Glasgow, Scotland – Today, members of the Pacific Rim Ocean-Climate Action Partnership (PROCAP) announced the Ocean-Climate Ambition Declaration, reaffirming their commitments to protect the world’s largest ocean and increasing their ambitions to tackle the climate crisis.

The PROCAP leadership coalition of Costa Rica, California, Fiji, Panama and Peru call on all Pacific countries and subnational actors to join in their pledge to increase overall climate ambition, achieve the potential of ocean-based mitigation, advance ocean-climate resilience, and create an ocean-smart
UNFCCC.

PROCAP members are committed to ambitious actions that are critical to achieving the overarching
climate goals presented in the Declaration. These actions include, but are not limited to:

• Reducing the emissions associated with plastic production and consumption;
• Supporting the development of suitable green shipping corridors in the region;
• Supporting commitments to increase international climate finance with at least half of funds dedicated to supporting adaptation activities that will benefit ocean resources and the people who depend on them;
• Supporting an ocean outcome in the UNFCCC that creates an ongoing forum for promoting
  ocean-based climate action and allowing ocean-related issues to be formally negotiated.

The ocean is a critical source of overlooked climate mitigation and adaptation solutions – from increasing offshore renewable energy to protecting and restoring coastal “blue carbon” ecosystems. Regional partnerships, such as PROCAP, are increasingly important as climate impacts cross-boundaries, continents and the ocean. Ambitious and coordinated leadership is necessary to address the interrelated ocean and climate crises. As stewards of the world’s largest ocean, Pacific leaders are working together in the face of climate change to protect the Pacific and the billions of people who rely on its health.

COP26 is a crucial moment to build and strengthen on COP25 (the “Blue COP”) and the UNFCCC
ocean-climate dialogue that occurred in December of 2020. This is the time for countries and non-state actors to establish clear commitments for the protection of the oceans through climate action.   

 José Julio Casas, Director of Coasts and Seas of the Ministry of the Environment, Panama:

“One of the actions that countries must take into account is to work together, our ecosystems and our biodiversity doesn’t know borders. Teamwork with other countries is one of the most effective ways to achieve the goals. For Panama, it is to ensure the conservation of resources and protection of the communities related to them, due to the important role that the oceans play.”

Anna-Marie Laura, Director of Climate Policy, Ocean Conservancy:
“As our ocean and those who rely on it face increasingly severe climate impacts, from ocean acidification to sea level rise, rapid global decarbonization is essential to limit warming to 1.5°C and preserve a livable future for us all. Regional commitments like PROCAP can accelerate ocean-based mitigation measures, such as the development of suitable green shipping corridors in the region, and promote ocean-climate resilience to protect the ocean and the people and livelihoods who depend on its health.”

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Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit http://www.oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.