This scientific article (and short policy brief) explain why, despite the recognition of the role of the ocean in the international climate change regime at COP26, we need to take an urgent and more inclusive, human rights-based approach to ocean-based climate action. The article shows the limitations of the international climate change regime in contributing to the protection of marine biodiversity as part of mitigation, adaptation and finance, taking into account human rights impacts and standards. The article draws lessons learnt from REDD+ on nature-based solutions and on potential negative impacts on biodiversity and human rights. The article concludes by underscoring the need for urgent, synergistic approaches to ocean- and human rights-based climate action with different international treaties and United Nations bodies, as well as with different knowledge holders, coming together to ‘protect and restore the ocean’s contributions to climate regulation, human well-being and planetary health’.
The article is published open access in the International Journal of Maritime and Coastal Law. It should be cited as:
Morgera, E., Lennan, M., Kulovesi, K., La Bianca, G., Niner, H. J., Harrould-Kolieb, E., Recio Piva, E., Hills, J., Ntona, M., Lancaster, A. M. S., Strand, M., Snow, B., Erwin, K., Shannon, L., Rees, S., Hyder, K., Engelhard, G., & Howell, K. (2023). Ocean-based Climate Action and Human Rights Implications under the International Climate Change Regime. International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law (published online ahead of print 2023). https://doi.org/10.1163/15718085-bja10142