At COP30 in Belém, Brazil has promised to sustainably manage 100% of its 3.68 million km² of its national waters by 2030. It is not alone. Panama, the Republic of Korea and eight African nations (Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria)–have also pledged to sustainably manage 100% of their national waters.
But that’s the easy part.
Brazil’s ocean area is the tenth largest in the world, and boasts the longest coastline in South America. Its waters underpin an ocean economy that contributes roughly 19% of Brazil’s GDP, supports 3.5 million jobs in fisheries and aquaculture and drives around 70% of national tourism revenue.
Brazil is also home to the world’s second-largest area of mangroves, which can store up to five times more carbon per area than tropical forests and absorb it from the atmosphere about three times faster. These vital ecosystems protect coastlines from severe weather and serve as nurseries for a diverse array of marine life – playing a crucial role in climate mitigation, adaptation and food security.
At the same time, 10% of the country’s revenue is in oil and gas, most of that is offshore. And Brazilian fossil fuel company Petrobas recently discovered new oil offshore deposits.
The question, always, is whether countries will follow through on their commitments when it will cost them profits. And ditching fossil fuels is usually a key sticking point. Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has an uneven record as regards environmental commitments. While his administration has taken steps to protect the country’s vast natural resources and indigenous peoples, it has also made choices such as allowing oil drilling near the Amazon Reef System.
“Without the ocean, we cannot truly confront climate change. We must harness its immense potential to reduce emissions and protect our coasts from extreme weather,” said President Lula da Silva. “The ocean is central to Brazil’s culture, diet and livelihoods, and building a sustainable ocean economy will open new opportunities for Brazilians.”
Countries Acknowledge the Ocean, But Not The Danger
At COP30, the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy–known as the Ocean Panel, brings together heads of state and government from nineteen countries to accelerate sustainable use and protection of the world’s ocean areas. It is co-chaired by Norway and Palau, and supported by a Secretariat housed at World Resources Institute (WRI). Members, including Brazil, have committed to producing national Sustainable Ocean Plans (SOPs) within five years, guiding sustainable management of 100% of ocean areas under their national jurisdiction.
This is progress for ocean protection. Of 66 newly submitted Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) from coastal and island countries, 61 include at least one ocean-related measure. That marks an increase from 62% in 2015, to 73% in 2022, and now 92% of NDCs submitted so far for the 2025 NDC cycle, WRI reports.
But while the ocean is increasingly being recognized in national climate plans, a new report led by World Resources Institute, with Ocean Conservancy and Ocean & Climate Platform shows that the most transformative measures–such as phasing out offshore oil and gas, decarbonizing shipping, expanding offshore renewables, and scaling sustainable seafood–remain rare. They comprise just 12% of ocean actions. Countries are still only scratching the surface of the ocean’s climate potential.
Research from the Ocean Panel shows that ocean-based climate solutions could deliver up to 35% of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions needed to limit warming to 1.5°C by 2050 – a significant opportunity that remains largely untapped.
“With the window to cut emissions rapidly closing, coastal and island countries yet to submit their NDCs must recognize the ocean as a powerful, underused ally in meeting global climate goals.” said Tom Pickerell, Global Director for WRI’s Ocean Program. “Despite growing momentum, ocean-based climate solutions remain underfunded and overlooked. What’s needed at this COP is bold recognition of the ocean’s potential – and action to deploy proven solutions at scale.”
Separate research by the Ocean Panel suggests that every $1 invested in ocean solutions could yield at least $5 in global benefits by 2050. Conversely, continuing harmful and unsustainable ocean practices could result in more than $8 trillion in losses by 2050.
“There’s a huge gap between the promise of ocean-climate solutions and the pace at which we are adopting them,” said Anna-Maria Laura, Senior Director of Climate Policy at Ocean Conservancy. “The gap isn’t in science or technology – it’s in funding and implementation. The ocean is sounding the alarm through stronger storms, dying coral reefs, and rising seas. But the ocean can also help us fight back through solutions like offshore wind. It’s time to fund and implement these solutions as if the future of our ocean and our planet depend on them – because they do.”
The latest NDCs show some progress on adaptation: in fact, over 90% of ocean actions focus on adaptation, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and Oceania. Yet the pace and scale of action remain far too low to protect vulnerable communities and livelihoods, and gaps in technology and knowledge transfer hold back effective action. Just 13% of ocean-based actions explicitly address equity, even though women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and local coastal communities are often hit hardest by climate impacts.
“As countries move from promises to action, this round of climate plans must serve as clear roadmaps for guiding every step of the journey,” said Loreley Picourt, Executive Director of the Ocean & Climate Platform. “By directing investment, building capacity and scaling solutions, we can secure a resilient ocean – but if we fail, we risk undermining the foundation of life on our planet.”
