Parties to the UNFCCC have recognized the importance of protecting the ocean and its ecosystems in the Convention and Paris Agreement:

            - In the Convention Parties agreed to protect the climate system (Article 2), defined as the totality of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and geosphere and their interactions (Article 1.3);

            - In the Paris Agreement, Parties noted the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems, including oceans, and the protection of  biodiversity, recognized by some cultures as Mother Earth.

However, it was not until COP 25, the Chile Madrid Time for Action 2019, governments recognized the need to strengthen the understanding of, and action on, ocean and climate change under the UNFCCC. COP25 mandated the first Ocean and climate change dialogue, drawing upon the knowledge and scientific findings from the IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a changing climate.

At COP 26, in the Glasgow Climate Pact 2021, building on the outcomes of the first ocean and climate change dialogue, governments permanently anchored the inclusion of strengthened ocean-based action under the UNFCCC multilateral process. Parties:  

            - Noted the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems, including forests, the ocean and the cryosphere, and the protection of  biodiversity (preamble);

            - Emphasized the importance of protecting, conserving and restoring nature and ecosystems, including forests and other terrestrial and marine ecosystems, to achieve the long-term global goal of the Convention by acting as sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases and protecting biodiversity, while ensuring social and environmental safeguards (para 2);

            - Recognized the importance of protecting, conserving and restoring ecosystems to deliver crucial services, including acting as sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases, reducing vulnerability to climate change impacts and supporting sustainable livelihoods, including for indigenous peoples and local communities (para 50);

            - Invited the relevant work programmes and constituted bodies under the UNFCCC to consider how to integrate and strengthen ocean-based action in their existing mandates and workplans and to report on these activities within the existing reporting processes, as appropriate (para 60);

            - Invited the SBSTA Chair to hold an annual Ocean and climate change dialogue, and prepare an informal summary report that is made available to the COP at each subsequent session (para 61).

Summary report, video, and UNFCCC article on the outcomes of the ocean and climate change dialogue 2022

Key messages coming out of the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue event in Bonn at SBSTA 56, June 2022:

1. We must protect our ocean AND value its potential as a place for sustainable climate solutions and action

2. Ocean-based measures offer significant mitigation and adaptation options

3. The ocean offers a space for integrated solutions that can be reflected in national climate policies and strategies

4. Marine technology and marine and coastal nature-based solutions should be integrated to ensure that action is more robust, comprehensive and cost-effective than when using either solution alone

5. We must use, improve and integrate the latest available ocean science and other knowledge systems

6. A whole of society approach is needed for ocean - climate action, including to address governance aspects

7. Funding for ocean-climate action needs to increase and access to funding must be supported

8. Strengthened finance and other support, including capacity building, must embrace complexity to provide innovative and multidisciplinary solutions

9. A framework for collaborative efforts across UN Processes would increase institutional support for ocean-climate action

10. Future ocean and climate change dialogues should focus on distinct topics to deep-dive into specific solutions that strategically supports and strengthens ocean-climate action at national level and under the UNFCCC process

At COP 27/CMA 4, in 2022, the COP Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan (Decision 1/CP.27) and CMA Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan (Decision 1/CMA.4) continued to strengthen ocean-based action under the process and:

            - Encouraged Parties to consider, as appropriate, ocean-based action in their national climate goals and in the implementation of these goals, including but not limited to nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies and adaptation communications (1/CP.27 para 46 and 1/CMA.4 para 79)

The COP, under which the ocean dialogue is mandated, also:

            - Welcomed the outcomes of and key messages from the ocean and climate change dialogue 2022 and decided that future dialogues will, from 2023, be facilitated by two co-facilitators, selected by Parties biennially, who will be responsible for deciding the topics for and conducting the dialogue, in consultation with Parties and observers, and preparing an informal summary report to be presented in conjunction with the subsequent session of the Conference of the Parties.

Co-Facilitators

Further to the mandate by Parties in the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan (Decision 1/CP.27, paragraph 45), the SBSTA Chair appointed Julio Cordano (Chile) and Gwynne Taraska (USA) as co-facilitators of the ocean and climate change dialogue for the biennium 2023-2024 (see message by the SBSTA Chair)

Activities 

In March 2023, the co-facilitators held four virtual meetings to provide an informal exchange of views on the preparation for the ocean and climate change dialogue 2023.

• For Party representatives on 29 March 2023 at 11:00- 12:30 and 22:00-23:30 (GMT) 
  Invitation letter
• For UN entities, observers and non-Party Stakeholders on 30 March 2023 at 11:00- 12:30 and 22:00-23:30 (GMT) 
  Invitation letter

The co-facilitators gave a brief presentation to provide their vision and invited views on the topics, structure and expected outcomes of the dialogue.