The United States, United Kingdom, Chile, Costa Rica, and France today announced a new global partnership to advance the role of marine protected areas and biodiversity in tackling climate change.
The goals of the International Partnership on MPAs, Biodiversity, and Climate Change are (1) for decision-makers to understand the link between the ocean, MPAs, and climate change and have the support necessary to implement MPAs as a nature-based solution; (2) for decision-makers to link MPAs, biodiversity, and climate change as contribution to national and international commitments; and (3) for countries around the world to have the needed evidence and tools to implement effective MPA networks that mitigate climate change, conserve biodiversity, and increase resilience.
The U.S. is represented by NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, and scientific support is provided to the partnership by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Scotland’s Marine Alliance for Science and Technology. The announcement notes that the partnership will host webinars in each member country on the role MPAs can play in addressing climate change and conserving biodiversity.
Speaking on the announcement, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry noted that the ocean can provide sustainable climate solutions, including marine protected areas that he said “can help build climate resilience and store carbon, while conserving biodiversity,” calling this “a decisive decade to dramatically scale up ocean and climate action — which are two sides of the same coin.”
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Deputy Director for Climate and Environment Jane Lubchenco said that “[m]arine protected areas — but especially highly protected ones — are an effective nature-based solution for adapting to and mitigating climate change and conserving biodiversity,” stating that “[n]ations must act now to protect key ocean habitats and the services the ocean provides to nature and people.”
Acting NOAA Administrator Ben Friedman called global collaboration “key to realizing the climate benefits provided by Marine Protected Areas,” adding that partnership members “are committed to sharing knowledge and expertise, and working cooperatively to address scientific knowledge gaps.”
