PML: On World Oceans Day, and ahead of the G7 later in the week, leading UK experts from Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and partners shone a spotlight on the critical role the ocean plays in greatly slowing the rate of climate change but also the subsequent impacts of this and why support from nations for better inclusion of the ocean at the United Nations climate negotiations, such as COP26 in Glasgow this November, is so important.  Click here.

The comprehensive briefing note ‘Why the Ocean Matters in Climate Negotiations’, published by PML in association with the COP26 Universities Network, summarises the latest research and knowledge on the importance of the ocean, as well as offering a range of opportunities to nations in order to ensure that the ocean can be developed sustainably for the benefits it provides to people around the world and suggestions for positive actions nations can take as the countdown to COP26 is underway.

Developed by a team of experts from leading UK marine and environmental science universities and centres and published in association with the COP26 Universities Network, the briefing also makes suggestions on how the ocean can be better incorporated in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process.

The experts also emphasise the ecological, social and economic importance of coastal seas and the open ocean. They stress that since coastal seas are often busy places and face a diverse range of pressures, they therefore require careful and sensitive management to not only ensure protection but also help these areas meet their potential for both climate change mitigation and adaptation.