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BLUEPRINT FOR A LIVING PLANET: Four Principles for Integrated Ocean-Climate Strategies
A whale shark spotter scans the ocean surface for silhouettes in Donsol Bay, Philippines.
© James Morgan / WWF
Recommended citation:
Daniela Diza, Pauli Merrimanb, Klaas
de Vosc, Martin Sommerkornd, Simon
Walmsleye. 2021. Blueprint for a Living
Planet: Four Principles for Integrated
Ocean-Climate Strategies. WWF
International, Gland, Switzerland.
a The Lyell Centre, Heriot-Watt
University, UK
b WWF International
c Ocean Fox Advisory
d WWF Arctic Programme
e WWF-UK
Acknowledgements:
WWF would like to acknowledge and
thank the following colleagues for their
contributions to the report: Alfred Ralifo,
Cristina Torres, Dean Muruven, Elaine
Geyer-Allély, Emily Corcoran, Fernanda
Carvalho, Ghislaine Llewellyn, Gretchen
Lyons, Guido Broekhoven, Harisoa
Hasina Rakotondrazafy, Heike Vesper,
Jessica Battle, Joanne Lee, John Tanzer,
Julika Tribukait, Karen Douthwaite,
Louise Heaps, Luca Chinotti, Margaret
CONTENTS
Kuhlow, Malou van Kempen, Mark EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 05
Lutes, Nadia Bood, Samantha Petersen,
Sandeep Chamling Rai, Sarah Young, THE CONTEXT 09
Shirley Matheson and Vanessa Morales.
THE PRINCIPLES 13
We would also like to thank WWF-
Netherlands for the generous support
I. RAISE AMBITION AND URGENTLY DELIVER STRONGER
of this report and the related advocacy AND SUSTAINED MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION ACTIONS 15
outreach.
2. MAKE NATURE A KEY PART OF THE SOLUTION 23
Cover image:
Kelp near Santa Catalina Island,
3. PUT PEOPLE AT THE CENTRE 27
California USA. © Rex Lu / WWF
4. JOIN UP THE CLIMATE AND OCEAN FINANCE AGENDAS 31
Production and design: CONCLUSIONS 39
Barney Jeffries and Catherine Perry,
www.swim2birds.co.uk REFERENCES 44
© 2021 WWF. All rights reserved.
WWF® and World Wide Fund for
Nature® trademarks and ©1986 Panda
Symbol are owned by WWF-World
Wide Fund For Nature (formerly World
Wildlife Fund). All rights reserved.
4 BLUEPRINT FOR A LIVING PLANET FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR INTEGRATED OCEAN-CLIMATE STRATEGIES 5
“YOU CANNOT PROTECT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
THE OCEANS WITHOUT The ocean has, for too long, been largely absent from global discussions on
SOLVING CLIMATE CHANGE climate change. This is beginning to change, with the IPCC Special Report
on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate and other research
AND YOU CAN’T SOLVE clearly demonstrating the urgent need to tackle the crises facing the climate
and ocean together.
CLIMATE CHANGE The world is waking up to the This report proposes four principles to guide integrated ocean and
WITHOUT PROTECTING
ocean’s critical role in mitigation, climate action to strengthen the mitigation, adaptation and resilience
adaptation and resilience building – potential of marine and coastal ecosystems – and everything and
from the carbon sequestered in “blue everyone that depends on them. It offers practical guidance to
THE OCEANS.”
carbon” habitats like mangroves, countries and partners on how to effectively address ocean and climate
seagrass beds and kelp forests, to ambition and action in a synergistic manner. It recommends how
the protection that ecosystems like to leverage specific mechanisms within and across relevant global
coral reefs provide against storm frameworks, with a strong focus on the UN Framework Convention
US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry surges and other climate change on Climate Change (UNFCCC). We propose these principles as a guide
impacts. Yet while the ocean holds for discussions and decisions related to UNFCCC COP26, the Convention on
myriad solutions, it is suffering from Biological Diversity (CBD) post-2020 global biodiversity framework and the
increasing climate change impacts. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), among others.
These impacts create a feedback
loop, undermining the ocean’s Mangrove reforestation project
in Dili, Timor-Leste.
abilities to cope with the onslaught © Jürgen Freund / WWF
of emissions and mismanagement.
Addressing the combined crises
requires integrated ocean and
climate approaches.
If managed effectively the ocean can
help keep our climate in balance,
feed a growing population, support
economic development, and protect
habitats and treasured wildlife. But
only a healthy ocean can provide
these essential services. We need to
protect, maintain and restore the
ocean’s natural capital to unlock
the full value of the goods and
services it provides, which benefit
all life on planet Earth. By investing
in the recovery and protection
of our ocean’s ecosystems and
biodiversity, and by better
managing its precious resources,
we can rebuild the resilience of the
ocean, the communities that depend
upon it and our ability to respond to
climate change.
A kelp forest off the coast of Norway, one of the marine ecosystems not yet included in
carbon accounting methodologies under the Paris Agreement. © Erling Svensen / WWF
6 BLUEPRINT FOR A LIVING PLANET FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR INTEGRATED OCEAN-CLIMATE STRATEGIES 7
THE PRINCIPLES
1. RAISE AMBITION AND URGENTLY Conserving intact ecosystems and restoring degraded
coastal ecosystems should be a priority, guided by clear
DELIVER STRONGER AND SUSTAINED mechanisms for how nature-based solutions linked to the
ocean and coasts can be practically implemented, financed
MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION ACTIONS and reported upon. This includes ensuring that the role
and benefits of blue carbon ecosystems are incorporated
Raising ambition is about expanding options and
into national mitigation and adaptation strategies under
opportunities to meet the Paris Agreement’s objectives,
the UNFCCC/Paris Agreement, and recognized in the
including efforts to limit temperature rise to no more
CBD post-2020 global biodiversity framework and other
than 1.5°C. Rejecting the false premise that “ocean
relevant CBD decisions.
solutions” would be created at the expense of “climate
solutions”, it embraces the potential of fully integrating
3. PUT PEOPLE AT THE CENTRE
ocean issues into the work of the UNFCCC and Paris
Agreement, and climate considerations into biodiversity
and ocean governance processes. The transformative change needed to address the climate
and ocean crises cannot happen without the meaningful
Countries need to increase efforts to capture and
engagement and empowerment of people, especially
strengthen the contributions of coastal and ocean
those closest to and most dependent on marine and
ecosystems to greenhouse-gas mitigation and climate
coastal resources. Equity, inclusiveness and transparency
adaptation efforts, which requires protecting and
should underscore all aspects of decision-making.
