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Bridging global climate and biodiversity strategies: PML contributes to international “Blue Thread” Policy Brief
14 October 2024
The brief aims to guide governments in including ocean-based climate solutions as a “blue thread” between climate and biodiversity

Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) is among the key partners behind the development of a newly-published policy brief titled “Blue Thread: Aligning National Climate and Biodiversity Strategies”.
Led by the Ocean & Climate Platform and Blue Marine Foundation, the publication aims to guide governments in integrating ocean-based climate solutions across their national climate and biodiversity strategies.
The policy brief comes at a crucial time as nations prepare for the Convention on Biological Diversity’s 16th Conference of the Parties (CBD COP16) in Cali, Colombia, from 21 October to 1 November 2024. For the first time, the submission of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) will coincide with the revision of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), due in February 2025.
Professor Matt Frost, Head of PML’s International Office, said: “The timing of the CBD COP16 and the revision of climate strategies presents an unprecedented opportunity to align national responses to biodiversity loss and climate change. Our involvement highlights PML’s commitment to fostering integrated approaches to these global challenges.”
The “Blue Thread” policy brief aims to show how the CBD and UNFCCC can collaborate effectively despite their separate mandates, explore ocean-based solutions for enhancing coherence between national biodiversity and climate strategies, and identify opportunities to accelerate and scale these solutions.
It outlines three key strategies to align national climate and biodiversity efforts.
- First, it proposes developing a common, long-term strategy to integrate the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This integration aims to enhance policy coherence and alignment between national strategies, thereby amplifying their overall impact.
- Second, the brief highlights the potential of Ocean Breakthroughs to fast-track solutions in five crucial sectors: marine conservation, aquatic food, offshore renewable energy, shipping, and coastal tourism. By identifying specific turning points to reach by 2030 in each sector, these Ocean Breakthroughs can serve as a powerful catalyst in connecting ocean, climate, and biodiversity goals.
- Lastly, the brief emphasizes that numerous levers are already available to strengthen ocean-based solutions in national biodiversity and climate strategies and support their integrated implementation. These levers not only promote policy coherence but also help optimize both financial and human resources. By activating these levers, countries can enhance the effectiveness of their efforts in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss through ocean-based solutions.
The brief will be disseminated to policymakers and negotiators involved in both the CBD and UNFCCC processes.
Find out more about PML’s attendance at the Convention on Biological Diversity’s 16th Conference of the Parties (CBD COP16) and the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP29).
Related information
To read the brief in full visit the Ocean and Climate Platform.