Climate change poses stark risks to the health of the ocean and to the realisation of a prosperous and sustainable ocean economy. Acidification and rising ocean temperatures are negatively impacting important industries such as fishing and tourism, as well as the well-being of coastal populations. There is an urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit further temperature rise. 

Although at risk, the ocean is also central to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. To highlight the ocean’s important role as a solution to global climate change, the Ocean Panel commissioned a Special Report, ‘The Ocean as a Solution for Climate Change: Five Opportunities for Action’, to underscore that a healthy ocean is critical to achieving global targets to limit climate change, to identify new insights and to inform the report’s call to action. The report’s publication coincided with the 74th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2019. Notably, the research found that ocean-based climate action can play a much bigger role in shrinking the world’s carbon footprint than was previously thought: it could deliver up to a fifth (21 percent, or 11 GtCO2e) of the annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emission cuts needed in 2050 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

The report was subjected to a rigorous peer review process and the arguments, findings and recommendations represent the views of the authors. Ultimately, this report is an independent input to the Ocean Panel process and does not represent the perspectives of the Ocean Panel. 

Read more in the authors’ blog, 'Turning the Tide: Ocean-Based Solutions Could Close Emission Gap by 21%’; in the Ocean Panel Co-chairs’ op-ed ‘'Look to the ocean for climate change solutions'; and in news coverage via Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek, among others. A companion piece was also published in Science.  

Considering this report and other important climate research, the Ocean Panel launched a 'Call to Ocean-Based Climate Action' at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York in September 2019. Ocean Panel commitments and other stakeholder responses are documented below.  

Areas for Action 

Some national governments have already committed to developing new initiatives, partnerships and providing significant funding investments to rapidly accelerate ocean-based climate solutions in line with the 6 action areas below. The indicative commitments made by Ocean Panel members to date are captured below. Note, this list will be further developed to reflect new ideas as they emerge.

• Invest in Nature-Based Climate Solutions

  Restore, protect and manage coastal and marine ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrasses, salt marshes, macroalgae and reefs, to enhance their ability to sequester and store carbon, adapt to the effects of climate change, and improve coastal resilience.

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  Australia

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    Australia established and remains committed to the International Partnership for Blue Carbon and encourages other countries to actively participate.
    Australia established the International Partnership for Blue Carbon and encourages other countries to actively participate. The Partnership builds connections between governments, research agencies and non-government organisations to build awareness, share knowledge and accelerate practical action that protects and restores blue carbon ecosystems. Launched by Australia at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP21, the Partnership has grown to almost forty members since its establishment.    The Partnership is recognised as the primary international forum on blue carbon. Through the Partnership, members develop and share practical tools to address common questions, share findings between blue carbon initiatives, and together examine policy settings for financing blue carbon. The Partnership also offers a platform for countries to showcase their action on blue carbon to the world.    Together with a coordinating group, Australia has served as the Secretariat of the Partnership since its launch. Commitments are sought from other countries to sustain and build on the success of the Partnership. Commitments could include hosting the next annual meeting in 2020 or other events, shared leadership, financial support or taking a lead role of the secretariat, joining the coordination group or engaging in focal groups.
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    Australia is investing AUD$600,000 in an IORA-CSIRO Blue Carbon Hub in Perth, Australia.
    The IORA-CSIRO Blue Carbon Hub aims to build knowledge and capacity for protecting and restoring blue carbon ecosystems throughout IORA Member States by:  • providing a knowledge hub to provide advice and capacity building expertise to IORA Member States  • engaging in research that seeks to improve knowledge and provide the evidence base for the development of robust policy and finance mechanisms  • disseminating best practice information to international partners  • seeking to develop partnerships with organisations that can assist with implementation of activities that meet these objectives.  Blue carbon initiatives address multiple development goals through a single policy framework that incorporates economic growth, environmental sustainability and social inclusiveness.
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    Australia has committed AUD$6 million from 2018 to 2021, to support national climate action and livelihoods in Papua New Guinea and Fiji, through enhanced measurement, management and investment in blue carbon ecosystems. 
    Australia has committed $6 million from 2018 to 2021, to support national climate action and livelihoods in Papua New Guinea and Fiji, through enhanced measurement, management and investment in blue carbon ecosystems. The Australian Government together with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), will work collaboratively with a range of partners in PNG and Fiji, to build technical capacity for gathering and using data on blue carbon stocks, and to incorporate blue carbon into policy and decision-making frameworks. Subsequently the initiative aims to establish blue carbon projects, test and validate offset methodologies, and mobilise markets for blue carbon investments. 
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    Australia has committed AUD$2 million between 2019 and 2022 towards working with Indonesia to address policy and technical priorities for the sustainable management of coastal blue carbon resources.
    Australia has committed $2 million between 2019 and 2022 towards working with Indonesia to address policy and technical priorities for the sustainable management of coastal blue carbon resources. Funding will used to strengthen Indonesia’s blue carbon research capacity, build tools to inform decision making, and support coordination of policy development for ecosystem management.
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    In 2018, the Australian Government announced a AUD$560 million package for protection and restoration of the Great Barrier Reef
    During the International Year of the Reef, in May 2018, the Australian Government announced additional A$500 million boost to reef protection, including a A$443.3 million partnership with the non-Government Great Barrier Reef Foundation and A$56 million over five years to expand the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s environmental management and compliance operations. The aim of this investment is to accelerate delivery of the Australian and Queensland governments' Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan, which is based on the best available science, draws on 40 years of analysis and is underpinned by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s strong management. The Foundation has an ambitious target to increase the investment by a further $300 to $400 million through philanthropic, corporate and individual giving, and contributed funds/effort by research and delivery partners.    The partnership with the Foundation includes:  • $201 million to improve water quality through changed farming practices such as reduced fertiliser use and adopting new technologies and land management practices  • $100 million to harness the best science to implement reef restoration and support Reef resilience and adaptation  • $58 million to expand the fight against the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish  • $40 million to enhance Reef health monitoring and reporting to track progress and inform better management  • $22 million to support Indigenous and community reef protection activities to increase traditional owner and broader community engagement on the Reef, including Indigenous sea country management, coastal clean-up days and awareness raising activities.    Early in 2018 the Australian Government announced additional funding of A$60 million to tackle crown-of-thorns starfish, water quality, to put more Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority field officers on the water and to scope a major research and development program for coral reef restoration

