France and Brazil launched the Blue NDC Challenge at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference being held in Nice, France.
About Blue NDC Challenge
- The ‘Blue NDC Challenge’ is a global initiative urging countries to integrate ocean-focused climate measures into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of the 30th Conference of Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Belem, Brazil.
About Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
- NDCs are national climate plans that outline a country’s efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change under the Paris Agreement adopted by 195 Parties at UNFCCC COP21 in Paris, France.
- Aim: To hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
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- Support: It is supported by Ocean Conservancy,
- the Ocean and Climate Platform and
- the World Resources Institute through the Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance (ORCA) and has been endorsed by WWF-Brazil.
- Participating Countries So Far: Six other countries namely Australia, Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau, and the Republic of Seychelles have joined this initiative committing to including ocean-focused climate action in their updated NDCs.
- Implementation Support: Governments that join the Challenge will receive support from the Ocean Breakthroughs led by the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action,
- The UN High-Level Climate Champions, and
- The NDC Partnership hosted by World Resources Institute.
Importance of Blue NDC Challenge in Global Climate Strategy
- Integrates Oceans into Climate Action: The Blue NDC Challenge pushes countries to explicitly incorporate ocean-based climate solutions such as coastal ecosystem restoration and sustainable fisheries into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
- The challenge recognizes the critical role of marine ecosystems (e.g., mangroves, seagrasses) in carbon sequestration and climate resilience.
- Investment and Innovation: The initiative fosters blue finance and technological innovation in areas such as marine renewable energy, sustainable aquaculture, and low-carbon shipping.
- Aligns with Global Frameworks: It supports the Paris Agreement’s goals and complements the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
- SIDS and LDC: The challenge emphasizes inclusive, locally-led ocean action particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and coastal Least Developed Countries (LDCs), who are most affected by ocean degradation and climate change.
Role of Oceans in Addressing the Climate Crisis
- Carbon Sink: Oceans absorb nearly 30% of global CO₂ emissions, reducing atmospheric greenhouse gases.
- Heat Buffer: They absorb over 90% of the excess heat caused by global warming, playing a vital role in regulating Earth’s temperature.
- Climate Regulation: Ocean currents influence global weather and climate patterns, making oceans central to climate regulation.
- Natural Disaster Buffer: Coastal ecosystems provide natural protection against sea-level rise, storm surges, and extreme weather events.
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India and NDC
- India’s Commitment: As a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, India submitted its: First NDC in 2015 and Updated NDC in 2022.
- Panchamrit: At COP26 (Glasgow, UK), India announced five key elements, Panchamrit, to intensify its climate action. These form the basis of India’s updated NDC .
- 500 GW non-fossil energy capacity by 2030
- 50% of total energy requirements from renewables by 2030
- 45% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP by 2030 (from 2005 levels)
- 1 billion tonnes reduction in total projected carbon emissions by 2030
- Net-zero carbon emissions by 2070
India’s NDC does not bind it to any sector specific mitigation obligation or action.
About Ocean Breakthroughs:
- The Ocean Breakthroughs identify five turning points ocean sectors must reach by 2030 to achieve a healthy and productive ocean in 2050.
- The five sectors the Ocean Breakthroughs focus on are: marine conservation, ocean renewable energy, shipping, aquatic food and coastal tourism.
About Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action:
- It was launched at COP22 in 2016 to foster collaboration between governments and non-state actors to cut emissions and build climate resilience.
- It supports implementation of the Paris Agreement in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
About UN Climate Change High-Level Champions (HLCs):
- They work to mobilize ambitious climate action from businesses, cities, regions, and financial institutions to support governments in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.
About NDC Partnerships:
- The NDC Partnership is a global initiative to help countries achieve their national climate commitments and ensure financial and technical assistance is delivered as efficiently as possible.
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Global Initiatives to Protect Ocean Ecosystems
- UN Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development (2021-2030): Promotes ocean research for sustainable development.
- Global Ocean Alliance: It is an international group of countries working to protect the world’s oceans. The alliance was founded by Great Britain in 2019 and seeks to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
- Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS): It is a comprehensive framework for sustained ocean observations, which is part of the Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS).
- It is co-sponsored by UNESCO, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
- Blue Carbon Initiative: UNEP’s Blue Carbon Initiative aims to develop a global partnership to advance the sound management of coastal and marine ecosystems in order to ensure that their carbon sequestration and storage functions are maintained, and emissions of greenhouse gases are avoided.
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