Scientists call on UN to adopt bold ocean policies to combat climate and biodiversity threats
In the lead-up to the United Nations Ocean Conference that opens today in France, scientists released ten policy recommendations urging world leaders to act swiftly on climate change, overfishing, and marine pollution based on existing scientific evidence.
Teresa Tomassoni reports for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- An 18-member international scientific committee presented a ten-point plan to guide global ocean recovery at the One Ocean Science Congress in Nice, France.
- The recommendations call for phasing out fossil fuels, ending harmful fishing subsidies, recognizing the legal rights of marine ecosystems, and pausing deep-sea extraction activities.
- Scientists argue that ocean health has long been neglected, receiving less than 2% of research funding on average, despite its vital role in climate regulation and food security.
Key quote:
“You cannot deal with the crisis of the climate without also dealing with the crisis of the ocean and vice versa.”
— John Kerry, former U.S. secretary of state
Why this matters:
Oceans absorb more than 90% of the planet’s excess heat and about a third of carbon dioxide emissions, making them a frontline buffer against global warming. Yet marine ecosystems are nearing a tipping point. Warming seas trigger coral bleaching and disrupt fish migrations, threatening food security in coastal regions. Plastic pollution and chemical runoff suffocate marine species and enter the food chain, with unknown health impacts on humans. Overfishing, sometimes propped up by state subsidies, continues to deplete fish populations faster than they can regenerate.
Adding to the stress, nations are eyeing the deep ocean for mining and carbon sequestration, despite scant understanding of its ecology. While the UN’s “Life Below Water” goal seeks to address these issues, it remains one of the least-funded parts of the international sustainability agenda. Scientists warn that ignoring ocean science in policymaking — especially on climate and biodiversity — could lead to irreversible harm.
Related: There's a plan to turn oceans into climate sponges, but will it work?
