As the ocean-climate-biodiversity nexus gains more recognition in international fora, this side event will examine how UN-Oceans can assist States in leveraging opportunities for synergies across frameworks and instruments, address interrelated challenges, and achieve sustainable development.
The ocean is a vital component of the climate system and a key part of climate solutions. It regulates global temperatures and absorbs around 30% of the carbon dioxide produced by human activities. Marine ecosystems play a crucial role in maintaining climate stability and supporting the global carbon cycle, but are impacted by changes in climate. Blue carbon habitats store carbon and support marine life by providing key breeding and feeding grounds. As one of the planet’s richest reservoirs of biodiversity and largest carbon sink, the ocean is home to an estimated 500,000 to 10 million species, many of which remain to be classified. In addition, ocean-based activities are essential to achieve sustainable development and key to effective climate change adaptation and mitigation action.
The interlinkages between the ocean, climate and biodiversity are increasingly mainstreamed in global policy, legal instruments and frameworks and multilateral processes. Actions that leverage these interlinkages between existing instruments and frameworks, such as the BBNJ Agreement and the Paris Agreement, are critical to maximize impact, avoid duplication of efforts, and ensure coherent, effective responses to the challenges of the triple planetary crisis.
This side event aims to explore how UN-Oceans, an interagency mechanism for cooperation on ocean and coastal matters, through its members, can support States in leveraging these synergies, including through capacity-building activities.
