Putting the ocean at the heart of climate solutions
The 27th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27), taking place from 6-18 November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, is an opportunity to catalyze ocean climate action up the political agenda and raise public awareness that we cannot tackle the climate emergency, without putting ocean protection at the heart of climate solutions.
What’s at stake?
Thousands of the world’s leading scientists at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) overwhelmingly conclude that if we don’t take immediate action to tackle the nature and climate crises together and reduce CO2 emissions, there will be disastrous and irreversible impacts on ocean life that threaten our own existence. A portfolio of ocean-climate solutions are scientifically proven to help address climate change, they are grossly underfunded, and yet central to adaptation, resilience and sustainable development.
Progress
COP26, in Glasgow in 2021, was a pivotal moment for the ocean. Recognition built since The Paris Agreement that ocean and climate are inseparable issues culminated in The Glasgow Climate Pact inviting UNFCCC workstreams and constituted bodies to consider how to integrate and strengthen ocean-based action. Critically the Pact set up an annual Ocean and Climate Dialogue to strengthen ocean-based action on climate change. The first of which took place in June 2022.
What now?
COP27, this November, is an opportunity to build on the progress made for the Ocean at COP26 in 2021. The OneOcean Flotilla can raise its collective voice again to get the delegates to #ListenToTheOcean and reflect its critical role in their decisions.
We are committed to working with OneOcean Flotilla Members and joining forces with partners to call on decision makers to:
Get Involved
1. Amplify
To ensure the ocean is taken seriously at COP27 and that world leaders hear our calls, we need the ocean community and the public to be resoundingly amplifying the same messages.
Send a clear message to world leaders at COP27 that they must take the ocean seriously if we are to solve the climate crisis.
The COP27 Nature Positive campaign messaging will be shared from the OneOcean social media channels – please follow @OceanFlotilla, like, comment and share content.
2. Use Impactful Ocean Visuals
The Ocean Visuals open call for photography, held in September, has created a new evidence-based collection of impactful and truly diverse ocean and coastal climate imagery. 93 evidence based photographs have been selected by an independent jury and they are now freely available to the media, non-profits, campaigners and educators. The Ocean Visuals collection was released on 26th October. Visit climatevisuals.org for more information.
Stay tuned for updates on how to take action as a OneOcean Flotilla Member and get in touch to let us know what your COP27 plans are.