Information on - Informal meeting on the summary report of the ocean and climate dialogue convened by the co-facilitators at COP 28
The ocean is a fundamental part of the climate system and the global response to climate change. The global ocean covers 71% of the surface of our blue planet. It has long taken the brunt of the impact of human-made global heating. It has absorbed about 90% of the heat generated by rising greenhouse gas emissions trapped in the Earth’s system and taken in about 25% of carbon emissions, causing devastating impacts and increasing risks on ocean and coastal life and coastal communities’ lives and livelihoods.
Parties to the UNFCCC have recognized the importance of protecting the ocean and its ecosystems in the Convention and Paris Agreement:
- In the Convention Parties agreed to protect the climate system (Article 2), defined as the totality of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and geosphere and their interactions (Article 1.3);
- In the Paris Agreement, Parties noted the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems, including oceans, and the protection of biodiversity, recognized by some cultures as Mother Earth.
However, it was not until COP 25, the Chile Madrid Time for Action 2019, governments recognized the need to strengthen the understanding of, and action on, ocean and climate change under the UNFCCC. COP25 mandated the first Ocean and climate change dialogue, drawing upon the knowledge and scientific findings from the IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a changing climate
At COP 26, in the Glasgow Climate Pact 2021 (Decision 1/CP.26 paras. 60-61), building on the outcomes of the first ocean and climate change dialogue in 2020, governments permanently anchored the inclusion of strengthened ocean-based action under the UNFCCC multilateral process.
COP 27/CMA 4, in 2022, the COP Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan (Decision 1/CP.27 para. 50) and CMA Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan (Decision 1/CMA.4 para. 79) continued to strengthen ocean-based action under the process and encouraged Parties to consider, as appropriate, ocean-based action in their national climate goals and in the implementation of these goals, including but not limited to nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies and adaptation communications.
In decision 1/CP.27, the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan, Parties decided that the annual ocean and climate change dialogues will, from 2023, be facilitated by two co-facilitators, selected by Parties biennially, who will be responsible for deciding the topics for and conducting the dialogue, in consultation with Parties and observers, and preparing an informal summary report to be presented in conjunction with the subsequent session of the Conference of the Parties. Mr. Julio Cordano (Chile), and Niall O'Dea (Canada) are the ocean and climate dialogue co-facilitators for the biennium 2023-24.
The Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue 2023 was aimed at strengthening ocean-climate action at national level and under the UNFCCC process and focused on the topics of Coastal ecosystem restoration including blue carbon and Fisheries and food security.
Read the Informal summary report by the co-facilitators of the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue 2023–2024 here
For further information, contact ocean@unfccc.int
