Over 1,000 registrants convened online at the COP29 Virtual Ocean Pavilion (6 November to 22 November 2024). In its fourth iteration, the Virtual Ocean Pavilion is a free online platform dedicated to raising the visibility of the ocean and demonstrating why the ocean matters in climate negotiations and to all life on our planet. Co-organized by the Global Ocean Forum and Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the Virtual Ocean Pavilion was developed as a tool to increase transparency and equitable access to discussions during the United Nations Climate Conference while increasing knowledge, commitment, and action at the ocean-climate nexus.

Building on the momentum from past Pavilions, the COP29 Virtual Ocean Pavilion promoted cross-sectoral cooperation on ocean-climate action in partnership with over 20 collaborating organizations. The Pavilion also highlighted opportunities provided by the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) to leverage the ocean-climate-biodiversity nexus and accelerate the implementation of ocean-climate action. These efforts offered a natural opportunity to showcase the Common Oceans Program, a global partnership funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) promoting sustainable fisheries and biodiversity conservation in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) through its child projects with a focus on tuna and deep-sea fisheries, the Sargasso Sea, and cross-sectoral cooperation. The Common Oceans Program and its ongoing initiatives were featured in an interactive exhibit booth in the Exhibit Hall of the Pavilion.

The Preview Event of the Pavilion, From EEZs to the High Seas: Leveraging the ocean-climate-biodiversity nexus in accelerating the implementation of ocean-climate action, featured speakers representing government, intergovernmental, and civil society organizations. Ambassador Peter Thomson, the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, delivered a Keynote Address and emphasized the need for a healthy and resilient ocean, stating “The ocean’s role is vital to overcoming the planetary emergencies of climate change and biodiversity loss.”

Ambassador Janine Coye-Felson of Belize addressed ABNJ governance issues and the “new front” developing with the BBNJ Agreement. The Ambassador observed that current ABNJ frameworks are often siloed and looked to the BBNJ Agreement to streamline governance, stating, “The innovative approach from the BBNJ [Agreement] synthesizes many existing aspects of international law and progressively provides new elements for approaching these issues in a more integrated manner… within the context of the ocean space.”

Similarly, Viktoria Varga Lencses, Program Coordinator of the Common Oceans Program, noted the fragmented nature of existing ABNJ frameworks. Viktoria identified this fragmentation as one of the most pressing concerns for ABNJ, noting that, “Today, what is needed is integrative, cohesive solutions and collaboration. The BBNJ agreement promotes very much collaboration and cooperation among the already existing management actors…and we have brought together 65 organizations that cooperate under the [Common Oceans] Program.”  

As the first global ocean-related agreement that specifically addresses climate change, the BBNJ Agreement is a powerful tool for climate action, and its ratification and implementation is a necessity. This clear sentiment inspired the focus of its high-level closing event, Taking the Leap into Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction: Navigating the BBNJ Agreement. Panelists focused on the support needed by national governments and regional organizations in responding to the challenges of ratifying and implementing the BBNJ Agreement. 

Ambassador Gina Guillén-Grillo of Costa Rica opened the discussion by noting the importance of stakeholder involvement, stating “Something that was very important for us is that we had stakeholder involvement in the negotiation process. Fishermen, who at first were very against it, we got them involved… and we explained to them… how this was going to help them more than harm them. It was really incredible, the transformation...when the treaty was adopted, they congratulated us.”

Miriam Balgos, Common Oceans Cross-sectoral Project Manager, stressed the importance of joint development of cross-sectoral frameworks for ABNJ management with actors working at national and regional levels. Unique socio-economic, cultural, and environmental contexts must be considered to ensure effective implementation through nuanced governance that reflects the needs of both people and planet. The Cross-sectoral Project works with stakeholders in two pilot regions, the Southeast Pacific and Pacific Islands, to develop the capacity for such cross-sectoral governance over a five-year implementation period.

David Freestone, Executive Secretary of the Sargasso Sea Commission, explained the unique situation presented by the Sargasso Sea as an ABNJ area that is jointly managed without a regional environmental or fisheries organization. The Common Oceans Sargasso Sea Project is developing a protocol for a Socio-Ecosystem Diagnostic Analysis (SEDA) that incorporates stakeholder engagement, sound science, and environmental monitoring. The SEDA aims to facilitate a collaborative, cross-sectoral, and sustainable stewardship mechanism for the Sargasso Sea.

Overall, the second year of collaboration by the Common Oceans Program in the Virtual Ocean Pavilion amplified the reach of both initiatives and contributed to a shared goal of advancing swift and innovative action at the ocean-climate-biodiversity nexus.

About the project

The Virtual Ocean Pavilion is a free online platform dedicated to raising the visibility of the ocean and showcasing why the ocean matters in climate negotiations and to all life on our planet. It aims to democratize the ocean at COPs and promote unity and inclusivity, whilst increasing knowledge, commitment, and action for the ocean-climate nexus at key events during the UN Climate Conference. The Common Oceans Program is a global partnership funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), promoting sustainable fisheries and biodiversity conservation in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) with a particular focus on tuna and deep-sea fisheries, the Sargasso Sea, and cross-sectoral cooperation. Led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Program brings together the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), regional fisheries management organizations, intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, civil society and academia. For more information, please contact Catie Mitchell: cmitchell@globaloceanforum.com.

Words by Catie Mitchell.