Time to Stop Making Waves and Start Making Changes!

So, have you heard? The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) has landed itself in the beautiful Baku, and it’s not just the hotel rooms where the air is thick! On a vibrant Ocean Action Day, a coalition of 23 leading environmental NGOs splashed in with a message that might sink faster than a lead balloon if we’re not careful: Our oceans are not just pretty backdrops for Instagram selfies— they’re a critical part of the climate crisis solution!

Yes, you heard that right! The oceans are the planet’s ‘blue beating heart’—which is a stunning image unless you picture someone trying to resuscitate it while holding a plastic straw. Covering more than 70% of our Earth, the vast blue expanse is not only an effective carbon sponge but also the lifeblood for over three billion souls who look to it for sustenance and income. Talk about a lot of fish in the sea, eh?

But here’s the kicker: while these blue carbon ecosystems—like seagrass meadows and mangrove forests—work their watery magic, they’re disappearing faster than your will to go to the gym after the holiday season. If we want to keep both the climate and our coastal communities afloat, we absolutely must incorporate the health and restoration of these ecosystems into climate action plans. And who better to lead the charge than the very leaders we’ve elected?! No pressure!

The NGOs are urging global leaders to stop playing hooky and actually coordinate efforts across various international environmental agreements—especially the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Third World Ocean Conference (from what I hear, it’s supposed to be rather ocean-friendly). Protect the ocean, and you start to make some serious headway tackling climate change. But it’s like trying to resolve a messy divorce over a game of poker; not exactly a straightforward affair!

Now, onto more unsavory news: One in five fish caught globally is caught illegally. And no, that’s not just your mate who didn’t pay for his last round of drinks. Since the industrial fishing boom began, a staggering 90% of the world’s large ocean fish have gone belly-up— and not because they’re secretly auditioning for a fishy version of Gone Fishing. The result? A chaotic imbalance in marine life and a woeful reduction in our oceans’ carbon-sequestering capabilities. If that’s not a call to action, I don’t know what is!

With a little help from our NGO friends, the solution is simple: coordinate a dynamic response against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. Immediate action is critical! Think of them as the babysitters of our oceans—without them, it’s all too easy for chaos to reign as the kids go rifling through the cookie jar.

Leading the charge, Steve Trent, the CEO of the Environmental Justice Foundation, exclaimed: “The ocean is our most valuable nature-based solution in the fight against the climate crisis!” I mean, who wouldn’t want to boast about their ocean to the climate haters? Protecting these ecosystems must be as integral to climate policy as your morning coffee is to your daily life: absolutely non-negotiable. Don’t you just love it when someone channels their inner environmental superhero?

And speaking of superheroes, Joan Edwards from The Wildlife Trusts pointed out that our seas and marine habitats are targeted by damaging human activities. What’s the plan, policymakers? Give them a makeover like they’re getting ready for a first date? Their appeal needs a serious overhaul to minimize all these harmful practices, especially in Marine Protected Areas. How about a little less spearfishing for fun, and a lot more species revival?

These sentiments resonate louder than a foghorn at sunset. Dr. Silvia Frey, another ocean champion, added: “Climate protection is not possible without marine protection!” How profound! It’s like saying you can’t have a birthday without a cake—I mean, what’s the point? Protect our precious oceans, or face the consequences. We’ve watched enough nature documentaries to see where that leads.

Lastly, let’s not skip over Heather Starck from the Coral Reef Alliance, who was all for prioritizing our ocean in climate action by protecting coral reefs and other blue carbon beauties. Sure, it sounds like a lot of work, but think of it this way: if we don’t roll up our sleeves and restore these habitats, we might as well book our tickets to the apocalypse. And trust me, it’s one trip no one wants to take!

In conclusion, dear readers, as we dive deeper into these critical discussions, we need to hope that the international community doesn’t just dip its toe in but instead plunges into the sea of change. It’s high time we took our responsibility seriously. Otherwise, we might as well just build ourselves a nice glass house on the beach and watch as the tides come in to reclaim it. Time to protect what’s essential—before we’re left with nothing but empty oceans and broken promises.

During Ocean Action Day at COP29, held in Baku, a groundbreaking coalition comprising 23 prominent environmental NGOs underscored the essential contribution healthy oceans make in combating the climate crisis and sustaining coastal communities.

The coalition is urging global leaders to officially acknowledge and incorporate our planet’s invaluable ‘blue beating heart’ into mechanisms of international climate response.

