I’ve spent most of this year on the road, from ocean summits in Nice and Busan, to climate talks in Bonn, working to ensure that ocean-based climate solutions, including marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR), get the attention they merit as part of the global ocean and climate agendas. At Ocean Visions, we are focused on advancing science-based innovation, strengthening legal and policy coherence, and mobilizing sustainable financing to address the growing threats facing our ocean. Staying engaged in international conversations is essential to driving this work forward.
Leonardo Valenzuela Pérez, Ph.D.,
Director of International Partnerships
Here’s a look at what we’ve been seeing in recent months:
- There is growing recognition of the role of the ocean in climate action and solutions. Sea-level rise, warming waters, acidification, and biodiversity loss are increasingly no longer treated as side issues. This opens the door for more serious conversations about potential solutions, from restoring marine ecosystems to advancing research for marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) pathways.
- We’re seeing calls for policy coherence. The lack of coordination among international agreements on climate, oceans, and biodiversity is seen as a factor that weakens their ability to deliver on their goals. Aligning these systems is essential to promoting synergies and accelerating our understanding of viable solutions.
- Marine carbon dioxide removal is gaining traction. There’s increasing acknowledgment that carbon removal will be necessary to meet the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement and that the ocean has a critical role to play. Scientific bodies and global panels are now issuing guidance to shape public investment, policy frameworks, and environmental safeguards.
- Legal systems are beginning to catch up. One of the most important recent developments came from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which affirmed that a stable climate is a human right, and that restoring damaged ecosystems is a legal obligation for states. This follows earlier rulings recognizing that greenhouse gases pollute the ocean and that countries are legally obligated to stop and reverse that damage.
- Significant gaps remain in ocean financing. Governments, philanthropies, and private sector players are stepping up, but the scale of investment remains inadequate. The Blue Economy and Finance Forum focused on closing the gap in ocean finance but falls far short of the estimated $175 billion required annually for a sustainable blue economy.
- Coastal resilience is firmly on the agenda. At events like the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Summit, the message was clear: sea-level rise is accelerating, and we need better integrated plans and long-term funding to strengthen the capacity of coastal communities to adapt and respond with more effective strategies.
What Comes Next
As the world reaches the halfway point to the 2030 targets, COP30, set for this November in Brazil, offers a critical opportunity to strengthen global climate action in response to the latest stocktake and in light of the updated NDCs. Ocean Visions is focusing its efforts on five key areas:
- Promote Policy Coherence: Continue advocating for alignment across international treaties to accelerate and scale ocean-based climate solutions research.
- Champion Ecosystem Restoration: Highlight the importance of protecting, restoring, and repairing critical marine ecosystems to ensure climate stability.
- Advance Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR): Support responsible mCDR research, together with public sector leadership, while working on pathways for its integration into long-term climate strategies.
- Mobilize Ocean Finance: Push for greater investment, innovative financing, and equitable access to fund ocean-based climate solutions.
- Support Collaborative Action: Contribute to the COP30 action agenda by offering a concrete portfolio of solutions to support national and global ambition.
The need for action is immediate. Climate disruption is the top threat to our ocean but working together with coordination across borders and sectors, we can accelerate the development of solutions that can help stabilize the climate and restore the ocean. We’re thankful to the broader ocean-climate community, including researchers, leaders, and partners, for their ongoing collaboration and commitment.