PML at COP28, the UN Climate Change Meeting

Multiple Threats to Polar Oceans

The Arctic and Southern Oceans are crucial components of the Earth system. Their unique ecosystems are under serious threat from warming, acidification, freshening and ice loss. Polar oceans already experience change, with extreme events occurring more frequently, leading to range shifts, changes in food webs, ecosystems, fisheries, and climate regulation. This session provides a platform for these lesser known, but highly globally relevant issues, highlighting the latest science and discussing the wider societal and political implications. Ultimately showing and engaging with the audience on why polar ocean change needs to be further considered in the GST and providing evidence for the need to urgently raise ambition for reducing emissions.

The event will include high level interventions, personal experiences and messages across the age spectrum and give examples of collaborative undertakings at various levels that may be applicable to the ABNJ as well as discussing next steps as countries begin to ratify and implement the BBNJ agreement. The session will review the role and success of this COP28 Virtual Ocean Pavilion in engaging and reaching out to those not able to attend COP28 in person, indeed in its role of democratizing the ocean at COP28 and promoting unity and inclusivity.