Responding to the final Agreement text
announced at COP21 today, ocean groups were positive about a growing
recognition for the importance of the ocean in climate change but disappointed
by the lack of overall ambition in terms of reducing levels of dangerous CO2 in
the atmosphere.
Despite being the largest biosphere
on Earth and a central component of the climate system, the ocean has not
featured in previous Agreements. The Paris Agreement includes recognition
for the ocean within the Preamble and in the Agreement itself, under the banner
of Ecosystem Integrity. This provides a basis for greater understanding of the
need for marine protection and should help to move the ocean onto the agenda
for future meetings.
Limiting temperature rise to 2C
above pre-industrial levels will not deliver ocean protection. 1.5C has been
acknowledged as the highest rise tolerable to avoid irreversible acidification
and to protect vulnerable ecosystems such as coral reefs and vulnerable people
such as those living on islands.
There is also real concern about the
lack of commitments and specific actions within the Agreement to ensure that even
2C can be achieved. Still, the Paris Agreement review mechanism will provide an
infrastructure to work toward a 1.5 level and monitor progress. A key message coming out of COP21 is that what
happens next is as important as what has been agreed.
Andre Abreu of Tara Expeditions
said: “For two weeks the ocean has been
at the heart of Paris with more than 70 events.
It is a great step forward in driving the importance of the ocean and
provides us with a strong platform to push for more protection through a High
Seas Biodiversity Agreement and other conservation measures.”
Peggy Kalas of High Seas Alliance
said: “While we applaud that finally governments have joined together to
address climate change through the Paris Agreement, this is just the beginning
and we urge that the momentum seen in Paris continues as we work to limit
climate change to 1.5C. Otherwise we run the risk of irreparably damaging
the ocean, its marine biodiversity, its food supply for billions, and its
key role in regulating our planet's climate.”
Arni Finnsson of the Iceland Nature
Conservation Association said: “We strongly appreciate the momentum in support
of 1.5°C as recognition that this is what ecosystems can tolerate. This is
vital for Island nations.”
Charlotte Vick of Mission Blue added
“We will work together as an ocean community of citizens, scientists, leaders
and advocates to restore the ocean and the island communities on the frontline.
We are confident that armed with knowledge and the impetus of the Agreement,
people will act to restore our future on this tiny blue planet.”
Another issue for the ocean groups
is the need for an investment of finance into ocean mitigation and adaptation
and in this regard the Agreement has proved positive.
Torsten Thiele of the Global Ocean
Trust said: “It is great that we have a broadly-based agreement in place that
will allow ocean and coastal conservation solutions to play an important role
in addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation challenges. It is now key that we develop climate finance
mechanisms and nationally determined contributions (INDCs) to fully reflect
this goal.”
At the start of the COP, Governments
began signing on to the “Because the Ocean’ declaration which had reached 22
signatories by the close of the meeting http://www.globaloceancommission.org/because-the-ocean/
Karen Sack of Ocean Unite said: “For
the first time, in Paris, 22 countries raised the importance of the Ocean as an
Earth system at a Climate COP, indicating that we are ready to enter a new era
of climate action that includes the planet’s blue part which represents 75% of
the Earth’s surface.