restoring mangroves, saltmarshes, seagrasses and
Countries should adopt multi-stakeholder processes in
other marine ecosystems that store carbon. This must
designing NDCs and the post-2020 global biodiversity
include strengthening ocean-related measures in their
framework. They should also ensure inclusive
nationally determined contributions and national
participation and protection of human rights in climate,
adaptation plans, as well as within the Enhanced
ocean and biodiversity governance structures and
Transparency Framework and the Global Stocktake
implementation mechanisms, particularly with respect to
process. Important mechanisms include expanding
indigenous peoples and coastal communities.
the guidelines for national emissions inventories to
include a wider range of marine ecosystems; making
4. JOIN UP THE CLIMATE AND OCEAN
use of the ecologically or biologically significant marine
area criteria under the CBD to identify ecosystems that
are important for climate mitigation and adaptation;
and incorporating climate issues into marine spatial
FINANCE AGENDAS
planning and the design and management of marine Climate finance still falls far short of what is needed
protected area networks. to keep global warming within 1.5°C – and only a tiny
fraction of this goes to nature-positive ocean-climate
solutions. Enhanced coordination across UNFCCC, CBD
2. MAKE NATURE A KEY PART OF THE and SDG financing mechanisms is needed to leverage
additional funding for ocean sustainability and nature-
SOLUTION based solutions from public, private and blended sources
of finance. Finance institutions need to recognize
Protecting, restoring and sustainably managing coastal the value of natural ocean and coastal infrastructure
and ocean ecosystems can address both the climate and and the risks of business-as-usual approaches, while
ocean crises, while providing wider benefits to society. public sector finance should prioritize de-risking and
These nature-based solutions should not be viewed as enabling investment in ocean-climate action. Financial
“nice to have” but rather as essential to secure national institutions should adopt the Sustainable Blue Economy
economies, advance mitigation and adaptation solutions Finance Principles to create clarity and consensus on
Galápagos sea lion swimming near the mangroves in Baronesa Bay, and support the delivery of the SDGs. what sustainability means in ocean financing.
Floreana Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. © Antonio Busiello / WWF-US
8 BLUEPRINT FOR A LIVING PLANET FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR INTEGRATED OCEAN-CLIMATE STRATEGIES 9
ADDRESSING THE THE CONTEXT
COMBINED OCEAN AND The science is clear.1 We are facing a climate crisis that is also an ocean crisis.
CLIMATE CRISES REQUIRES As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report
on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate has highlighted, the
INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS ocean holds many of the solutions required to respond to climate change, yet
it is suffering from increasing climate change impacts. These impacts create
a feedback loop, which negatively affects the ocean’s abilities to cope with the
onslaught of emissions and mismanagement. Addressing the combined crises
requires integrated ocean and climate approaches and solutions.
Fortunately, the world is waking up to In light of these scientific uncertainties and potential policy opportunities,
the ocean’s critical role in mitigation, applying the precautionary approach in the management of these ecosystems
adaptation and resilience building.2 is imperative – to address not only the environmental pillar of sustainable
Seagrass, for example, per hectare development, but also the social, cultural and economic pillars. Seagrass,
can bury carbon more effectively than mangroves, coral reefs and several other coastal habitat types provide multiple
tropical rainforests,3 while providing goods and services to coastal communities – from food, building and cooking
nursery habitats to a fifth of the world’s materials, to sanitation and coastal protection, to cultural and educational
major fisheries.4 Seabed sediments value and traditional knowledge.9 Integrated solutions are needed so that both
can store more carbon than peatland terrestrial and marine ecosystems can continue to perform the ecological functions
ecosystems,5 and mangroves can store that underpin life on Earth and provide goods and services for the communities
3-5 times as much carbon as tropical that depend on them.
rainforests.6 In addition, ecosystems
such as mangroves and coral reefs
provide protection from the effects of
climate change by attenuating wave
energy and storm surges and stabilizing
shorelines from erosion. Altogether,
ecosystem services associated with
mangroves worldwide amount to an
estimated economic value of at least
US$1.6 billion per year.7
While there is good data on the
amount of carbon stored by coastal
ecosystems, there is considerable
scientific uncertainty in quantifying
carbon emissions to the atmosphere
from submerged marine sediments
across spatial scales. However, scientific
evidence confirms that sediment
disturbance (e.g. from fishing gear and
seabed mining) can lead to chemical
and biological alteration of the natural
cycles that drive carbon sequestration
and storage. These changes can reduce
Polar bea in blue ice. Svalbard, Spitsbergen, Norway.
the capacity of marine ecosystems to © Wim van Passel / WWF
Anemone attached to seagrass at Durgan, Cornwall. © Jane Morgan / WWF sequester and store CO2.8
10 BLUEPRINT FOR A LIVING PLANET FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR INTEGRATED OCEAN-CLIMATE STRATEGIES 11
Significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions action. This was a critical first step in mainstreaming
THE BENEFITS OF BLUE CARBON ECOSYSTEMS 16
are urgently needed to safeguard these ecological the ocean in UNFCCC processes, and engaging in the
functions and ecosystem services. In addition, there is relevant science to develop responses.
a need for conservation and sustainable use of marine
To secure global commitment to strengthen the mitigation,
and coastal ecosystems to ensure ocean resilience.10 If
adaptation and resilience potential of the ocean, WWF
managed effectively the ocean can contribute greatly to
joined with parties and non-party stakeholders to submit
keep our climate in balance, feed a growing population,
input to the Ocean and Climate Dialogue, held on 2-3
support economic development, and protect habitats and
December 2020.11 In this submission, WWF proposed that
treasured wildlife. But only a healthy ocean can provide
parties to the Paris Agreement consider four integrated
these essential services. And, as the IPCC Ocean and
themes, guided by four overarching principles, with the
Cryosphere report made clear, climate change is adding
pressures from temperature rise to ocean acidification
aim to recommend specific mechanisms for consideration
by UNFCCC COP26 to integrate the ocean into the global
CARBON SEQUESTRATION BUFFERING OCEAN COASTAL PROTECTION
while exacerbating existing pressures such as marine
pollution and overexploitation, with the impacts
climate agenda. Rates of carbon sequestration ACIDIFICATION Blue carbon habitats help
being disproportionately faced by the most vulnerable per hectare in blue carbon provide protection from the
The themes and principles are detailed in the following Ocean acidity has increased by
communities. We need to protect, maintain and restore habitats can be up to 10 impacts of climate change,
section. Simply put, they are intended to sharpen 30% since the beginning of the
the ocean’s natural capital to unlock the full value of the times greater than those of such as extreme weather
and clarify our engagement in and across the myriad Industrial Revolution. Healthy blue
goods and services it provides, including sequestering terrestrial ecosystems. carbon habitats enhance the ocean’s events and rising sea levels.