  Fiji

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    Fiji is committing to the integrated management of its whole EEZ (100%) together with 30% under protection in a marine protected area by 2030. Fiji is calling for a Coalition of nations to join this commitment and secure the integrated management of up to 40% of the ocean if all EEZs are included.

  Japan

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    Japan will continue the promotion of ecosystem-based adaptation and ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction in developing countries through the Resilience through Investing in Ecosystems — knowledge, innovation and transformation of risk management (RELIEF-Kit) project.
    Japan will continue its support for implementation of ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction in developing countries through the Resilience through Investing in Ecosystems — knowledge, innovation and transformation of risk management (RELIEF-Kit) project which has been undertaken by IUCN together with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity funded by Japan Biodiversity Fund. Japan will continue to contribute to promotion of Ecosystem-based Adaptation and Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction in developing countries through this project
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    Japan has discussed how to measure and estimate the amount of carbon in its coastal ecosystems, with a view to consider possibility of accounting it in its national GHG inventory in the future.
    In several parts of Japan, local governments, industries and academia have worked for conservation, restoration and creation of coastal ecosystems such as seagrass meadows, tidal marshes, and mangroves, recognizing their multi beneficial values. Japan has conducted distribution surveys of seagrass beds using satellite images in the enclosed coastal seas since 2015.

