Since 1971, the ocean has absorbed more than 90 percent of the excess heat caused by human-generated climate change, pushing it to the brink of collapse. The fact that the world is experiencing the largest coral-bleaching event on record is a warning sign of the dangers ahead. In fact, without urgent action, the ocean would soon cross a tipping point, threatening the extinction of marine life and millions of livelihoods.
Fish are a key source of protein for about 3.3 billion people. More than 270 million workers are employed in the tourism sector, making it one of the world’s largest industries, with seaside holiday destinations, such as the Bahamas and Seychelles, having a particularly high concentration of workers in tourism. Coral reefs alone provide goods and services valued at roughly US$2.7 trillion per year. Biodiversity collapse and climate-related disasters could cost trillions of dollars in lost productive capacity, and have wide-reaching consequences for public health, economic stability and global security.
The international community has started to recognize the growing threats posed by ocean warming and acidification. The 2022 UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets the ambitious target of conserving at least 30 percent of the world’s land and seas by 2030, with a focus on areas that offer important ecosystem services. That “30-by-30” pledge reflects scientific consensus on the minimum level of protection needed to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. However, efforts to meet that target have so far fallen far short: Only 17.6 percent of land and 8.4 percent of seas are currently protected, with the latter increasing by just 0.5 percent since COP15.
Increased investment in marine conservation would bring profound benefits: Healthy oceans support resilient economies and communities by strengthening food and water security, and generating sustainable livelihoods. Without marine reserves, overfishing and other unsustainable extraction practices would continue to escalate, potentially leading to the collapse of fish stocks and the industries that depend on them. Moreover, pollution — from oil spills to industrial and plastic waste — would destroy marine habitats, creating a negative feedback loop.
One of the best ways to protect these ecosystems is by establishing and maintaining marine protected areas (MPAs) — often called the “national parks of the sea.” Indigenous peoples and coastal communities, in particular, should participate in the management and governance of MPAs. Their knowledge, cultural connections to nature and traditional practices are essential to preserve biodiversity and ecological connectivity.
Many countries lack the governance frameworks and financial resources to create or enforce MPAs. The High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC for N&P) can help here. That intergovernmental group of 120 countries, cochaired by Costa Rica and France (with the UK as the oceans champion), was created to support member countries in their efforts to achieve the 30-by-30 target. The HAC for N&P has developed tools, expertise and partnerships to help governments identify their needs, access resources and implement effective solutions, whether through peer-to-peer exchanges, capacity-building workshops or other avenues.
Those efforts to mobilize new commitments and maintain momentum toward the 30-by-30 target are starting to bear fruit. Portugal approved legislation to create the largest MPA network in the North Atlantic Ocean, covering 287,000km2 — approximately 30 percent of the ocean surrounding the Azores. The Dominican Republic became the first Caribbean country to achieve the 30 percent protection target by designating a new MPA and expanding an existing sanctuary. Australia has protected more than half of its ocean area by expanding two already-existing marine reserves around Heard Island and McDonald Islands. Other HAC for N&P members must follow their lead.
Of course, developing countries often lack the capacity to mobilize domestic resources. To address this problem, we just launched the rapid deployment mechanism, which offers small grants for the development and implementation of 30-by-30 plans, at the Our Ocean Conference in Busan, South Korea. That mechanism would provide seed funding to HAC for N&P members to fast track the establishment of new MPAs, enhance existing ones and galvanize political support for ocean conservation.
Human well-being depends on a healthy ocean, and safeguarding at least 30 percent of that critical ecosystem is the minimum requirement for ensuring a thriving future for people and the planet alike. As we kick off a year of high-level decisionmaking on marine conservation, with this week’s Our Ocean Conference, and the UN Ocean Conference and the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in June, we must remember that preserving the world’s seas for current and future generations is our collective responsibility. Part of that responsibility is providing a lifeline for those countries that have the will, but not the resources, to act.
Rita Maria El Zaghloul is director of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People.
Copyright: Project Syndicate
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