mechanisms the world has undertaken to try to safeguard
emissions and regulating the climate. and fairly share the planet’s resources. From the UNFCCC resilience to its harmful effects.
and the Paris Agreement, to the CBD, the Ramsar
By investing in the recovery and protection of our ocean,
Convention and the Convention on Migratory Species
its ecosystems and biodiversity, and by better managing
of Wild Animals, the UN Convention on the Law of the
its precious resources, we can rebuild the resilience of the
Sea (UNCLOS) to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
ocean, the communities that depend upon it and our ability
Development and its Sustainable Development Goals
to respond to climate change. However, clear mechanisms
(SDGs) – the international community has, collectively,
and guidance are needed for how such nature-based
committed again and again to cooperate for the good of all.
solutions linked to coasts and ocean, including “blue
carbon” (see figure 1), can be practically implemented, The upcoming Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC and
financed and reported upon. the Paris Agreement (COP26), as well as CBD COP15 and
other important processes, such as negotiations for a new
BOOSTING FISHERIES MEETING GLOBAL FOOD BENEFITING BIODIVERSITY
Given the importance of ocean health to human well-being
and to humanity’s ability to respond to climate change, the
treaty on marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, PRODUCTIVITY TARGETS Healthy blue carbon ecosystems
provide a unique opportunity for embracing the holistic provide critical habitat for
ocean-climate nexus must be central to discussions about Blue carbon habitats are vital Seaweed production helps meet
solutions needed for a sustainable and resilient future. marine and terrestrial species.
creating the solutions that will allow people and nature for food security. Almost 80% of world food targets and offers a
Including strong provisions for ocean health that take into Seagrass harbours 40 times as
to thrive. Integrating and coordinating ocean and climate global fish catches are directly or path to alternative crops and fuels
account climate change in each of these different regimes many species as the sea floor.
issues within and across relevant global frameworks, indirectly dependent on mangroves. that do not require arable land.
and processes makes them more effective on all fronts.
including the UNFCCC, will strengthen the mitigation,
adaptation and resilience potential of marine and coastal Many opportunities exist to strengthen links and
ecosystems – and everything and everyone that depends synergies12 between UN processes, and to deliver stronger
on them. and sustained mitigation and adaptation action outside
the UNFCCC processes. These include through UNCLOS,
The IPCC Ocean and Cryosphere report provides a
which is regarded as a “constitution for the oceans”13 and
strong scientific basis for a more systematic and in-
recognized by most members of the UN General Assembly
depth approach to addressing the role of the ocean in
as a legal framework for regulating all activities at sea.14
combating climate change. Yet to date, the irreversible
UNCLOS provisions on the prevention and control of
impacts on marine ecosystems from climate change
and the ocean’s contribution to climate responses have
marine pollution cover all sources, including atmospheric WATER FILTRATION JOB CREATION ECONOMIC BENEFITS
and land-based sources, and should be interpreted in
received relatively little attention in global frameworks, Blue carbon habitats are Blue carbon habitats support Blue carbon habitats hold
light of the absolute obligation to protect and preserve the
including the UNFCCC. Still, there has been some effective water purifiers, helping the livelihoods of coastal great potential for building
marine environment.15
encouraging progress upon which to build. UNFCCC to filter out excess nutrients and communities by creating the socio-economic resilience
COP25 in 2019, the so-called “Blue COP” because of its Integrated solutions across different international sediment that threaten water opportunities for tourism of vulnerable coastal
strong focus on ocean issues, requested the Chair of the conventions and policymaking processes are urgently quality and ecosystem health. and recreation. communities.
Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice needed to address complex challenges posed by the
to convene a dialogue on the ocean and climate change interdependent climate and biodiversity crises. The ocean
to consider how to strengthen mitigation and adaptation has a central role within them. Figure 1: The benefits of blue carbon habitats. Adapted from ©WWF-UK.
12 BLUEPRINT FOR A LIVING PLANET FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR INTEGRATED OCEAN-CLIMATE STRATEGIES 13
THE PRINCIPLES
WWF HAS Overfishing
PROPOSED hasFOURreduced predatorPRINCIPLES
OVERARCHING species competing withEFFECTIVE
TO GUIDE jellyfish forINTEGRATED
food
OCEAN AND CLIMATE ACTION:
1. Raise ambition and
urgently deliver stronger 2. Make nature 3. Put 4. Join up the
and sustained mitigation a key part of people at climate and ocean
and adaptation actions the solution the centre finance agendas
While principles 1-3 are clearly linked to international management for climate adaptation, resilience and
governance processes, principle 4 provides an enabling related planning efforts (Make nature a key part of
context for how these might be financed. These principles the solution).
were originally intended to inform the development
3. Strengthen the resilience of coastal and marine
and implementation of specific mechanisms within the
ecosystems and dependent societies and economies
UNFCCC/Paris Agreement. This report expands on these
(Make nature a key part of the solution and Put
principles by also applying them to other treaties, with
people at the centre).
an emphasis on the CBD. In doing so, the principles
serve as a frame for policy coherence that would enable 4. Increase the capacity of coastal developing countries
the adoption and implementation of solutions that to respond to ocean-related effects of climate change
maximize the benefits provided by marine ecosystems by leveraging support for finance, capacity building,
for sustainable development and the wider society. They inclusive planning, education and technology transfer
aim to ensure the best available science and traditional (Put people at the centre and Join up the climate and
knowledge is applied to decision-making, while ensuring ocean finance agendas).
that the financing needs of these interventions are
WWF proposes, among other things, that:
understood and addressed.
n UNFCCC COP26 agrees on a process or programme
Under these principles, WWF has proposed four
that takes forward this integrated agenda.
integrated themes to help identify appropriate
mechanisms within the UNFCCC to integrate the n CBD COP15 meaningfully includes the ocean-climate
ocean into the global climate agenda: interface into its post-2020 global biodiversity
framework.