  Kenya

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    Kenya will secure critical forest and mangrove ecosystems for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use while improving safeguards to ensure protection against impacts by 2022.
    This €3.1million German-IKI funded project aims to secure and restore terrestrial coastal forests and mangrove ecosystems in Kwale County for biodiversity conservation and community livelihood. This will be done through establishing and building the capacity of public-private-people partnerships. The project is working with communities, government authorities and private sector on ecosystem restoration, sustainable management of resources and the integration of ecosystem values into policies and plans.
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    Kenya will work towards participatory implementation of its national Mangrove Management Plan (2017-2027).
    The World Bank facilitated the development of Kenya’s national mangrove management plan for 2017-2027 period. The Plan was prepared in compliance with Forests Act (2005), which provides for preparation of management plans for all gazetted forests. It provides a road map towards sustainable management of mangrove ecosystems in Kenya for enhanced livelihoods. The Plan embraces collaborative and participatory approaches in natural resource governance that leads to ownership of the initiatives by the stakeholders. The estimated budget for implementing the Plan is US$ 3.8million.
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    Kenya will integrate blue carbon into its Nationally Determined Contribution.
    The objectives of the project are to: • Measure the health of mangrove forests in Lamu County in terms of their spatial extent, productivity, and biodiversity; • Work with Kenya Forest Service and other agencies in integrating blue carbon into national climate change agenda; and • Train, educate, and empower community and other stakeholders on blue carbon assessment, monitoring, and management. The project fits with both national and local priorities, action plans and programs on environment and food security; and will help to achieve global sustainable goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. The initial budget of US$300,000 has been secured through Pew Charitable Trust (USA) and WWF. Additional financing of US$600,000 is being sought to allow incorporation of Blue carbon into climate change agenda.
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    Kenya will implement a conservation strategy for coral reefs and seagrasses.
    Coral reefs and seagrasses are some of the most productive and biodiverse ecosystems on earth, protecting shorelines, and nourishing livelihoods of coastal communities. However, natural and human induced stressors have led to increased loss of coral reefs and seagrass habitats with a general decline in ecosystem health. To address these ever-growing threats to fragile seagrass and coral reef ecosystems it was found necessary to develop conservation strategy for Kenya. The strategy seeks to promote biodiversity conservation, safeguard and secure livelihoods of coastal communities, spur sound and focused scientific research. Successful implementation of the strategy will ensure that the structure and functions of these ecosystems is ensured. Innovative vulnerability analysis through IUCN Red List of ecosystems for coral reefs will be applied in 2019-2020 to inform the new strategy and identify nature-based climate solutions. The estimated budget for revision and implementation of the strategy is US$ 5.0 million over the 2019-2023 period.

  Mexico

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    Mexico will strengthen the effectiveness of its Fishing Refuge Areas and declare 31 additional refuges to cover more than one hundred thousand hectares, enhancing marine connectivity
    Mexico is committed to invest in nature-based solutions to protect and restore the great marine diversity of our country, and increase its resilience to the effects of climate change. By expanding and strengthening our Fishing Refuge Areas, we aim to recover trophic chains, reduce bycatch, and protect the natural processes of fish reproduction and fish breeding. To date, we have 13 regulatory agreements in force, including 41 polygons at 13 different sites in four federal entities, covering an area of over 20,000 km2. Within these Fishing Refuge Areas, more than 100 target, secondary and incidental species of fish, molluscs, echinoderms, crustaceans and sea turtles are being protected. Mexico will expand at least 100 000 new hectares of Fishing Refuge Areas on which their planning and design will take into account fishing production as well as socio-political and ecological factors, including the enhancement of marine connectivity in face of climate change.
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    Mexico will strengthen its efforts on coral reef restoration to ensure their resilience and promote ecosystems-based adaptation.
    The Government of Mexico is implementing a Coral Reef Restoration Program, which aims to tackle the effects of climate change in the world’s second biggest coral reef located in the Caribbean Sea. Through this ongoing program, Mexico is committed to restore 47,000 corals by the end of 2019 and 265,000 corals by 2022 looking to increase this target by the end of the administration. The restoration program is based in the reproduction of 13 species of corals using biotechnological techniques and subsequent planting in their natural habitats. This initiative aims to return the structure and ecological functionality of marine ecosystems that have been damaged by climate change effects such as sea level rise, hurricanes, acidification and temperature raise.
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    Mexico will implement a Strategic Action Program for the Great Marine Ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico, with GEF funding for 12.9 million dollars.
    Mexico is developing the Strategic Action Program of the Great Marine Ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico. With this program, we commit to improve water quality, restore coastal ecosystems, and prevent depletion of important species for fisheries. The United Nations Environment Program is acting as the implementing agency for this project, which is coordinated jointly by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) in Mexico and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US. The program is set to be completed by 2021, with a fund of 12.9 million dollars granted by the GEF. By that date, we aim to: • Improve water quality in the coastal area. • Avoid depletion and promote recovery of living marine resources. Promote community involvement in conservation and restoration of the quality of coastal and marine ecosystems.

