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A) Review the recommendations from the IPCC Ocean and Cryosphere report and the IPBES reports from the perspectives of developing and translating these recommendations into concrete and implementable actions for UNEP; and

B) Prepare UNEP narrative on the Ocean-Climate-Food nexus

Homebased

2-months

The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment". Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UN Environment's Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition.

This consultancy post is in UN Environment Programme, Ecosystems Division at Marine and Freshwater Branch, under the direct supervision of Programme Management Officer in Global Programme of Action for the Protection of Marine Environment from Land Based Activities (GPA),

Background: Oceans play a major role within the climate system as they uptake and redistribute both natural and anthropogenic carbon dioxide and heat. Oceans also provide an array of ecosystem support services including food, renewable energy, and multiple benefits for health and human well-being, such as tourism, trade and transport. Hence, there are clear interlinkages that occur between the ocean, foods and the climate, which are refers to as nexus. The nexus means that any action taken regarding one of the three subjects, may have repercussions and shall take into consideration the effects on the other domains.

Our oceans are highly dependant on the climate. Any variability or change to the climate may have important repercussions on the life of marine and coastal ecosystems. The Oceans serve as climate regulator of the Earth. This is already a reality for fragile vulnerable ecosystems below water such as coral reefs. The higher temperatures of seawater registered in many areas of the world caused by climate change have led to severe phenomena of coral bleaching and are putting the life of the majority of coral reefs at serious risk. Coastal ecosystems contribute to adaption of the human society to climate changes. For example, mangroves mitigate the impacts of tsunamis or extreme high tide and protect the coast lines and human activities in the coastal zones. Another challenge is posed by the higher demand for fish and consequent reduction of available stocks in the oceans. Phenomena such as intensive fishing, and other related anthropogenic activities happening on land resulting in extensive pollution (e.g., through agricultural runoff and excessive nutrients, direct discharge of untreated wastewater) have huge impacts on the marine environment.
In addition to this, a changing climate impacts the availability of food harvested from our oceans, e.g., fish, but also seaweed, and might compromise the ecosystem services provided by our oceans. This clearly shows how much the food domain depends on the health of our oceans and vice-versa. If these concerns are not addressed, we shall see a further decrease in fish availability and health of our oceans, with tremendous consequences for human beings and the environment too. Therefore, solutions must be urgently sought and implemented.

Coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, tidal marshes, seagrass, also referred to as blue carbon ecosystems, provide numerous benefits and services that are crucial to tackle the challenges related to a changing climate, such as sea level rise, erosion, poor water quality and food security. These ecosystems are capable of sequestering and storing blue carbon from the atmosphere and ocean and contribute to mitigating climate change. These coastal ecosystems also provide services for coastal protection, mitigating extreme oceanographic events; thus functioning as ecosystem based adaptation to climate change.

The 2019 IPCC report on Oceans and Cryosphere make clear recommendations for the international community to take action. Moreover, the IPBES 2019 report outlines the status of the ecosystems and biodiversity in the world and outlines the ecosystem and biodiversity linkage with food systems.

In that regards, nature-based solutions, i.e., actions aimed at protecting and sustainably manage and restore nature natural or modified ecosystems providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits could help tackle these challenges and contribute to the implementation of the nexus. NBS can be cost-effective, and simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits.

Against this background, the objective of this consultancy is, in close consultation and cooperation with the UNEP’s Nature Based Solution Task Team and Food System Task Team to:

A) Review the recommendations from the IPCC Ocean and Cryosphere report and the IPBES reports from the perspectives of developing and translating these recommendations into concrete and implementable actions for UNEP;

B) Prepare UNEP narrative on the Ocean-Climate-Food nexus;

The following activities will be undertaken by the consultant:

• Desk review and analysis of the IPCC ocean and cryosphere report,

• Desk review and analysis of the IPBES and related relevant reports

• Collect additional relevant information, included but not limited to SDGs, Ocean-Food-Climate related UNEA resolutions

• Collect information on what UNEP is doing on climate change mitigation and ocean, climate change adaptation on the coast, geoengineering, ocean and land-based agriculture, fisheries and ocean ecosystems

• Further analyse activities ongoing under FAO, UNCCC, etc in relation to UNEP’s work

• Collect and review information on latest nexus, NBS and food systems related development, and also exchanged with the task teams of NBS and Food systems

• Prepare a synthesis of this review and translate recommendations into concrete UNEP action

• Propose overall direction to UNEP on ocean-food-climate nexus

• Propose partnerships with climate organizations and food related organizations

• Building on the above, prepare UNEP narrative on the Ocean-Climate-Food nexus

Academic Qualifications: Graduate degree in the field of marine sciences, environmental sciences, ocean policy studies, physical, geo-chemical or biological oceanography.
Experience: At least 10 years of professional experiences in marine environmental issues, particularly pollution related issues. At least three years of experiences in addressing nexus approach, ocean, climate and food related matter.
Language: Fluent in English