1. C
apture and strengthen the contribution of coastal and
ocean ecosystems to GHG mitigation efforts (Raise n The SDGs are implemented in a holistic manner that
ambition and Make nature a key part of the solution). accounts for the ocean-climate interface.
2. Capture and strengthen the contribution of coastal This paper further elaborates on these principles within
and marine ecosystem protection, restoration and the wider context of relevant governance processes.
Coral reefs help to protect coasts against the impacts of climate change, such as
storms and other extreme weather. Great Sea Reef, Fiji. © Tom Vierus / WWF-US
14 BLUEPRINT FOR A LIVING PLANET FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR INTEGRATED OCEAN-CLIMATE STRATEGIES 15
PRINCIPLE
PRINCIPLE
1. RAISE
1. 1. RAISE AMBITION AND URGENTLY
AMBITIONRAISE
ANDAMBITION
URGENTLYAND DELIVER STRONGER AND SUSTAINED
DELIVER URGENTLY
STRONGER DELIVER
AND
STRONGER AND MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION ACTIONS
SUSTAINED MITIGATION
SUSTAINED AND
MITIGATION Principle 1 concerns the need for raised ambition to deliver stronger and
ADAPTATION
AND ADAPTATIONACTIONS
ACTIONS
sustained mitigation and adaptation actions without delay to meet the Paris
Agreement’s objectives, including efforts to limit temperature rise to no more
than 1.5°C. This starts with maximizing the opportunities to integrate ocean
issues into the work of the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement – and climate
considerations into biodiversity and ocean governance processes.
It asks parties to capture and and sustainably use marine biodiversity.”17 MSP can therefore be an important
strengthen the contribution of framework for proposed solutions to climate change, helping to manage and
coastal and ocean ecosystems to GHG reduce impacts on blue carbon habitats that can lower or negate their potential
mitigation efforts. The ocean provides to sequester and store carbon and contribute to adaptation and resilience.
enormous potential for scaling new Furthermore, both the CBD and the Convention on Migratory Species have
solutions to reduce GHG emissions, developed detailed environmental impact assessment (EIA) and strategic
such as marine renewable energy and environmental assessment (SEA) guidance that can be brought to bear to minimize
large-scale open-ocean macroalgae adverse impacts on marine biodiversity (including “blue carbon” assemblages),
farms. Ocean-based renewable with the latter being particularly important to assess cumulative impacts.18
energy can play an important role in
transitioning the global energy system
to align with the Paris Agreement, yet A fisherwoman in a village set
among mangroves in the western
there is important work to be done coastal region of Madagascar.
to ensure that it can be designed and © Justin Jin / WWF-France
implemented so as not to further
undermine ocean health and resilience.
Marine spatial planning (MSP) can
serve as a tool for selecting the best
marine areas for such developments in
a manner that minimizes any potential
adverse impacts on marine ecosystems
and species. MSP can also contribute to
measures to avoid or mitigate impacts
on blue carbon habitats.
The UN General Assembly
declaration on SDG 14 (Conserve
and sustainably use the oceans, seas
Walney Wind Farm in the Irish Sea, one of the largest offshore renewable and marine resources for sustainable
energy projects in the world. © Global Warming Images / WWF
development) supports MSP as a
tool for applying precautionary and
ecosystem approaches “to enhance
ocean resilience and better conserve
16 BLUEPRINT FOR A LIVING PLANET FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR INTEGRATED OCEAN-CLIMATE STRATEGIES 17
Importantly, increased ambition must also be reflected in An explicit opportunity to include ocean-related conservation
marine ecosystem protection, sustainable management and management measures in NDCs emerged during
for adaptation and related planning efforts, as well as
restoration. This is intrinsically linked to Principle 2 on
UNFCCC COP22 in Marrakech, which adopted the second
Because the Ocean Declaration (see figure 2 on the evolution
BOX 1: ECOLOGICALLY OR BIOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT MARINE AREAS (EBSAS)
making nature part of the solution. of ocean considerations more explicitly into the UNFCCC
processes). This encouraged parties to submit NDCs “that EBSAs are special areas that serve important n Biological productivity
Under the UNFCCC/Paris Agreement framework, some promote, as appropriate, ambitious climate action in order to purposes to support the healthy functioning
of the avenues under which synergies can be better n Biological diversity
minimize the adverse effects of climate change in the ocean of the ocean and the many services that it
explored include nationally determined contributions and to contribute to its protection and conservation”.21 n Naturalness (CBD decision IX/20 (2008))
provides. Seven scientific criteria are used to
(NDCs); adaptation planning pledges such as adaptation
communications and national adaptation plans (NAPs); the A 2017 analysis of 161 NDCs found that 70% made reference describe marine areas of ecological or biological
The EBSA descriptions and EBSA maps provide
Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF); and the Global to the ocean, with the most prominent concerns being significance, developed through scientific and
important scientific information about marine
Stocktake process. climate impacts on coastal areas (95 NDCs), followed by technical workshops under the CBD:
areas that are important for biodiversity and
ocean temperature (77 NDCs), fisheries (72 NDCs), and
marine ecosystems more broadly (62 NDCs).22 Only eight n Uniqueness or rarity ecosystem services (including those provided
INCLUDING OCEAN-RELATED NDCs included quantified measures for capturing the value by blue carbon ecosystems). Such information
n Special importance for life history stages of
of marine ecosystems in carbon sequestration and storage.23 is crucial for competent organizations to
species
CONSERVATION MEASURES INTO NDCS Quantification is an important consideration for parties
n Importance for threatened, endangered or
identify appropriate conservation and
sustainable management measures, and can
in their next cycle of NDCs. Quantifiable information
Paris Agreement parties have the obligation to adopt
presented in NDCs should also be accompanied by base year
declining species and/or habitats assist with enhanced cooperation among these
measures to conserve and enhance coastal and marine sinks
information, timeframes for implementation of measures, n Vulnerability, fragility, sensitivity, slow recovery organizations for integrated management.
