The first draft text on oceans and climate has been circulated at COP25 in Madrid.
As COP25 enters its final week, momentum is building among parties for a strong policy outcome from the first Blue COP. In our previous blog, we explained the context of the high-level ministerial process leading to introduction of text on oceans and climate.
The draft ocean-climate text has just been released, and while short, would establish the first process in UNFCCC history for all countries to begin formal discussions about issues at the ocean-climate nexus. The initial text being negotiated could launch an important dialogue through the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) to amplify the role oceans and coastal ecosystems can play as mitigation and adaptation solutions, coordinate action with other international processes, and ensure coastal communities are supported in their efforts to fight and respond to climate change.
The draft ocean-climate text is as follows (as of December 11, 2019) and may be subject to change.
DRAFT TEXT on Decision 1/CP.25 Version December 11, 2019 09:49
37. Notes the importance of the ocean, including as an integral part of the Earth’s climate system;
38. Emphasizes the importance of ensuring the integrity of ocean and coastal ecosystems, in line with the Convention and the Paris Agreement, and their interdependence with terrestrial ecosystems;
39. Requests the Chair of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice to convene a dialogue on the ocean-climate nexus during its fifty-second session (June 2020) to consider, in an holistic and integrated manners, ways to strengthen ocean climate change mitigation and adaptation actions taking into account the IPCC’s Special report on The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, on-going relevant work under the Convention, the Paris Agreement and constituted bodies and the submissions of views referred in paragraph 40 below;
40. Invites Parties and non-Party stakeholders to submit their views via the submission portal, by March 31, 2020;
41. Invites representatives of other international processes, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and others working on ocean-climate issues, to participate in the dialogue;
42. Requests the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice to make recommendations, as appropriate, taking into consideration the outcomes of the dialogue referred to above, for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-sixth session (November 2020).
English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish