PML Joins Global Call for Increased Ocean Action in the wake of COP29

Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) is among the 60+ signatories of the COP29 Baku Ocean Declaration, published in relation to the UN Climate Conference (COP29) in Azerbaijan.

Coordinated by US-based Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Scripps Institution of Oceanography and supported by partner institutes and organisations from across the world, the Baku Ocean Declaration highlights the importance of comprehensive ocean monitoring for predicting future warming, assessing emissions reductions, and developing effective climate adaptation plans.

The declaration notes that despite existing international programs there are important data gaps which need to be filled.

It calls for:

• robust, long-term investment in ocean observations, research, and mapping, as well as the social dimensions of ocean science that facilitate the uptake and use of information to support conservation
• increased international collaboration built on ethical, transparent research
• improved access to technology and data, including Indigenous and traditional knowledge.
• significant, immediate, and accessible financial investment, capacity building, and technology transfer
• improved educational programs, outreach initiatives, and media campaigns to raise awareness of the ocean’s importance across diverse populations.

The declaration places particular emphasis on support for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) which require immediate action to mitigate and adapt to marine ecosystem changes.  It also highlights the critical need for further development of observing systems in polar regions and deep oceans.

“The ocean plays a crucial role in global climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. As the planet’s largest carbon sink, it absorbs 25-33% of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions and 90% of anthropogenic heat, offering significant opportunities to maintain the critical 1.5°C temperature target.

Only by more fully monitoring the ocean will it be possible to predict future warming and assess the needed emissions reductions and any potential removal methods.”

For the full text and list of signatories visit: Baku Ocean Declaration – Ocean Pavilion