and reservoirs of GHGs, as well as adaptation measures to
scope and coverage (sectors, categories, activities, sources
address adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate
and sinks, pools and gases).24 For GHG inventories, parties
resilience.19 Article 3 of the Paris Agreement identifies NDCs
must apply the 2006 IPCC guidelines,25 and are encouraged
as the main means to meet these obligations. The NDCs are
to apply the 2013 Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines
not legally binding per se, but they are “subject to binding A map of blue carbon ecosystems has been suggested as a identify blue carbon habitats and refugia. This would support
for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Wetlands (IPCC
procedural requirements and to normative expectations key tool for inventory reporting30 and as a means to identify coherent marine conservation and management measures and
Wetlands Supplement).26 As of 31 December 2020, 48 new
of progression and highest possible ambition”.20 This and implement coordinated conservation and management deliver co-benefits from mitigation, adaptation and resilience.
or updated NDCs have been submitted to the UNFCCC/Paris
progression in ambition should be reflected in the successive measures in response to obligations and commitments
Agreement secretariat.27 Only a few parties referred to the
NDCs submitted every five years. Even though they are not under multiple legal and policy instruments. A number of In addition to quantifiable information, qualitative information
standard methods and procedures contained in the IPCC
legally binding, once parties have defined their NDC, it is processes could feed into this mapping exercise, including would complement NDCs38 and could be used to better link
Wetlands Supplement.28 Some parties described mitigation
commonly understood to provide a benchmark for their the ecologically or biologically significant marine area (EBSA) overlapping actions across conventions. This could be done
co-benefits from adaptation action regarding coastal
progress and ambition on climate change. descriptions under the CBD,31 which implicitly32 incorporate by linking specific proposed measures to guidelines (even if
ecosystems, such as planting mangroves and seagrass.29
a wide range of blue carbon ecosystems in their descriptions. voluntary) developed under other conventions, such as the CBD.
While the EBSA criteria do not explicitly include climate
refugia33 or blue carbon ecosystems, some of these criteria are
UNFCCC Art. 4(d)
“Promote sustainable
First annual Ocean
First Because the particularly relevant for the identification of such habitats in NATIONAL ADAPTATION
PLANS (NAPS)
management, and Ocean Declaration
future EBSA description revisions. These include areas that
2014 2015
promote and cooperate Day at UNFCCC COP
1992 in the conservation and
enhancement, as appropriate,
of sinks and reservoirs of
2009 Roadmap to Ocean
& Climate Action
Ocean & Climate
Platform created
Paris Agreement
preamble and cross-
reference to UNFCCC
are unique or rare, of special importance for life-history stages
all GHG, including ocean Initiative Art. 4(d) on ocean. of species (areas required for a population to survive and
as well as coastal and
marine ecosystems” thrive), importance for threatened, endangered or declining Established under the Cancun Adaptation Framework, NAPs
species and/or habitats, biological productivity (important are a tool for countries to achieve their long-term climate
role in fuelling ecosystems, growth and reproduction rates resilience pathways. The process enables countries to identify
of organisms), and biological diversity (areas important for medium- and long-term adaptation needs, and to develop
evolution and maintaining resilience of marine species and and implement the strategies to address these needs. It is a
ecosystems).34 The Western South Pacific High Aragonite continuous, progressive and iterative process.39
Second Because the IPCC Special Report
Saturation State Zone is an example of an EBSA that included
2016
Ocean Declaration
Marrakesh Climate 2017 Ocean Pathway
Partnership 2019 on Ocean and the
Cryosphere 2020 Ocean-Climate
Dialogues climate refugia as a justification for its recognition.35 The
Article 7(1) of the Paris Agreement established an adaptation goal,
Action Agenda Blue COP25
justification was based on the site’s resilience to ocean aimed at enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience
acidification, resulting in a high score against the EBSA first and reducing vulnerability to climate change. It also aims to
criterion (oceanographic uniqueness or rarity).36 contribute to sustainable development and ensure an adequate
adaptation response in relation to the temperature goal under
As well as EBSAs, marine protected areas (MPAs), MPA Article 2. Incorporating ocean-related measures, including those to
networks37 (see box 2 below) and respective management protect ecosystems that are important for achieving this adaptation
Figure 2: Historical overview of ocean in UNFCCC processes. Adapted from The Because the Ocean Initiative Secretariat. 2019. Ocean for
Climate: Ocean-related Measures in Climate Strategies. plans and monitoring systems could incorporate and explicitly goal (e.g. coral reefs),40 into NAPs is consistent with this aim.
18 BLUEPRINT FOR A LIVING PLANET FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR INTEGRATED OCEAN-CLIMATE STRATEGIES 19
Two humpback whales swimming to the surface. © Shutterstock / Seb c est bien / WWF
These ecosystems provide a range of adaptation benefits, Ideally both should be required. Capacity building and
including increased protection against storm surges, resource mobilization for developing countries to use the
flooding, sea-level rise and coastal erosion, and enhanced IPCC Wetlands Supplement should be a priority action if
food security, among others.41 The IPCC has recommended coastal blue carbon ecosystems (mangroves, seagrasses
using natural ecosystems such as mangroves and tropical and saltmarshes) are to be included by all. Parties
coral reefs to protect human coastal communities.42 should also request the IPCC to expand the scope of its
methodologies to other blue carbon ecosystems, such
Adaptation measures under the Paris Agreement are to be
as macroalgae (e.g. kelp forest); maerl, mussel, flame
country-driven, gender responsive, participatory and fully
shell, brittlestar and bryozoan beds; biogenic reefs; and
transparent.43 These measures should consider vulnerable
different types of sediments, among others.53 This will
groups, communities and ecosystems, and be guided by the
ensure that information provided by parties under the
best available science and local, traditional and indigenous
ETF is consistent and comparable, as stipulated under
knowledge.44 Adaptation should also be integrated into relevant
Article 4 of the Paris Agreement.54
socio-economic and environmental policies and actions.45
Given the role of the ETF as a main avenue for reporting
The Paris Agreement recognizes the need for international
and reviewing GHG accounting of emissions and
cooperation on adaptation efforts, taking into account the
sinks,55 this process could play an important role in
needs of developing country parties, especially those that
reviewing parties’ blue carbon accounting, as well as the
are particularly vulnerable to climate change effects.46 Each
implementation of mitigation and adaptation measures
country should engage in adaptation planning and action,
more broadly.
including developing or enhancing plans, policies and/or
contributions, which may include the process of formulating
and implementing NAPs.47
GLOBAL STOCKTAKE PROCESS
Adaptation provisions under the Paris Agreement are
The Global Stocktake process under the Paris Agreement
less precise than the mitigation measures and most are
is meant to assess collective progress toward the Paris
recommendations rather than being legally binding.48 The
Agreement’s long-term goals, including the NDCs’
UNFCCC recommends that adaptation commitments and
efforts should be incorporated into the NDCs, in addition level of ambition.56 The process is supposed to start in
to NAPs, to achieve the same progressive ambition and 2023, and be revisited every five years thereafter.57 The
maximize the benefits. This includes marine and coastal outcomes will serve to inform parties in updating and
ecosystem-based adaptation (see box 3 below).49 The enhancing their actions in the context of their NDCs, and
financing of these interventions to ensure their effective enhance international cooperation on climate action.58
delivery and scaling up is critical (see Principle 4).