  Namibia

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    Namibia will ensure that at least 10% of its EEZ is gazetted as marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2020.
    Currently, Namibia’s entire coastal belt is gazetted as national parks, and includes 3 coastal RAMSAR sites, namely Walvis Bay lagoon, the sandwich harbor and the orange river mouth, hence they are protected. Further, Namibia’s marine waters which are less than 200 meters in depth are protected from most commercial fishing activities, as they are breeding grounds for fish. The Government of Namibia is therefore confident of exceeding the 10% MPA target once these areas, which are already protected, are gazetted as MPAs.
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    Namibia is considering establishment of biodiversity offset schemes to finance marine conservation in partnership with marine economic sectors such as mining, transport and fisheries.

  Norway

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    Norway will work to secure and sustainably manage marine vegetation and blue forests - nationally and internationally - in order to bind carbon and protect marine biodiversity. div>
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    Norway will continue to develop seaweed and kelp aquaculture such as by granting free licenses for growing seaweed and kelp.

  Portugal

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    Portugal will identify carbon sequestration solutions based on nature (restoration of marine prairies/seagrass meadows, for example) in the Maritime Spatial Plan and in the Marine Protected Areas zones by 2020.
    In response to growing concerns about climate change resulting from increased carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere, considerable interest has been drawn to the possibility of increasing the rate of carbon sequestration. Given the potential of marine organisms (particularly algae) to capture carbon and the need to contribute to global efforts on climate change mitigation, Portugal commits to evaluate marine ecosystems and identify areas to implement carbon sequestration solutions, for instance through new projects aimed at restoration of degraded seagrass and macroalgal habitats or scaling up previous projects developed along the Portuguese coastline.
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    Portugal commits to classify 30% of its national maritime space in marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2030.
    Protected area networks are the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation policies, focusing the protection of ecosystems, habitats, species and genetic resources and thus providing a wide range of benefits to society and economy. Portugal presently has c.a. 7 per cent of the coastal and marine areas under national jurisdiction classified as marine protected areas. On the occasion of The United Nations Ocean Conference (New York, 5-9 June 2017), Portugal submitted as a commitment to comply with SDG 14.5 the classification of at least 14% of maritime space under national jurisdiction as a marine protected area. Adhering to the IUCN recommendation approved at the World Conservation Congress 2016, Portugal commits to protect about 30% of its national maritime space by 2030.

• Harness Ocean-Based Renewable Energy

  Scale up offshore and ocean-based renewable energy, including wind, wave, tidal, current and solar, to meet future energy demand and become cost-competitive.

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  Australia

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    The Australian Government is investing AUD$70 million in the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre (CRC).
    The Australian Government is investing AUD$70 million in the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) https://blueeconomycrc.com.au/, a 10 year $329 million collaboration between 45 Australian and international partners. The Blue Economy CRC will bring together expertise in aquaculture, marine renewable energy and marine engineering as part of a collaborative effort between industry, researchers and the community to develop innovative and sustainable offshore industries to increase Australian seafood and marine renewable energy production. The CRC has five research programs: Offshore Engineering and Technology, Seafood and Marine, Offshore Renewable Energy Systems, Environment and Ecosystems, and Sustainable Offshore Developments.

  Japan

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    Japan will promote demonstration projects aiming for early commercialization of renewable ocean energy, such as offshore wind and ocean current.
    Japan, which is surrounded by the sea on all sides, recognizes that it has great potential for ocean energy such as offshore wind and ocean current. Above all, the cost of offshore wind power has been drastically reduced in the world, and Japan also has been establishing the rules for use of sea areas through the Act on Promotion of Utilization of Sea Areas for the Development of Marine Renewable Energy Generation Facilities and promoting the technology development. In addition, with regard to power generation utilizing ocean energy such as ocean currents, there are still major issues in terms of cost and stable supply worldwide.

  Namibia

  • Namibia is committed to generating about 144MW additional wind power by 2022
    Namibia has been identified as one of the countries with the best potential for wind power generation globally, especially around the town of Lüderitz. .

  Norway

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    The Norwegian state-owned enterprise Enova has approved an application for funding up to NOK 2,3 billion (approximately USD 255 million) in support of the Hywind Tampen project, a floating offshore wind farm currently being planned in the North Sea.
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    Norway proposes to open offshore areas for renewable energy.

