On the occasion of the pre-COP discussions opening today in Abu Dhabi, the Ocean & Climate Platform, alongside its partners Conservation International, IUCN, Rare, The Nature Conservancy, Wetlands International and WWF, unveil the final version of its report on Coastal and marine ecosystems as Nature-based Solutions in new or updated Nationally Determined Contributions – whose first two editions were published respectively in June and October 2021. This analysis shows that coastal and marine Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly being integrated into national climate strategies: another sign of the growing recognition of the ocean and its ecosystems as a source of solution to address climate change.
How can coastal and marine NbS contribute to mitigate and adapt to climate change?
From the scientific to the political spheres, healthy coastal and marine ecosystems are increasingly identified as effective ocean-based climate solutions to contribute to achieving emission reduction plans and building resilience in line with the Paris Agreement. Last year, the COP27 final decision emphasised “the importance of protecting, conserving and restoring nature and ecosystems to achieve the Paris Agreement temperature goal, including through […] marine ecosystems”.
The same decision further encouraged “Parties to consider […] ocean-based action in their national climate goals, including but not limited to nationally determined contributions” – notably coastal and marine NbS, which can leverage the mitigation and adaptation potential of coastal and marine ecosystems while providing significant socio-economic benefits to the coastal communities. For instance, services provided by mangrove habitats to human livelihoods are estimated to be worth at least $USD 1.6 billion annually.
How are coastal and marine NbS being integrated into national climate strategies?
In a context of growing attention to the ocean in climate strategies, the present report takes a deep dive into the 148 NDCs submitted as part of the first revision cycle with regard to the inclusion of efforts addressing coastal and marine NbS for climate mitigation and/or adaptation.
Fig.1: Overview of coastal and marine NbS as mitigation and/or adaptation measures in new or updated NDCs
[out of 148 NDCs received to date, 1 October 2023].
Key findings highlight the increasing recognition of the great potential of coastal and marine NbS in addressing climate change impacts: out of the 148 NDCs submitted as of 1 October 2023, more than two third (i.e 97) have included coastal and marine NbS. Among these:
- Almost half of NDC submissions (i.e. 62) incorporated coastal and marine NbS for mitigation purposes. For example, Belize plans to protect and restore mangrove and seagrass ecosystems to enhance their carbon sequestration capacity, while Liberia has committed to fully integrating mangrove greenhouse gas emissions and absorption into the national greenhouse gas inventory by 2030.
- About two-thirds of NDC submissions (i.e. 96 in total) included coastal and marine NbS for adaptation purposes. For instance, Cabo Verde plans to expand its marine protected areas and implement monitoring mechanisms to prevent the alteration and destruction of marine habitats within its territory. Similarly, the Maldives has committed to diversifying its fishery sector and strengthening insurance schemes to enhance the resilience of small-scale fisheries.
The analysis also illustrates a growing acknowledgment of the co-benefits of coastal and marine NbS, encompassing both climate, biodiversity and socioeconomic advantages, and a stronger commitment from states to facilitate their implementation through the establishment of supportive conditions for action, including research, technology transfer, capacity-building, and financial mobilisation. More figures, including a comparison with first NDCs, can be found in the report.
Strengthening the implementation of coastal and marine NbS to achieve the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement
Even though coastal and marine NbS should not replace efforts to reduce emissions in other sectors, they provide significant opportunities to raise ambition and accelerate action to meet the Paris Agreement targets. While this year’s COP28 will see the conclusion of the first Global Stocktake (GST) – a pivotal milestone to assess the alignment of long-term climate goals with short-term actions outlined in NDCs – this report will contribute to the exercise of stocktaking to inform the second revision cycle of NDCs in 2025, where marine and coastal NbS are expected to play a more prominent role in national climate strategies.
Click on the cover below to discover the report