The second Because the Ocean Declaration encourages
UNFCCC parties to include the ocean in the Global
ENHANCED TRANSPARENCY Stocktake, including by considering “mitigation and
adaptation to climate impacts on ecosystems, livelihoods
FRAMEWORK (ETF) and economic activities that cannot be sustainable
without a climate-resilient and healthy ocean.”59 The 2019
Article 13 of the Paris Agreement established the ETF Because the Ocean report recommends the incorporation
to provide clarity on support provided and received by of ocean-related indicators under the Global Stocktake as
individual parties on climate actions regarding their NDCs a means to inform respective policy reform, and ensure
(Art. 4), adaptation efforts, including through NAPs (Art. ocean considerations under the NDCs.60
7), resource mobilization and finance (Art. 9), technology
Opportunities exist within the Paris Agreement processes,
development and transfer framework (Art. 10) and capacity
implementation and reporting mechanisms to integrate
building (Art. 11) to inform the Global Stocktake process.50
ocean solutions into the climate regime. As a key
Under the 2018 reporting requirements, all parties implementation mechanism of the Paris Agreement,
must use the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National the NDCs provide a unique opportunity for integrating
Greenhouse Gas Inventories and any subsequent version obligations, standards and commitments under other
or refinement (such as the 2019 refinement).51 The use of relevant international instruments (e.g. CBD, UNCLOS,
the IPCC Wetlands Supplement is only “encouraged”.52 SDGs, etc.).20 BLUEPRINT FOR A LIVING PLANET FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR INTEGRATED OCEAN-CLIMATE STRATEGIES 21
The scope of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement clearly NDCs are sufficiently ambitious in mitigating and adapting
encompasses ocean and marine biodiversity/ecosystems as to the effects of climate change. In this context, international
BOX 2: CLIMATE-SMART MPA NETWORKS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO CLIMATE carbon sinks. NDCs play a crucial role in the implementation
of the Paris Agreement, with important processes such as
instruments concerning marine biodiversity and the ocean
more broadly can support efforts to increase ambition toward
ADAPTATION, MITIGATION AND INCREASED ECOSYSTEM RESILIENCE, WHILE ALSO the ETF and the Global Stocktake mechanism ensuring that the achievement of the Paris Agreement objectives.
PROTECTING MARINE BIODIVERSITY.
PRINCIPLE 1
Climate-smart MPA network design should adaptive measures, as needed, in order to achieve MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS
include the following steps57 and elements: the biodiversity and climate-related objectives. Strengthening ocean-related measures in NDCs and NAPs that iterative and sustained monitoring systems are in
are key pieces of the solutions toolbox to respond to climate, place to enable coherent ocean-climate conservation
n Select climate-specific objectives (including In addition to these steps, it is important to biodiversity and sustainable development challenges. and management measures.
the protection of carbon-rich sedimentary consider the CBD criteria for ecologically
WWF recommends that UNFCCC and Paris n Request the IPCC to develop a supplement to its 2006
ecosystems) in addition to biodiversity representative MPA networks (CBD decision IX/20
Agreement parties should: guidelines for national inventories of anthropogenic
conservation objectives. (2008)) in their design: emissions by sources and removals by sinks for other
n Increase their overall ambition on emissions
blue carbon ecosystems beyond those covered under
n Carry out vulnerability assessments as an n Areas important for biodiversity and ecosystem reduction to secure the mitigation and adaptation the IPCC Wetlands Supplement. The guidelines
integral part of the establishment process services function of marine and coastal ecosystems. should include blue carbon ecosystems such as
to assess how climate change and ocean macroalgae (e.g. kelp forests); maerl, mussel, flame
n Present quantifiable information on the ocean’s
acidification will impact the conservation n Biogeographically representative shell, brittlestar and bryozoan beds; biogenic reefs;
contributions to mitigation and adaptation in their
objectives of the MPAs/MPA network, and NDCs, ideally accompanied by base year information, and different types of sediments, among others. This
n Connectivity
timeframes for implementation of measures, scope would promote the inclusion of such ecosystems
how many replication sites within a given
and coverage. into NDCs and NAPs, as well as ensure consistency
biogeographic area are needed to safeguard n Replication of ecological features (replicated sites
and comparability among the information provided
particular vulnerable ecosystems. serves as a “policy insurance” against ecological/ n Present qualitative information on the ocean’s through the ETF.
biological shifts/collapses in similar sites in a contributions to mitigation and adaptation in their
n Develop climate change mitigation, adaptation NDCs and NAPs to facilitate ocean-targeting actions n Promote and commit to capacity building and
given bioregion)
and increased resilience strategies to avoid/ across conventions. This could be done by linking resource mobilization for developing countries in
n Adequate and viable sites (sufficient size and ocean-specific proposed measures to guidelines order to advance the identification of EBSAs and
mitigate the impacts, including those identified
developed under other conventions (as in the example implementation of area-based management tools,
in the vulnerability assessment (e.g. protection protection to ensure ecological viability and
above). and the respective application of quantification and
of refugia, blue carbon ecosystems, areas integrity). qualitative methods. This should also support the
important for biodiversity). n Mobilize capacity building and adequate resources implementation of appropriate conservation measures
Other effective area-based conservation measures for the identification and development of ocean- in line with guidance developed under the CBD, Ramsar
n Monitor MPA management effectiveness in (OECMs) are important tools that complement climate measures (including with respect to the use Convention, SDGs and other relevant instruments.