  Portugal

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    Portugal will produce 10% of the electricity consumed by Portugal based on floating offshore wind and wave energy by 2030.
    In 2017 Portugal approved the Roadmap for the Industrial Strategy of Oceanic Renewable Energies. The main objective of the Roadmap is to maximize the investment made in R&D and Innovation in oceanic renewable energies (wind offshore and waves) to formulate a sustainable financing model and an Industrial Strategy for Ocean Renewable Energies. Oceanic renewable energies would be able to supply 25% of the national annual electricity consumption and could replace almost all coal in the national electricity mix. In recent years, several research and technological development projects have emerged, with a strong component of innovation and experimentation, specifically through modeling and testing of new technologies, infrastructure construction, development and installation of wave energy prototypes, tidal energy and wind energy. Within this scope is under way the WindFloat Atlantic, a pioneering project involving the installation of three offshore wind turbines on floating platforms. The high nominal capacity wind turbines (8.4 MW) will be the largest already installed on floating platforms at sea. The 25 MW wind energy production platform will be installed about 20 km from the Portuguese coast, in an area with a depth of 100 meters, with the start of production planned for the near future. This project, currently in the pre-commercial phase, involves an investment of more than 100 million euros over 3 years

• Decarbonize Ocean-Industries

  Invest in the solutions needed to support rapid decarbonization of ocean industries, including shipping and marine transport, port infrastructure and operations, fisheries, aquaculture and tourism.

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  Australia

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    The Australian Government is investing AUD$70 million in the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre (CRC).
    The Australian Government is investing AUD$70 million in the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) https://blueeconomycrc.com.au/, a 10 year $329 million collaboration between 45 Australian and international partners. The Blue Economy CRC will bring together expertise in aquaculture, marine renewable energy and marine engineering as part of a collaborative effort between industry, researchers and the community to develop innovative and sustainable offshore industries to increase Australian seafood and marine renewable energy production. The CRC has five research programs: Offshore Engineering and Technology, Seafood and Marine, Offshore Renewable Energy Systems, Environment and Ecosystems, and Sustainable Offshore Developments.

  Fiji

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    Fiji and the Marshall Islands co-chair the Pacific Islands Blue Shipping Partnership which is a Coalition of 7 Pacific countries, bilateral and multilateral partners, and private sector that are committing to cut 40% of emissions from shipping in these Pacific countries by 2030 and committing to making their shipping sector 100% carbon-free by 2050 with an innovative blended funding package.

  Japan

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    Japan is actively engaged in supporting efforts under the IMO to develop a new global mechanism to further cut emissions from ships to achieve the GHG reduction target set out in the IMO's Strategy and will continue to provide technical cooperation and capacity building
    Japan, as a major shipping and shipbuilding economy, has actively contributed to global initiatives at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to reduce GHG emissions from ships. Since 2017, Japan has been serving the Chair of IMO's committee in charge of climate actions. Currently, Japan is actively engaged in work at the IMO to develop a new global mechanism to further cut emissions from ships to achieve the GHG reduction target set out in the IMO's Strategy. To facilitate such global initiatives, Japan provides a number of technical cooperation and capacity building. Nippon foundation, Japanese NGO, provides nine fellowship programs with multiple partners such as the World Maritime University (WMU) and the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), and more than 1,200 alumni from 140 countries are engaged in ocean policy including climate and environment policy.

  Namibia

  • Namibia will ratify Annex 6 of the MARPOL Convention (Convention on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships).
    Namibia is in the final stages of ratification of Annex 6 of the MARPOL Convention (Convention on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships), which includes our commitment to achieve 50% reduction in greenhouse gasses emissions from ships by 2050, in line with IMO Agreement.

  Norway

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    Norway will reduce emissions from domestic shipping and fishing vessels by half by 2030 and promote the deployment of zero- and low-emission solutions in all vessel categories.
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    Norway will prioritize zero- and low-emission solutions in public procurement of ferries and high-speed vessels, onshore power supply in ports and the development of tax incentives and public support schemes in order to support the introduction of low- and zero emission solutions.
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    The Norwegian state-owned enterprise Enova has supported 80 projects to date totalling more than 580 million NOK (approximately USD 65 million) for onshore power supply in ports, and more than 1,6 billion NOK (approximately USD 178 million) to the construction of zero- and low-emission ships.
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    Norway will promote the development of an international market for low- and zero emission maritime solutions.
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    • Norway will support developing countries in reducing GHG emissions from ships through the project "GreenVoyage-2050" by the International Maritime Organization.

