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PML endorses UN vision towards achieving the ‘race to zero’ in ocean and coastal zones
28 July 2021
“It is 2050 and the Ocean is thriving and abundant ... activities have made a significant contribution to successfully addressing four global emergencies: climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and the human health pandemic that humankind faced in the 2020s (COVID-19). Crucially, coastal communities have been protected from and have been provided the means to adapt to the worst consequences of climate change.” Extract from the Ocean & Coastal Zones – Climate Action Pathway 2021
As a contributing author, Plymouth Marine Laboratory is delighted to endorse the Ocean & Coastal Zones – Climate Action Pathway 2021 which captures the best thinking on how we will achieve critical breakthroughs in the Race to Zero in the coming decade and build a resilient, zero-carbon world in the 2040s. We welcome all planet Earth stakeholders to accelerate their global efforts to reach net zero emissions.
Launched at UN Climate Change meeting COP25 in 2019, Climate Action Pathways set out sectoral visions for striving for a 1.5° C resilient world by 2050, with overarching milestones, and key impacts that need to be achieved to realize them. The sectors for which pathways have been developed are: energy; cities and other human settlements; finance; industry; land use; transport; water; and resilience. Collectively, the pathways provide a blueprint to coordinate climate ambition among cities, regions, businesses and investors in the run up to the crucial UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in November in Glasgow.
The vision outlines a series of key enablers for scaling up ocean-based climate solutions including:
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Wide-ranging political and societal recognition of the vital role the ocean plays in both climate regulation, adaptation and mitigation;
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A subsequently sustainable and equitable well-managed ocean, aligned with climate goals and biodiversity targets, to provide the necessary space, regulatory frameworks and predictability for sustainable ocean activities;
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Increased public and private investments, including blended finance mechanisms in particular, to support developing countries to build strong sustainable blue economy strategies and adapt to climate change.
At the same time mitigation measures need to be identified and implemented urgently in coastal; areas as they are at the forefront of changing ocean conditions.
The Pathways are a vital part of the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action which, under the leadership of two High-Level Climate Champions, supports implementation of the Paris Agreement by enabling collaboration between governments and the cities, regions, businesses and investors that must act on climate change. Since adoption of the Paris Agreement, global climate action has been encouraged and facilitated under the banner of this Marrakech Partnership, which was agreed in Morocco at COP 22 and acknowledged at subsequent Conferences of the Parties.
The Partnership has three principal reporting and tracking vehicles for capturing the breadth of climate action globally: the Global Climate Action portal, the Yearbook of Global Climate Action and the Summary for Policy makers. The Pathways are produced under the leadership of the High-Level Climate Champions (Mr. Gonzalo Muñoz from Chile and Mr. Nigel Topping from the UK) and a periodical report is published on their and the Marrakech Partnership achievements.
Related information
For further information on the Ocean and Climate Pathway visit the UNFCCC website here