COP26: Connecting Our Ocean, Biodiversity, and Climate

As world leaders, scientists, conservationists, and others gather for the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Glasgow, the need to tackle the interconnected crises of climate change and biodiversity loss will take center stage.

Our ocean – which plays a vital role in regulating the global climate and supporting all life on the planet – should be a key element of these discussions. A growing body of research highlights the importance of marine conservation efforts in adapting and building resilience to the effects of climate change. For example, studies show that well-managed protected areas that are designed and implemented in full partnership with—and respect the rights of—Indigenous peoples and local communities can help people and wildlife adapt and build resilience to a warming world.

Over the past year, global momentum has grown in support of a science-based target of protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030, within marine protected areas (MPAs) and other effective area-based conservation measures. Combined with effective and well-managed implementation, these tools can help the ocean be more resilient, and help biodiversity and communities thrive. More than 100 countries now publicly support the marine goal—most notably through the Global Ocean Alliance and the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People.

These objectives are underpinned by scientific studies showing the need for urgent action to reverse biodiversity decline, restore ecosystems, and stabilize the climate so that people and wildlife can continue to thrive on Earth. According to the Marine Protection Atlas, less than about 8% of the global ocean is currently protected, the vast majority of which is within marine protected areas. Only 2.7% of these areas are fully protected, while others permit various activities, including fishing by Indigenous peoples and sustainable commercial extraction. 

Nature-based solutions – like marine conservation – cannot address climate change or biodiversity loss alone. But they can—and should—be among the actions that governments take moving forward. And, as the connections between our global ocean and the climate only grow clearer by the day, so is the need for bold and urgent action to tackle the growing threats facing both. COP26 provides a chance for leaders around the globe to recognize the urgent need for action to ensure a stable and livable future for people and nature.

Looking ahead, leaders should heed the science-based call for protecting at least 30% of the ocean to maintain function in the face of a changing climate – a target that should be adopted at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Kunming, China next spring.