  Portugal

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    Portugal will install a system of infrastructures for the supply of alternative and low-carbon fuels (e.g. LNG, Hydrogen, Electricity, Ammonia and other alternatives that are technically and economically feasible) in the national ports by 2030.
    Portugal has a valuable geostrategic position to boost the use of LNG in the marine fuel mix. In this sense, one of the main objectives of the planned investments will be the establishment in Continental Portugal and the autonomous regions of Madeira and of the Azores of a service area for supplying Atlantic LNG ships. Moreover, the creation of a re-exporter hub for natural gas, is envisaged. This hub will contribute to the decarbonization of the maritime transport. In this context, Portugal is committed to invest in the terminal of Sines Port and to boost innovation on specialized ships for LNG supply and in green shipping activities.
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    Portugal will present a sustainability strategy for the national port system by 2020 with a view to improving its environmental performance and decarbonising its operations.
    In Portugal ports activity is of major importance for the ocean economy and for Portuguese economy as whole. Over the last years much international regulation was designed, approved or comes into force that regulates the environmental dimension of ports. Port system in Portugal will implement a comprehensive sustainability strategy that comprises all aspects of their activity that might result in negative impacts on environment, including marine environment.
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    Portugal will implement a sustainable technological framework, based on scientific research and technological innovation, to promote a real green shipping, until 2022
    In Portugal the number of ships that scale the ports, during last 10 years, had a growth higher than 20%, both in goods and passengers, and even higher in cruises. Simultaneously, the activity of naval industry started increasing its production and exports. So, Portugal will continue the projects to find and implement in the construction of new vessels or requalification of the existing, to improve the sustainability, annul emissions and reduce air and water pollution. Also, will be implemented solutions of efficient consumption of energy and water.

• Secure Sustainable Food for the Future

  Promote sustainable, safe, equitable, resilient and low-carbon sources of food from the ocean to feed and improve the nutrition of present and future generations, including mitigating food insecurity.

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  Australia

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    The Australian Government is investing AUD$70 million in the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre (CRC).
    The Australian Government is investing AUD$70 million in the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) https://blueeconomycrc.com.au/, a 10 year $329 million collaboration between 45 Australian and international partners. The Blue Economy CRC will bring together expertise in aquaculture, marine renewable energy and marine engineering as part of a collaborative effort between industry, researchers and the community to develop innovative and sustainable offshore industries to increase Australian seafood and marine renewable energy production. The CRC has five research programs: Offshore Engineering and Technology, Seafood and Marine, Offshore Renewable Energy Systems, Environment and Ecosystems, and Sustainable Offshore Developments.

  Kenya

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    Kenya is investing in co-management models for small scale fisheries to improve management effectiveness
    Under the Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2016 the Kenya Government is investing in co-management models for small scale fisheries with Beach Management Units (BMUs). Activities include capacity building, leadership development and development of by-laws, including those for protecting fish stocks for sustainable food production through Locally Managed Marine Areas. This is one approach to improve fisheries management effectiveness through the establishment of joint fisheries co-management area managed by local communities (BMUs) in collaboration with county authorities.
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    Kenya is investing USD$100 million in the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Social Economic Development Project (KEMSFED)
    The Kenya Marine Fisheries and Social Economic Development Project (KEMSFED) has an overall goal increase socio-economic benefits and coastal livelihoods from the marine fisheries and coastal aquaculture while safeguarding associated ecosystems’ integrity by strengthening the governance institutions for Fisheries and Blue Economy.

  Namibia

  • Namibia is committed to increasing national per capita fish consumption to the global average of 20.4 kg per capita by 2020.
    Namibia has already increased national fish consumption from 4kg per capita in 2014 to current 15.4 kg per capita in 2018.

  Norway

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    Norway will continue the knowledge-based management of fishery resources and facilitate growth in the aquaculture industry within a sustainable framework.
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    Norway will increase knowledge and awareness of the role of sustainable food from the ocean for achieving food security and improved nutrition.
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    The Norwegian Seafood Research Fund (FHF) has initiated a knowledge based review of the Norwegian seafood industry’s climate imprint. The study will feed into the growing global methodology on the subject.

