Countries Push for Ocean Protection Commitments at UN COP31 Summit

International Push for Ocean Protection at UN Climate Summit Faces Financial Challenges

The world’s oceans, crucial in absorbing carbon emissions, are under threat as temperatures soar to unprecedented levels. This alarming trend has spurred several nations to demand that the upcoming UN COP31 summit prioritize marine ecosystem protection. However, the success of these initiatives may be jeopardized by dwindling climate finance resources.

Historically sidelined, ocean-related discussions at UN climate summits have been informal. Now, African nations, the European Union, certain Latin American countries, and small island states are advocating for the integration of ocean protection into the summit’s formal decisions.

In response, COP31 co-presidents Türkiye and Australia are spearheading a voluntary ocean roadmap, which is expected to outline both regional and global measures to protect the oceans and the climate. This initiative aims to convert the outcomes of informal UN ocean dialogues into actionable climate policy.

In September, Türkiye will host a pivotal meeting with over 25 ministers from diverse regions, including Asia-Pacific and Latin America, to discuss the implementation of these ocean protection recommendations in global climate policy frameworks.

According to Whitney Berry, associate director of climate policy at Ocean Conservancy, even a non-binding “multi-year” plan could steer the UN’s ocean dialogues toward more definitive outcomes. “If this plan informed the following dialogues and made sure they were aligned with the Paris [Agreement] ambition cycle, including opportunities like the Global Stocktake, we’d have such a strengthened opportunity for ocean integration,” Berry noted.

Addressing Record-High Ocean Temperatures

This year’s ocean temperatures reached an unparalleled peak in July, exacerbated by a projected “super El Niño,” as reported by EU and US monitoring agencies. This climatic anomaly threatens the survival of critical marine species such as corals and sponges.

John Bruno, a marine ecologist at the University of North Carolina, emphasized that certain marine life, including coral reefs, can withstand only a 1-degree Celsius temperature rise before suffering adverse health effects. In certain areas like the Mediterranean, marine heatwaves have led to temperature surges of up to 6C.

In light of these challenges, over 150 scientists have appealed to the COP31 leaders from Türkiye and Australia to quickly integrate ocean priorities into climate negotiation texts concerning mitigation, adaptation, and finance.

Rethinking Ocean Negotiations at COP

While the idea of integrating ocean-based actions into climate negotiations was agreed upon during COP26 in Glasgow, the current informal nature of the Ocean and Climate Dialogue has yet to produce binding agreements. Jonathan Baines, ocean program manager at WRI, suggests that while the informal setup allows for flexible discussions, its results have not been fully utilized in formal climate negotiations.

In preparation for COP31, several countries have called for the development of a structured roadmap to guide future discussions and integrate them into official negotiations. The African Group of Negotiators and the EU have endorsed this approach, while other regions support the idea of incorporating dialogue outcomes into negotiations.

Challenges with Climate Finance

Despite the growing need for ocean-based conservation and clean energy projects, experts predict that securing additional funding at COP31 will be challenging due to shrinking aid budgets from developed countries.

Historically, funding for ocean-related initiatives has been minimal, representing only 0.8% to 1.4% of total overseas development assistance, as per the OECD.

Berry points to the upcoming meeting of the UN climate convention’s Standing Committee on Finance as a potential opportunity to expand available climate funds. “We haven’t had a focused conversation on ocean climate finance before from the UN climate process,” she stated. “If they can clarify those financing pathways specific to ocean climate action and help provide the necessary support for countries to translate commitments into projects, that will be a real benefit.”