response to climate change and adopt science- ecologically representative MPA networks (CBD of standardized metrics for planning and reporting
purposes) and clearly communicate the short- and long- n Implement ecosystem-based marine spatial planning to
based (including traditional knowledge) decision 14/8 (2018)).
term financial support, capacity building and technology provide a broader frame for sustainable and coherent
transfer needs for ocean-climate actions via NDCs and decision-making on proposed ocean-climate solutions.
other relevant communications to the UNFCCC.
n Integrate biodiversity-inclusive EIAs and SEAs in
The following provides an example of how an NDC can developed in accordance with CBD guidance contained in, n Make use of EBSA descriptions as a means to identify national legislation and ensure that climate change
include reinforcing quantifiable and qualitative information inter alia, CBD Decisions VII/11 (2004), IX/20 (2008), 14/5 blue carbon areas, climate refugia and ecosystems and ocean acidification effects are fully considered
on MPA networks that promotes synergies across (2018) and 14/8 (2018). This is expected to reduce and/or important for adaptation, and build capacity to in project proposals, as well as in policies, plans and
conventions:61 “By 2025, x% of blue carbon ecosystems avoid and/or sequester x tCO2eq by x [timeframe].”62 support this. programmes, with meaningful public participation.
[specifying which ones] will be protected through EIAs and SEAs provide an opportunity to integrate
ecologically representative and well-connected systems In this context, it would be important to identify financing n Identify and incorporate more explicitly all blue minimum standards for conservation and equity
of effectively and equitably managed MPAs and OECMs needs for marine activities and integrate these into the carbon habitats and refugia in management plans for developed under different conventions, to achieve
integrated into ecosystem-based marine spatial plans and NDCs accordingly (see Principle 4 below). MPAs and community conserved areas,63 and ensure true sustainability.22 BLUEPRINT FOR A LIVING PLANET FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR INTEGRATED OCEAN-CLIMATE STRATEGIES 23
Mangroves can provide nature-based solutions that
address both the climate and biodiversity crises.
© Nick Riley / WWF-Madagascar
PRINCIPLE 2. 2. MAKE NATURE A KEY PART OF
MAKE NATURE A KEY PART THE SOLUTION
OF THE SOLUTION Green and blue coastal infrastructure can provide nature-based solutions,64
addressing both the climate and nature crises. These should consider the
migratory shifts of species, fisheries productivity, spatial planning and
integrated coastal and ocean zone management. Conserving intact ecosystems
and restoring degraded coastal ecosystems should be a priority.65 This section
explores issues for consideration by the UNFCCC, including links with other
conventions such as the CBD and Ramsar Convention.
The conservation, restoration and sustainable use of blue wetland inventories and their threats; determine the range
carbon ecosystems (including mangroves, seagrass beds, of ecosystem services that they support; estimate the carbon
saltmarshes and several others)66 is key to achieving both storage and fluxes of their coastal wetlands; and update their
climate and biodiversity goals. These ecosystems can mitigate national GHG inventories to better reflect data for wetlands.71
GHG emissions, build climate adaptation and ensure the
continued provision of services for coastal livelihoods, Ramsar parties are also encouraged to apply ecosystem-
including food security and protection from storms. The based and integrated approaches in managing blue carbon
Blue Carbon Initiative67 guidelines recognize that including ecosystems. These should be consistent with the principles
and guidelines for incorporating wetland issues into
all blue carbon ecosystems in the NDCs’ carbon accounting
integrated coastal zone management contained in Resolution
framework requires planning and strengthened capacities.68
VIII.4 to ensure recognition of their values, functions and
Given that capacities and data availability vary from country
services, including their role in climate change mitigation
to country, the guidelines adopt a tiered approach for the
and adaptation.72 These efforts could be incorporated into
inclusion of coastal wetlands in NDCs, in line with the
Wetlands Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for NDCs, while the implementation of the Ramsar Convention
National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. principles and guidelines could be integrated into the next set
of biodiversity goals and targets under the CBD post-2020
With respect to wetland protection, the 1971 Convention on global biodiversity framework,73 as a monitoring element.
Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention)
is particularly relevant. Under the Ramsar Convention, once a Blue carbon ecosystems are not restricted to mangroves,
site has been listed as a Wetland of International Importance, seagrass beds and saltmarshes (see discussion in Principle
the party in whose territory it is situated must formulate and 1), but these are the only marine ecosystems covered by the
implement planning that promotes the site’s conservation IPCC Wetlands Supplement on GHG accounting. Expanding
and, as far as possible, its wise use.69 the methodology to other blue carbon ecosystems would help
countries integrate these ecosystems into their proposed NDC
Ramsar Resolution XIII.14 (2018) notes the role of the and NAP measures in a standardized manner.
Ramsar Convention as a relevant policy framework for
For enhanced coherence, NAPs should also be consistent
conserving and managing coastal wetlands, including
with CBD Decision 14/5 (2018), which adopted voluntary
coastal blue carbon ecosystems. Restoration of degraded
guidelines for the design and effective implementation of
wetlands, with priority to those relevant for climate change
ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation
mitigation and adaptation, is incorporated in target 12 of
and disaster risk reduction. Nature-based solutions have not
the Ramsar Strategic Plan 2016-2024.70 Parties with blue
yet been defined under the CBD, whereas “ecosystem-based
carbon ecosystems in their territories are encouraged to
approaches to climate change adaptation” and “ecosystem-
collect and analyse data, map these ecosystems, and make this
based adaptation” were defined under the above decision.74
information publicly available in order to update their coastal24 BLUEPRINT FOR A LIVING PLANET FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR INTEGRATED OCEAN-CLIMATE STRATEGIES 25
Despite not being formally defined under the CBD, nature- on scientific literature, include the promotion of “investment fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic a loophole for broader ambition on emissions reductions.
based solutions have been referred to as a possible action, in the development and use of nature-based solutions in order resources.84 Under the guidelines, humans are an integral part Nature-based solutions also provide a unique opportunity for
“depending on national circumstances,” to accelerate progress to address societal challenges, including through ecosystem of ecosystems, and ecosystems’ carrying capacities are to be meeting adaptation and resilience goals under the climate
on the Aichi Targets.75 These actions, based on the regional and restoration and the rehabilitation of agricultural systems, respected to ensure long-term sustainability. and biodiversity regimes in a synergistic manner. Such
thematic assessments of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation and ecosystem- efforts should include guidance to advance and incentivize
Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and based approaches to disaster risk reduction.”76 Linking the mitigation benefits of all blue carbon ecosystems priority ocean-based climate action and an integrated climate
with climate adaptation measures, by identifying the co- agenda that looks across the land-ocean interface. This will
benefits of the ecosystem services they provide, can increase avoid ocean-based interventions being seen as offsets or as a
synergies across legal regimes. Some of the conservation and distraction from reducing emissions from fossil fuels.
