COP28 Encompasses Everywhere, Everything, All at Once

COP28 Encompasses Everywhere, Everything, All at Once

At the recently concluded COP28 in Dubai, the Ocean Pavilion, jointly organized by Scripps Oceanography and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, played a significant role in elevating the profile of oceans in global climate discussions. Although the specific outcomes of the Ocean Pavilion were not fully itemized, several key points emerged regarding the broader role and achievements related to ocean issues at the conference.

The Ocean Pavilion provided a dedicated platform for discussions on ocean health, stewardship, investment, and policy during COP28. It contributed to increasing visibility and engagement on ocean-related climate solutions, aligning with other global efforts such as the UN Ocean Conference. At COP28, the ocean agenda was integrated into wider climate commitments, including calls for transitioning to renewable energy and enhancing climate resilience, which have a profound impact on ocean ecosystems.

The event underscored the importance of a nature-positive agenda, with a specific focus on tackling carbon emissions, plastic pollution, and chemical contaminants that affect the oceans. This helped to mount pressure on governments to meet their climate pledges. The Ocean Pavilion also fed into momentum behind frameworks like the Ocean Investment Protocol, aimed at guiding financial and governmental actors towards sustainable ocean-related investments addressing energy, food, and transport security challenges.

The Ocean Pavilion was supported by 32 international partners and aimed to represent the importance of the ocean and the role that ocean science needs to play in providing climate solutions. The University of California observer organization, which included students and faculty from UC San Diego, attended COP28.

Scripps Oceanography, one of the world's most important centers for global earth science research and education, played a significant role in the Ocean Pavilion. Scripps offers unparalleled education and training for the next generation of scientific and environmental leaders through its undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs. Scripps scientists work to understand and protect the planet, investigating oceans, Earth, and atmosphere to find solutions to environmental challenges.

The agreement passed at COP28, referred to as The UAE Consensus, does not seem to be a global consensus, as the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), representing 39 countries, was not present in the room when it was passed. The commitments made at COP28 are unlikely to be enough to hold global warming to less than 1.5°C. The Loss and Damage Fund, designed to compensate poorer countries suffering the adverse impacts of climate change, was established at COP28, but has received small initial contributions from a few countries.

COP28 had over 70,000 attendees, including a record number of more than 2,400 fossil fuel lobbyists. Rick Spinrad, Administrator of NOAA and Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, Michael Morgan, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (Rhode Island) and Ben Cardin (Maryland), and the author were speakers at the Ocean Pavilion. The University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) was also present, being one of the top 15 research universities in the world, driving innovation and change to advance society, propel economic growth, and make the world a better place.

In essence, the Ocean Pavilion facilitated concrete dialogue and stakeholder engagement around oceans, emphasizing that ocean health is vital for global climate stability and sustainable development. It reinforced the growing call for nature-based solutions and finance mobilization to safeguard marine environments as part of the global climate response underway at COP28. A fast, fair, funded, and full phase-out of fossil fuels is needed to address climate change effectively.

1. The Ocean Pavilion, jointly organized by Scripps Oceanography and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, served as a platform for ocean-related climate solutions discussions during COP28, aligning with global efforts such as the UN Ocean Conference.
2. Scripps Oceanography, a renowned center for oceanographic research and education, played a significant role in the Ocean Pavilion, fostering the next generation of scientific and environmental leaders through its various educational programs.
3. The Ocean Pavilion fed into momentum behind frameworks like the Ocean Investment Protocol, aimed at guiding financial and governmental actors towards sustainable ocean-related investments that address energy, food, and transport security challenges.
4. The Ocean Pavilion underscored the need for a nature-positive agenda, emphasizing the importance of addressing carbon emissions, plastic pollution, and chemical contaminants in the oceans, and pressuring governments to meet their climate pledges.

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