COP16 To Address Ocean Conservation Amidst Rising Biodiversity Loss

In a world where more than three billion people depend on oceans for their livelihoods and over 2.2 million species find their habitats, the ocean's significance extends far beyond beauty. Absorbing 93 per cent of the heat trapped by greenhouse gases and 30 per cent of human CO2 emissions, oceans play a vital role in climate regulation. 

However, due to climate change and anthropogenic activities, oceans and their biodiversity are under severe threat. The situation is worsening daily, as highlighted by a report from Bloomberg, which presents the reality of countries' commitment to the 30 by 30 pledge.

30 By 30 Pledge?
The global ambition to protect and conserve at least 30 per cent of the world’s land and ocean by 2030, colloquially known as ‘30x30’, is the most urgent conservation commitment ever made. It is the foundation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), agreed upon at the Conference of Parties (COP) 15 UN Biodiversity Summit. 

Its adoption has brought hope amid rising biodiversity loss and has already inspired global action and historic commitments to marine protected areas. The parties decided that the implementation of the framework would follow a human rights-based approach and fulfill human rights.

Governments Falling Short On Targets
The report highlighted the lack of commitments from the countries worldwide, barring some nations. Currently, only 8.3 per cent of global marine areas are reported as protected, either as marine protected areas (MPAs) or other effective area-based conservation measures (OECM). It is just an increase of 0.5 per cent since the adoption of the GBF in 202. 

Reports suggested that this rate would lead to 9.7 per cent by 2030, which is far behind the target of 30 per cent. Even this whole 8.3 per cent of MPAs do not completely come under effective protection. Only 2.9 per cent of the world’s marine areas have been assessed as likely to deliver effective protection, underscoring the urgent need for more meaningful conservation efforts as per SkyTruth & MPAtlas. 

For example, while Latin America and the Caribbean had designated 26.6 per cent of oceans as MPAs, only 2.5 per cent has been assessed as likely effectively protected. The remaining 24 per cent has either a very low protection level or was unassessed against the MPA Guide.

Right now only 14 countries, including Monaco, Palau, the United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Germany, Chile, Colombia, Belgium, France, the Seychelles, and the Netherlands, have reported more than 30 per cent of their waters as protected areas.

Finance: A Barrier
Oceans are the source of high resources, from fish to metals to energy. The cost of leaving such an economic opportunity is not the same for all. Even the protection mechanism has its own cost. Therefore, developing countries are in favour of the same but differentiated responsibility.

As per the report, it is estimated that from now to 2030, USD 700 billion per year is needed from both public and private sources to meet the GBF goal of stopping and reversing nature loss by 2030.

Signatories aimed to ensure USD 200 billion per year, channelled to conservation initiatives, from public and private sources. Wealthier countries had to contribute at least USD 20 billion of this every year by 2025 and at least USD 30 billion a year by 2030. A recent study by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) found that only two countries, 

Notably, Norway and Sweden contributed their share of the USD 20 billion in 2021. However, Germany and France come close to paying their share. Still, the majority of developed countries did not provide even half of their share, resulting in a USD 11.6 billion shortfall to the minimum target of USD 20 billion.

Currently, governments allocate about USD68 billion yearly toward biodiversity, but to reach the Convention on Biodiversity's (CBD’s) target of USD 200 billion annually from all sources by 2030, they must mobilize more resources. Notably, the US is not a party to the Convention and therefore has not assumed the obligations of other developed countries, despite its substantial and continued contribution to global biodiversity loss and its undeniable ability to pay.

Apart from that, the United Nations’ Global Environment Facility already helps developing nations finance green projects.

India And 30 By 30
To protect marine species, the Government of India has established 130 Marine Protected Areas along the coast and on islands. Additionally, 106 sites have been identified as Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas (ICMBAs) for conservation efforts.

Many threatened marine species are listed as Scheduled Animals in the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The government is focusing on rare species like all five types of marine turtles, the humpback whale, and the dugong, assessing their populations and monitoring them under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat (IDWH) program. The Endangered Species Recovery Program (ESRP) pays special attention to the Dugong, with efforts to conserve its habitat. 

About 450 square kilometre in Palk Bay has been designated as a Dugong Conservation Reserve to protect dugongs and the seagrass that supports them. Recently, in September, India officially signed the Global Ocean Treaty, also known as the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). 

The Ministry of Earth Sciences will lead the implementation of this agreement, which enhances India’s strategic presence beyond its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and contributes to achieving several sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14, which is life below water.

The BBNJ Agreement, or High Seas Treaty, is an international treaty under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It establishes clear mechanisms for the sustainable use of marine biological diversity through international cooperation. Parties cannot claim sovereign rights over marine resources from the high seas and must ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits under this agreement.

COP16: Road Ahead
As per UNEP, the annual economic value of the ocean is estimated at USD 2.5 trillion. It provides nutrition, medicines, and mineral and renewable energy resources. In UNEP’s words, the ocean is the original "super highway” that links economies together and transports goods and people all around the globe.

Meanwhile, COP16 is expected to enable governments to restore marine ecosystems through various approaches, including supporting Indigenous peoples and local communities in managing conservation areas, developing sustainable practices and lifestyles, increasing the designation of marine protected areas (MPAs) and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) in their national waters, and quickly ratifying the High Seas Treaty to create protected areas in international waters.