Blue NDC Challenge

General Studies Paper-3

Context: France and Brazil launched a landmark international initiative Blue Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Challenge.

About Blue Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Challenge

• It urges countries to embed ocean-centric actions into their climate plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
• The challenge aims to dramatically scale up ocean-focused climate action ahead of the 30th Conference of Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Belem, Brazil.
• The initiative is supported by various organizations like Ocean Conservancy, the Ocean & Climate Platform, the World Resources Institute (through the Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance – ORCA), and WWF-Brazil.

Significance of Oceans in Climate Action

• Carbon Sequestration: Oceans absorb over 25% of global CO₂ emissions and 90% of excess heat generated by human activity, making them critical in mitigating climate change.
• Blue Carbon Ecosystems: Coastal ecosystems like mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes store carbon at a rate up to five times higher than terrestrial forests.
• Biodiversity: Oceans are home to a vast diversity of life forms, and protecting marine ecosystems is essential for maintaining biodiversity, which in turn ensures the resilience of the ecosystem to climate impacts.
• Livelihood and Food Security: Oceans support over 3 billion people worldwide who depend on marine resources for food, livelihoods, and economic activities.

Initiatives for Ocean Conservation

• Ocean Cleanup Project: Launched in 2013, The Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit organization focused on developing advanced technologies to remove plastic pollution from the ocean.
• United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030): Aims to promote ocean science as a key tool for sustainable development, environmental protection, and climate action.
• High Seas Treaty (Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction – BBNJ Agreement): Adopted in 2023, this landmark legally binding agreement aims to protect marine biodiversity in international waters.
• Blue Carbon Initiatives: It refers to the carbon captured by coastal and marine ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes.
• National Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Network: It aims to conserve critical marine and coastal habitats like coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses.
• Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM): To address the challenges of coastal ecosystem degradation, including erosion, overfishing, and pollution.

Challenges and Barriers

• Financial Constraints: Many developing nations may struggle to secure the necessary funding to implement ocean-based climate solutions.
• Technical and Scientific Challenges: Ocean-based solutions are complex and require sophisticated scientific knowledge to implement effectively.