COP30

Ten years on from the adoption of the Paris Agreement, the world met once again to discuss and agree next steps for global climate change challenges and solutions.  

As the world’s largest carbon sink, the ocean holds powerful solutions to the climate crisis. The ocean is the Earth’s unsung hero – regulating our climate, giving us the oxygen we breathe and absorbing much of the heat trapped by greenhouse gases. But this buffering comes at a cost and our life support system is now under immense strain as the climate crisis accelerates.

To protect the ocean and its essential ecosystem services, governments must deliver on their commitment under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to protect at least 30% by 2030 (30×30). 

30×30 is ocean action for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Ocean-based climate action, ready for implementation today, could deliver up to 35% of annual greenhouse gas emission cuts needed by 2050 to limit warming to 1.5°C and protecting the ocean helps keep carbon stored, life in the water, and strength in our coasts. Securing 30×30 in the ocean could also unlock around $85 billion per year by 2050 in avoided costs and annual returns from just three key benefits alone: preserving natural coastal defences, avoiding carbon emissions from seagrass loss, and restoring overexploited fisheries.

Momentum is growing and the links between the ocean, climate and biodiversity are increasingly recognized across global processes. As the world gathers for COP30 in Brazil, leaders have a historic opportunity to act on this understanding and embed ocean-based solutions within climate strategies, from emissions reduction to adaptation finance.

TOGETHER FOR THE OCEAN AT COP30

The ocean community and partners of Together for the Ocean worked with the Activation Groups and Ocean Breakthroughs to drive meaningful progress at COP30.

COP30 Action Agenda

The COP30 Action Agenda included a dedicated objective (7) on preserving and restoring oceans and coastal ecosystems, designed to foster the sharing and implementation of solutions.

Partners of Together for the Ocean supported the Action Agenda and showcasing practical, on-the-ground projects that demonstrate how ocean action delivers for the climate, nature and economies.

The Ocean Breakthroughs

The Ocean Breakthroughs are science-based, transformative pathways across five sectors, outlining tipping points and targets for 2030 to help address climate change. Altogether, they could contribute to cutting 35% of global emissions.

Launched under the Marrakech Partnership on Ocean & Coastal Zones in 2023, with support from the UN High-Level Champions, they aim to support the 2026 Global Stocktake and drive political action for ocean-based climate solutions.

COP30 OCEAN EVENTS