management measures that should be aligned across different
BOX 3: ECOSYSTEM-BASED APPROACHES TO CLIMATE ADAPTATION, conventions include climate-smart MPA networks (see box 2
above), sustainable and climate-smart fisheries measures, and
ECOSYSTEM-BASED ADAPTATION, AND ECOSYSTEM-BASED APPROACHES TO incorporating climate change and ocean acidification effects into
PRINCIPLE 2
DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
EIAs and SEAs as per CBD voluntary guidelines,85 among others.
The draft CBD post-2020 global biodiversity framework (still MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS
under negotiation at the time of writing) integrates climate
Ecosystem-based approaches to to maintain and increase the resilience and change in target 7: “By 2030, increase contributions to climate WWF recommends that UNFCCC and Paris
climate change adaptation are reduce the vulnerability of ecosystems and change mitigation, adaptation and disaster risk reduction from Agreement parties should:
defined as “holistic approaches that use people in the face of the adverse effects of nature-based solutions and ecosystems-based approaches,
n Include in their NDCs links to principles and
biodiversity, and ecosystem functions climate change.” (CBD Decision 14/5 (2018), ensuring resilience and minimizing any negative impacts on
guidelines for incorporating wetland issues into
biodiversity.”86 There have been calls for indicators on the
and services to manage the risks of Annex, section 1, para. 1) integrated coastal zone management, as contained in
implementation and effectiveness of nature-based solutions to the Ramsar Convention Resolution VIII.4, recognizing
climate-related impacts and disasters.”
Examples of marine-related ecosystem- be developed and incorporated into the post-2020 framework.87 their values, functions and services, including their
Ecosystem-based adaptation “is the use
based adaptation and ecosystem-based role in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
of biodiversity and ecosystem functions and To better align the climate, ocean and biodiversity regimes,
approaches to disaster risk reduction WWF recommends that the next CBD COP recognizes the n Integrate into their NDCs, NAPs and other relevant
services, as part of an overall adaptation
interventions contained in the guidelines important role of nature-based solutions, including ocean- national climate planning documents, ecosystem-
strategy, contributing to the well-being
include conservation of wetlands, mangrove based ones, in line with the ecosystem approach.88 To provide based approaches to climate adaptation in accordance
of societies, including indigenous peoples further clarity on this concept, COP could incorporate by
restoration and protection, sustainable fishing with the CBD guidance (CBD decision 14/5 (2018).
and local communities, and helping people reference the IUCN definition89 and standards90 for nature-
and mangrove rehabilitation. (CBD Decision n Recognize in a CMA the important role of nature-based
adapt to the adverse effects of climate based solutions, highlighting the role of the ocean (including
14/5 (2018), Annex, para 5, table.) express reference to the multiple benefits of blue carbon
solutions, including ocean-based ones, while noting that
change. Ecosystem-based adaptation aims
these should: (i) not be a substitute for a rapid phase-
ecosystems and marine refugia), and encouraging the use
out of fossil fuels and a reduction of human footprint;
of such nature-based solutions in line with the ecosystem
(ii) be implemented with the full engagement and free,
approach, and respecting the rights of IPLCs.91
prior and informed consent of IPLCs respecting their
CBD parties are encouraged to undertake the design, restoration and wise/sustainable use of wetlands given their cultural and ecological rights; and (iii) be explicitly
Furthermore, it is important that UNFCCC and Paris
implementation and monitoring of ecosystem-based role in ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation.81 designed to provide benefits for biodiversity.
Agreement parties recognize that nature-based solutions
approaches to climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction
CBD parties and other governments are encouraged to make should: (i) not be a substitute for a rapid phase-out of fossil
with the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples WWF recommends that parties to the CBD should:
use of these guidelines “in line with the ecosystem approach fuels and a reduction of human footprint; (ii) involve a wide
and local communities (IPLCs), appropriately recognizing and
when designing and implementing ecosystem-based approaches range of ecosystems on land and in the sea (not just forests); n Incorporate the Ramsar principles and guidelines
supporting the governance, management and conservation of
to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, (iii) be implemented with the full engagement and free, prior mentioned above into the monitoring framework of
IPLCs’ territories and areas.77 Parties are also encouraged to
recognizing that this may also jointly contribute to climate and informed consent of IPLCs, respecting their rights,92 the CBD post-2020 global biodiversity framework
identify regions, ecosystems and biodiversity components that
change mitigation.”82 The ecosystem approach is recognized including cultural and ecological rights; and (iv) be explicitly (with respect to draft target 1 or 7) for alignment.
are or will become vulnerable to climate change at a geographic Draft target 7 should also reference ocean acidification
by CBD parties as “a strategy for the integrated management designed to provide benefits for biodiversity.93
scale and to assess the current and future risks and impacts on and measures to minimize risks from it.
biodiversity and biodiversity-based livelihoods, considering of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation
Nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation
different scenarios,78 and include such information in their and sustainable use in an equitable way.”83 The CBD adopted n Recognize the important role of nature-based
can increase synergies across the climate and biodiversity
reports to the convention.79 Links to the Paris Agreement have implementation guidelines for the ecosystem approach in solutions, including ocean-based ones, encouraging
regimes. Given the inclusion of nature-based solutions as a
2004. Importantly, they consider the approach a priority their application in line with the ecosystem
been strengthened through this decision, which encourages priority of the UNFCCC COP26 Presidency, COP26 provides
framework for addressing and balancing the three objectives approach, respecting the rights of IPLCs, and in a
CBD parties and other governments to integrate ecosystem- an important opportunity to focus on this issue further.
of the convention: the conservation of biological diversity (or manner that provides benefits for biodiversity.
based approaches in their NDC updates.80 In this context, This should include ensuring that nature-based solutions
biodiversity); the sustainable use of its components; and the
parties are also encouraged to collaborate on the conservation, meet accounting guidelines but do not duplicate or provideYou can also read
