Montreal, a city that links rivers, lakes, land and sea, is a fitting location for humanity to agree a new plan to live in harmony with nature. And that’s exactly what needs to happen at the COP15 UN Biodiversity Conference – aka the Nature COP – from 7-19 December. It’s a landmark moment years in the making and on the table is a Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework to set transformative new goals and targets to confront the nature crisis.
But as thousands of government representatives, experts and stakeholders gather in Montreal, it’s vital that one voice is not forgotten: the ocean.
We need the ocean in the room at COP15 because we are nothing without it. Without the oxygen, water, weather control, and carbon cycling the ocean provides there would be no life on Earth today, and if we don’t protect the health of our greatest climate ally there’ll be no chance of living in harmony with nature in the future. Yet, all too often, the ocean is overlooked and neglected.
That’s why we’re inviting you to pull the ocean into COP15 and bring people together to be The Ocean In The Room where decisions about our blue planet are taken. We’ll remind decision-makers at the Nature COP that nature is also blue by wearing a strip of blue fabric, becoming part of a Blue Thread of ocean affirmation running through every room at COP15 and beyond. Not attending COP15? You can be the #OceanInTheRoom online. Visit oceanintheroom.org to take action.
Because one of the most important decisions our governments need to take in Montreal is to confirm the global target to protect at least 30% of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030. This 30×30 goal is the cornerstone of our new deal for nature, and over 100 countries officially support it in a High Ambition Coalition, but it’s far from guaranteed. Just days before COP15, and after years of fierce negotiations, the draft global framework is still littered with brackets – including the section on the 30×30 target.
We need you to be The Ocean In The Room online and offline to make sure the 30×30 target – including specific commitments to protect 30% of both land and ocean by 2030 – is adopted in Montreal. The ocean upholds the fabric of our lives, we cannot allow the target to protect it to unravel.
It’s time to wear a strip of blue fabric close to our hearts for the blue heart of our planet and weave a strong Blue Thread into our global plan for a nature positive future.
Be the #OceanInTheRoom today and always.