Climate change
COP29, the meeting of the group of 198 countries that have signed the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, took place in Baku in November. The focus of the meeting was finance and adaptation - the end result, an agreement to mobilise (but not actually distribute) an annual USD $300 billion, fell short of what is needed - an estimated USD $1.3 trillion - to address the effect of climate change on the planet. One achievement of the conference was the agreement on the framework rules and methodologies of a worldwide carbon market and trading system. From an ocean perspective, national delegations seemed to be recognizing the importance of the ocean in climate action, through solution-focused events and in finance negotiations.
According to the ocean and climate patform, in line with the conclusions of the 2024 Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue report, countries were encouraged to integrate ocean-based measures in their national climate strategies, supported by practical instruments such as the guidance tool to integrate responsible offshore wind measures and blue foods, together with initiatives like the Mangrove Breakthrough NDC Taskforce. Synergies were also the focus of various COP29 events, including one dedicated to the policy brief “Blue Thread: Aligning National Climate and Biodiversity Strategies”.
Looking ahead to COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025 (already being billed as the “nature COP”), in the interim period Parties to the Paris Agreement have to submit their NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions, each State’s emission reduction and climate change adaptation plans) by February 2025, allowing a clearer understanding of how many States are on track to meet the goals set down by the Paris Agreement.
Both the effect of climate change on the ocean and the important role the ocean plays in reducing the impact of climate change have now been recognised and included in climate discussions (although this took some time - see the ocean-climate nexus page for information thereto). A landmark Advisory Opinon on climate change delivered by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in May 2024 has also set a strong course for the ocean-climate nexus, confirming that greenhouse gas emissions fall under the definition of marine pollution laid down by the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea and that States are therefore under an obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment from their deleterious effects. More information thereto can be found here. During the course of 2025, the International Court of Justice will develop this further when it renders an Advisory Opinon on State obligations under international law to prevent climate change and damage to the environment and the legal consequences for States if they have made significant contributions to climate change and past environmental damage.
