The 9th Our Ocean Conference, held in Athens in April 2024 under the leadership of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, once again brought the importance of protecting the marine environment and the need for further action to the forefront of international attention. One of the key themes highlighted was the often-overlooked connection between oceans and climate, emphasizing that the marine environment is not only burdened by the ongoing climate crisis but also offers a solution to global warming if its ecological balance and health are maintained.
The annual UN climate conferences are gradually recognizing this strong correlation and the value of the ocean for planetary health. The “Baku Declaration for the Oceans,” to be discussed at COP29 in Azerbaijan this November, acknowledges the vital importance of oceans in achieving climate change mitigation and adaptation goals. As the largest natural carbon sink, the ocean absorbs about 25-30% of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions and 90% of the heat caused by greenhouse gases. Consequently, ocean-based solutions are critical to achieving the 1.5°C target.
The Declaration emphasizes the need for more comprehensive ocean monitoring to predict future warming and determine necessary emission reductions. This information is crucial for the design and implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), which aim to protect societies, marine life, and infrastructure from rising sea levels, temperature increases, and extreme weather events.
The Declaration also underlines the need for transparency and equitable funding, as well as partnerships that will promote a sustainable blue economy. UN Sustainable Development Goal 14, which refers to the protection of the marine environment, is among the most underfunded goals. Further funding for actions to ensure healthy marine ecosystems and the sustainable use of marine resources is crucial, as it will further help to address the losses resulting from climate change.
Furthermore, the importance of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and coastal areas is recognized. These regions require immediate and adequate investment, technology transfer, and capacity building to address the destruction of marine and coastal ecosystems. The development of monitoring systems for polar regions and the deep ocean is also critical for observing and studying the health of the oceans and their ecosystems.
The Baku Declaration calls on all countries, organizations, and private investors to financially support and invest in ocean knowledge and to take further action to promote the shared priorities of climate, biodiversity, and desertification conferences. Greece, which has already moved in these directions, is one of the leading countries in the ocean protection agenda.
*Dr. Dionysia Theodora Avgerinopoulou is a Member of the Hellenic Parliament, Environment Committee of the Parliament Chair and the Greek Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for the Ocean
