On Thursday morning, participants to the Before the Blue COP workshop met to discuss challenges and opportunities in integrating the ocean in NDCs. Manuel Barange, UN FAO, introduced a technical report by the FAO on the impacts of climate change on fisheries and aquaculture as a sector-specific toolbox for countries to work on adaptation planning, including for National Adaptation Plans and NDCs.

Responding to many participants’ enquiries, Dorothée Herr, IUCN, explained why discussions on blue carbon largely focus on greenhouse gas sequestration in vegetated coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, referring to, inter alia, the long-term carbon storage potential of these ecosystems. Sarah Cooley, Ocean Conservancy, discussed acidification impacts on marine ecosystems. She said carbon dioxide has a direct impact on acidification.

Diego Kersting, Freie Univerität Berlin, highlighted consequences of climate change and ocean warming including: mass mortality of organisms such as corals and sponges, decrease of Atlantic algal forests, and increased vulnerability of other species.

Beñat Sanz Antoñanzas, APPA Marina, presented on the role of marine renewable energy, and noted advantages, including: predictability and good integration with other renewable sources. Itziar Martín, Spain, emphasized that climate change effects that are relevant for the management of MPAs are already perceptible. Gemma Harper, UK, highlighted that her country is collaborating with the IUCN to explore ways to ensure that MPAs are “climate-smart,” including with regard to strengthened coastal defenses for climate adaptation.

In the afternoon, participants addressed national perspectives on pathways for advancing the consideration of ocean and climate interlinkages. In the closing session, Rémi Parmentier, Because the Ocean Initiative, presented a preliminary list of take-aways from the workshop, including:

• NDCs offer opportunities to address ocean and climate interlinkages, but other vehicles such as National Adaptation Plans should also be considered;
• There is 'great appetite' for political initiatives to increase the momentum on the ocean-climate-biodiversity nexus; and
• Cooperation between the marine and climate communities should be fostered at international, regional, and national levels.

In final remarks, Valvanera Ulargui, Spain, stressed the importance of supporting the Chilean COP 25 Presidency in making the “Blue COP” a success. It was noted that conversations will continue in the workshop series. The meeting closed at 4:56 pm.

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