12 November 2021 — Update from COP26

"When the world talks about the climate crisis, the ocean crisis must be front and center in that conversation."
~ John Kerry

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Update from COP26
The climate talks wrap up today, with parties wrangling over the final details of the outcome document. The good news is that the Ocean is mentioned! The draft would create an annual ocean-climate dialogue and require parties to "consider how to integrate and strengthen ocean-based action in their existing mandates and workplans". Over 100 countries signed up to a pledge to protect at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030.

• Tuvalu’s foreign minister addressed the COP while knee-deep in the ocean to draw attention to the concerns of small island States.
• Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Panama take the first step towards creating the largest transboundary marine biosphere reserve
• Belieze has committed to spend $4 million a year and fund a $23 million marine conservation trust to protect the world's second-largest coral reef. This debt-swap model follows the pioneering efforts of the Seychelles.
• IUCN launched a new Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund

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Get involved

• Upcoming webinar: Towards a better management of Western African Marine Resources November 23) - register here
• Do you follow the high seas treaty negotiations? Help out researchers by filling out this survey about the impacts of covid on the negotiations
• Sign this petition to phase out destrictive fishing practices in the EU
• The Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) is hiring - Policy Officer, Coastal and Maritime Economy

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