Five Key
Ocean Sectors
To achieve a 2050 world in which we have brought climate changing emissions down to zero and protected the key functions that make life on Earth possible, we need the ocean.
The ocean is essential to sustain life on Earth. Covering over two thirds of the planet’s surface, the ocean is a reservoir of biodiversity and the world’s largest habitable zone, maintaining species diversity and providing food, minerals, energy and jobs for human populations. It also plays a crucial role in the climate system by regulating heat transfers, and water and carbon cycles. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the ocean has absorbed close to a third of all greenhouse gas emissions and 90% of the heat produced by human activities.
By working with the ocean, we can help to curb catastrophic climate change and protect people and nature.
The Ocean Breakthroughs, developed by members of the ocean community united under the Marrakech Partnership on Ocean & Coastal Zones and the UN High-Level Climate Champions, are a series of positive tipping points to reach by 2030 in order to achieve a healthy and productive ocean in 2050. These tipping points will directly contribute to greenhouse gas emission reduction and help secure a healthier climate and planet. The tipping points are achievable, practical and will help deliver up to a 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions¹, in addition to advancing sustainable development and securing a safer future for humankind.
The Ocean Breakthroughs are comparatively simple to achieve; within reach; viable; real; and possible now.
They will help deliver on global goals, including those set by the Paris Agreement (2015), the Sustainable Development Goals (2015), and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022), and contribute to the achievement of global targets such as protecting at least 30% of land and sea by 2030.
¹ Hoegh-Guldberg, O., Northrop, E. et al. 2023. “The ocean as a solution to climate change: Updated opportunities for action.” Special Report. Washington, DC: World Resources Institute. Available online at https://oceanpanel.org/publication/ocean-solutions-to-climate-change. DOI: https://doi.org/10.69902/98e3de92.
The tipping points are spread across five key ocean sectors where positive action by different stakeholders can reduce global emissions and help deliver a healthy planet:
The 2030 Ocean Breakthrough targets are:
MARINE CONSERVATION:
By 2030, investments of at least USD 72 billion secure the integrity of ocean ecosystems by protecting, restoring, and conserving at least 30% of the ocean for the benefit of people, climate, and nature.
OCEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY:
By 2030, iInstall at least 380 GW of offshore capacity, while establishing targets and enabling measures for net-positive biodiversity outcomes and advocate for mobilizing $10 billion in concessional finance for developing economies to reach this goal.