The ocean, which spans more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, serves as a critical component in absorbing atmospheric carbon and tempering climate change effects. Moreover, it is vital to the livelihoods of over three billion individuals worldwide who depend on it for sustenance and economic support. By focusing on enhancing and restoring blue carbon ecosystems, such as mangrove forests and seagrass meadows, world leaders can tackle pressing issues like climate change and food security, offering lasting advantages for countless individuals now and in the years to come, according to the environmental organizations.

Despite the oceans being crucial for human survival, blue carbon ecosystems are facing a perilous decline, disappearing at an alarming rate globally, with only a few areas showing signs of recovery. The coalition insists that to safeguard these irreplaceable ecosystems, governments must embed the conservation and revivification of blue carbon habitats into their national climate action frameworks (NDCs).

The urgency for enhanced international collaboration and synchronization among multilateral environmental agreements—particularly between the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Third World Ocean Conference (UNOC)—is paramount. The coalition highlights that effective climate action cannot be achieved in isolation from the necessary efforts to protect the ocean.

The NGOs also brought attention to the fact that the risks to blue carbon ecosystems are significantly heightened by illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing activities, with estimates suggesting that one in every five fish harvested globally is caught through illicit means. Startlingly, since the onset of industrial fishing in the early 1950s, approximately 90% of the world’s large ocean fish—including majestic sharks, resilient cod, and robust swordfish—have vanished, critically disturbing the natural equilibrium of marine ecosystems and undermining the ocean’s capability to sequester carbon.

Immediate and coordinated international efforts aimed at battling IUU fishing, alongside strengthened actions for marine biodiversity preservation, are deemed urgently necessary to sustain coastal and marine ecosystems and their essential functions, as stated by the environmental coalition.

Steve Trent, CEO and founder of the Environmental Justice Foundation, emphasizes: “The ocean stands as our most valuable nature-based solution in the battle against the climate crisis, yet it continues to be overlooked. This COP must be the moment for significant change. The protection and restoration of marine ecosystems need to be foundational to climate action, as the ocean is the ‘blue beating heart’ of our planet, supporting the global systems essential for life on Earth. We must confront illegal fishing that threatens this unique biodiversity and undermines our ocean’s ability to draw down carbon from the atmosphere. To shield our climate, bolster coastal communities, and secure a livable future for generations to come, we need an urgent call for stronger global partnerships and a unified commitment across environmental agreements to safeguard life-sustaining blue carbon ecosystems.”

Joan Edwards, director of policy for The Wildlife Trusts, adds: “Our seas and marine ecosystems are vital in regulating our climate, yet they are often undervalued and negatively affected by human activities. It is imperative that policymakers engage in strategic decision-making that acknowledges the significance of blue carbon while minimizing the impacts of harmful practices such as bottom trawling and large-scale development. These practices must not be permitted in Marine Protected Areas. Ensuring the protection of blue carbon habitats from disturbances is crucial to achieving climate and biodiversity targets, including the aim of protecting 30% of marine environments by 2030.”

Dr. Silvia Frey, CEO and marine conservation biologist at KYMA sea conservation & research, states: “The oceans are the cradle and foundation of life on Earth. However, their biodiversity and vitality are genuinely under threat from overfishing, pollution, and climate change. Genuine climate protection cannot be achieved without dedicated marine protection! The preservation of marine ecosystems, particularly mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, coral reefs, and deep-sea habitats, must, therefore, be woven into the fabric of international climate policy.”

Heather Starck, Executive Director of the Coral Reef Alliance, asserts: “The Coral Reef Alliance urges governments to make the ocean’s role in climate action a top priority by safeguarding coral reefs and other blue carbon habitats. Prioritizing habitat restoration, committing to the 30×30 global biodiversity framework, and placing a moratorium on deep-sea mining are crucial steps toward protecting biodiversity while simultaneously cutting carbon emissions. These measures must be integrated with bold decarbonization strategies to ensure a resilient future for our planet.”

Franziska Walter, CEO of Whale and Dolphin Conservation Germany concludes: “For far too long, the significance of coastal and marine ecosystems has been relegated to an afterthought in international climate change discussions. At COP29, the global community must not delay in prioritizing the preservation and rehabilitation of these ecosystems. Germany also has substantial ground to cover, as it still permits destructive fishing practices in its marine protected areas, particularly in the North Sea. It is high time for us to take our responsibilities seriously and implement decisive actions to safeguard these habitats, which are indispensable for effective climate protection. If we continue on the current trajectory, we will obliterate the very foundation of our own existence.”