  Portugal

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    Portugal is committed to keep the catches of all species in accordance with Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and to double the sustainable production in aquaculture, by 2020.
    Long description: Portugal is implementing a new large range plan for supporting a scientific control of stocks according to MSY, including an increase in scientific cruises to evaluate the stock conditions and management plans. According to the new plan for sustainable aquaculture Portugal is implementing a huge transformation in the rules and localizations, controlling and reducing the density, the use of renewable energies and the requirements for the control of water. The objective is to contribute to reducing the consumption to levels environmentally compatible with the maintenance of biodiversity.

• Advance the Deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage

  Reduce barriers for carbon capture and storage below the seabed through international collaboration, including mapping the storage potential of the sub-seabed geological formations

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  Norway

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    Norway is allocating NOK 535 million (approximately USD 60 million) for CO2-storage appraisal well under the North Sea seabed.

  Portugal

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    Portugal will identify and apply innovative solutions to increase carbon capture and its biological transformation, either in the water column, in the seabed and sub seabed.
    Portugal has just approved its Maritime Space Management and Planning, the first in European Union, to map the areas appropriate to different maritime activities and those with potential for carbon capture and storage. In parallel is mapping the natural resources and the geological characteristics of seabed and sub-seabed. The ocean has a major role in carbon absorption, retaining fifty times more carbon than the atmosphere. This central role in the global carbon cycle needs to be considered in the route to a carbon neutral society. Artificial reefs, biological transformation and improvement of storage capacity, will be studied and potentially applied

• Expand Ocean Observation and Research

  Scale up support for integrated local-to-global observation and research to better inform decision-makers on the observed and projected impacts of climate change, warming and acidification on the ocean, and the role of the ocean in the global carbon cycle.

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  Australia

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    Australia is contributing $23.8 million towards for the Climate and Ocean Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac2) to support Pacific Island national meteorological services and other relevant agencies to understand and use climate, ocean and sea level data and information.
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    Australia has invested $195 million in its Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) as a national research infrastructure over thirteen years to June 2019 and will invest a further $87 million over the next four years to June 2023.
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    Australia is committed to supporting the research and development of surface wave and offshore wind observing technologies for the benefit of ocean-based renewable energy industries.
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    Australia has announced, as part of the whole of government Australian Antarctic Strategy and 20 Year Action Plan, that it will be leading a major Antarctic research project to recover the oldest continuous ice core, in excess of a million years old.
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    Australia is improving its ocean observation capabilities through enhancing the coverage and quality of its seabed maps through AusSeabed, a partnership across government, industry and academia to coordinate the collection and dissemination of seabed data in Australian waters.
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    Australia is funding a new $3.5 million (2019-2023) project to be undertaken by the secretariat of the Pacific Community to examine the natural features used to generate maritime zones in the Pacific that are particularly vulnerable to sea level rise and other climate change related impacts.

  Japan

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    Japan has launched the new Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Platform (AP-PLAT) to share climate risk and adaptation information via online with the stakeholders in the Asia and Pacific region.
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    Japan will continue to promote climate change research, including the Integrated Research Program for Advancing Climate Models (TOUGOU).
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    The Japanese Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) will enhance global ocean monitoring.

  Kenya

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    Kenya will increase investment in ocean-atmosphere research and observing by the meteorological department and in providing coastal weather/hazard alerts on weekly basis
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    Kenya will participate in the Second International Indian Ocean Expedition (IOE-II).
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    Kenya’s Marine and Fisheries Research Institute will continue to build capacity and maintain regional ocean databases.
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    Kenya will develop a new Implementation Plan for the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network

  Namibia

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    Namibia is committing an additional US$ 5 million towards ocean research and protection during the 2019/2020 financial year.
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    Namibia, together with Angola, South Africa and development partners, have committed US$ 3.8 million for maritime research activities under the Benguela Current Convention for the 2019/2020 financial year.

  Norway

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    Norway will continue to monitor and research the ocean with research vessels and other relevant infrastructure, including newly built polar research vessel and marine research vessel designed to assist developing countries in improving fisheries management.

  Portugal

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    Portugal will develop an accounting system of the ecosystem services provided within coastal and marine areas under national jurisdiction by 2025
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    Portugal will lead a Coalition in the Atlantic Basin, named the Atlantic Observatory, in 2020. It will be a network of reference entities and an international hub to manage data and knowledge concerning the Atlantic Ocean.