 2 at COP30 in Belem, Brazil will have a strong focus on the ocean. In the official programme, November 17 and 18 will elevate “both planetary and community stewardship - centering on Forests, Oceans, and Biodiversity”. Meanwhile the Ocean Pavilion will…
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10/13/2025

Blue Echo Exhibition: Emerging Artists Reimagine our Relationship with the Ocean

Los Angeles, USA, October 10, 2025 In a new exhibition, students from California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) invite audiences to listen, feel, and reflect on issues facing the ocean. Blue Echo brings the work…
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10/08/2025

Championing the 100% Alliance and Sustainable Ocean Management at Expo 2025, Osaka

Osaka, Japan, October 4, 2025 - At Expo 2025 Osaka, the Ocean Panel Secretariat (based at WRI), in partnership with the Canada Pavilion and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, organised a workshop championing the 100% Alliance, a global coalition of countries…
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09/24/2025

Ocean Panel 2025 Annual Leaders’ Communiqué

Accelerating Action for a Sustainable Ocean Economy  In the face of accelerating ocean degradation and mounting global challenges, we, the members of the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy* (Ocean Panel), reaffirm our…
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09/24/2025

Ocean Panel Global Ocean Observation Statement

Building a sustainable ocean economy is dependent on sustained, coordinated ocean data. The OECD’s recent report on “The Ocean Economy to 2050” underscores the critical role of ocean observation in fostering a sustainable and prosperous…
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07/17/2025

Matt Frost appointed as Expert Group Co-Lead

As Head of the International Office at Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and with more than two decades of experience bridging marine science and international policy, Professor Frost brings a unique blend of research excellence, global…
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06/26/2025

London Climate Action Week – ‘The Ocean as a Solution to Climate Change’

London, 23 June 2025  As part of London Climate Action Week 2025, a dedicated event was held to focus on the pivotal role the ocean can play in addressing climate change, using the findings from…
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Publications

Handbook on Sustainable Ocean Plans

The ‘Handbook on Sustainable Ocean Plans: A Practitioners’ Guide’ provides a practical framework to help...

Ocean Finance for the Sustainable Ocean Economy

Launched 6 June 2025, the working paper 'Ocean Finance for the Sustainable Ocean Economy' presents...

Principles for responsible and effective marine carbon dioxide removal development and governance

Launched on June 4, 2025, at the One Ocean Science Congress in Nice, France, ahead...

The Future of the Workforce in a Sustainable Ocean Economy 

This Blue Paper was commissioned by the Ocean Panel to provide a glimpse of what...

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...
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