NEWS: New Report Shows Countries are Skimming the Surface on Ocean Climate Action When What We Need is a Deep Dive

Belém, Brazil — The ocean is increasingly being recognized in national climate plans – but most countries are still overlooking the most powerful actions to cut emissions and build resilience, according to a new report by World Resources Institute (WRI), Ocean Conservancy and Ocean & Climate Platform, released today at COP30 in Belém. Of 66 newly submitted NDCs, 61 (92%) include at least one ocean-related measure — up from 62% in 2015 and 73% in 2022.

While encouraging, the report shows that countries are skimming the surface of the ocean’s potential to limit the worst effects of climate change. The greatest emission reductions from the ocean will come from phasing out offshore oil and gas, expanding offshore renewables, and decarbonizing shipping and aquatic foods supply chains; yet these actions only represent 12% of all ocean actions included in new NDCs. Research commissioned by the Ocean Panel shows that ocean-based climate solutions can deliver up to 35% of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions needed to limit warming to 1.5°C by 2050. 

“There’s a huge gap between the promise of ocean-climate solutions and the pace at which we are adopting them,” said Ocean Conservancy’s Senior Director of Climate Policy, Anna-Maria Laura. “The gap isn’t in science or technology — it’s in funding and implementation. The ocean is sounding the alarm through stronger storms, dying coral reefs and rising seas. But the ocean can also help us fight back through solutions like offshore wind. It’s time to fund and implement these solutions as if the future of our ocean and our planet depend on them — because they do.”

In addition to the limited uptake of offshore wind in NDCs, as of 2020 99% of offshore wind development was concentrated in G20 countries.

“Staving off the worst impacts of climate change depends on global adoption of clean ocean energy like offshore wind,” said Ocean Conservancy’s Director, International Climate and Clean Energy, Shamini Selvaratnam, “But without increasing finance and making it more readily available for countries outside the G20, the most promising ocean-climate solutions will remain out of reach.”

Some countries are demonstrating how integrating ocean action across sectors can advance both climate and development goals. 

• The Republic of the Marshall Islands: Its NDC includes cutting domestic shipping emissions by 40% by 2030, testing innovative Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion technology to generate clean energy, and managing fisheries to safeguard cultural heritage and livelihoods. The country has also designated nearly 48,000 km² of ocean as protected sanctuaries.
• Brazil: Its NDC aims to generate 16 GW offshore wind energy by 2050 and establish the regulatory framework to make this expansion possible — creating jobs, strengthening energy independence and advancing a clean energy future for the country.  

Research suggests that every $1 invested in ocean solutions could yield at least $5 in global benefits by 2050. Conversely, continuing harmful and unsustainable ocean practices could result in more than $8 trillion in losses by 2050.

Island and coastal countries face especially high stakes, with over 680 million people currently living in low-lying coastal zones at risk from rising seas and coastal erosion — a figure expected to surpass 1 billion by 2050.

To help close these gaps, the Blue NDC Challenge was launched earlier this year by the governments of France and Brazil to support countries in strengthening and implementing ocean-climate actions within their national climate commitments. Supported by Ocean Conservancy, WRI, and the Ocean & Climate Platform, the initiative has welcomed new members at COP30 and aims to serve as a “taskforce” driving the implementation of ocean commitments in the 2025 round of NDCs.

“Meeting global climate goals won’t happen in isolation,” said WRI’s Global Climate, Economics and Finance Program Director Melanie Robinson, “Countries, communities, and organizations must work together — sharing knowledge, aligning policies, and scaling solutions. Initiatives like the Blue NDC Challenge show how collaboration can transform promises into action, shielding coastal communities from rising seas, creating green jobs, and charting the world toward a cleaner, more resilient future.” 

“As we move from ambition to implementation, NDCs 3.0 must serve as roadmaps to guide investment, capacity-building, and technical assistance toward ocean-based climate solutions that deliver for people and planet,” said Ocean & Climate Platform’s Executive Director Loreley Picourt.

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ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY  

For more than 50 years, Ocean Conservancy has delivered effective, evidence-based solutions for the ocean and all who depend on it. Today, we continue to unite science, people and policy to protect our ocean from the greatest challenges it faces: climate change, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss. We are a 501(C)3 headquartered in Washington, D.C. that inspires a worldwide network of partners, advocates and supporters through our comprehensive and clear-eyed approach to ocean conservation. Together, we are securing a healthy ocean and a thriving planet, forever and for everyone. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky or Instagram.