Quantifying ocean’s climate benefits can boost nations’ protection efforts

More research needed to grasp how ecosystems aid in climate goals: Panel

- Audrey Tan Assistant News Editor

If countries are to include ocean protection efforts in their plans to tackle climate change, they will need greater research to help them understand and quantify how these ecosystems can contribute to their goals.

This was a key message from several ministers speaking at a panel discussion held on Sept 22 during New York Climate Week a series of events that kicked off across the city on Sept 21 to discuss sustainability initiatives.

Ms Mary Creagh, British Minister for Nature, said during the event at The Westin New York Grand Central hotel that Britain has included a number of ocean-related initiatives in its climate plans, such as efforts to boost offshore wind generation capacity.

Britain also recognises the importance of other marine and coastal habitats, such as wetlands and seagrass, Ms Creagh said.

“But we do not, in the UK, have enough data to really work out how seagrass and seaweed and coastal restoration can contribute and be scored in our NDC,” she added, referring to the nationally determined contributions, or climate pledges, that countries have to submit to the UN every five years.

A country’s NDC usually outlines how much planet-warming emissions it hopes to reduce by a target year, so a more nuanced understanding of how protecting marine habitats like mangroves or seagrass can contribute to this target will be key for governments to take more active steps in this area.

Ms Creagh said scientific research is ongoing in this area, and that Britain will share its findings with the global community when it is completed.

Ahead of the UN climate change conference COP30, which will be held in Brazil in November, countries have been asked to submit new climate targets for 2035.

The health of the ocean is critical to climate action, human health and overall well-being; however, it has not been actively discussed at the annual UN climate summits.