Crafting a Future Free of Plastics

We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tackle one of the biggest threats facing our ocean: plastic pollution. Next week the United Nations will host the fifth and final scheduled round of negotiations (INC-5) in Busan, South Korea, for an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) to end plastic pollution. Widely known as the “global plastics treaty,” this agreement aims to curb the global plastic pollution crisis, of which the ocean often bears the brunt.

As an official U.N. observer organization, Ocean Conservancy experts have been deeply involved in the negotiation process over the past two years to develop the plastics treaty. Earlier this month, however, we got troubling news: A document being put forward as the likely basis for negotiations at INC-5 was circulated to hundreds of stakeholders and notably backtracked on many key elements that were included in past negotiations.

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The ambition that we all dreamed and spoke of in earlier negotiations is all but absent from this new document. Of particular concern is the absence of global targets for source reduction to reduce the amount of plastics we make in the first place and of action on sea-based sources of pollution including abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG, or “ghost gear”). This is especially concerning because INC-5 could very well be the final round of negotiations for this agreement, and these changes take us back to the starting line. At Ocean Conservancy, we want to see an ambitious, comprehensive treaty that addresses the full life cycle of plastics to tackle plastic pollution and that holds plastic producers accountable. 

We strongly believe that an effective treaty must:

• Establish a global plastics source reduction target to reduce the amount of plastics we produce, especially for problematic single-use plastics. 
• Include specific measures for plastic fishing and aquaculture gear in order to combat ghost gear, the most-deadly form of plastic pollution in our ocean.
• Include measures to ensure non-toxic packaging design and incentives to shift to models of reuse and refill.
• Address microplastics, both those that are intentionally created small, like cosmetic beads, as well as those that break down from larger plastics.
• Ensure the priorities of the informal waste collection sector, collectors who are responsible for nearly 60% of all the plastics recycled globally, are included and consulted on the implementation in the future. 

If we are going to end plastic pollution, we need a strong, impactful global plastics treaty. Provisions should include binding requirements to address plastics across their entire life cycle to limit the environmental and human health impact of plastic pollution. Without these stronger provisions across the full life cycle of plastics, the treaty risks being ineffective and insufficient to fulfill the mandate to end plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. 

There is still time to right this ship. As INC-5 begins next week, Ocean Conservancy urges negotiators to meet the plastic-pollution crisis with the urgency it demands. The science is clear: Without bold action this crisis is going to get significantly worse. To safeguard human health and food security and protect the environment that we depend on for life, we need a strong and ambitious treaty. 

This is a final second shot for a better future for our ocean, and we can’t afford to miss. Take action now and help us put an end to plastic pollution.

The post Crafting a Future Free of Plastics appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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Should We Use the Ocean to Capture Carbon?

Even as world leaders convene in Azerbaijan for COP29 to chart a path forward to avoid a climate catastrophe, the fact is that the world has waited too long for emissions reduction alone to solve the climate crisis. 

Climate change is here, and nowhere is this more immediately apparent than in our ocean. In the last year alone, we’ve seen historic marine heatwaves, intense hurricanes fueled by warming waters, and a generational coral-bleaching event. 

It makes sense that our ocean would bear the most immediate impacts because it is on the front line of actually absorbing and storing the carbon that causes climate change to begin with. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the ocean has absorbed about 31% of manmade CO₂ emissions. On a yearly basis, that’s more than the global emissions from the largest greenhouse gas-emitting sector, electricity and heat production. 

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What if we could harness the power of the ocean to store enough carbon, more than it already is, and buy us more time to meet our emission-reduction goals? This is a question that more and more scientists, policymakers and entrepreneurs are asking. The growing field of marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) is exploring ways that we can augment the ocean’s ability to absorb and store the most prolific greenhouse gas warming our atmosphere. 

But not all mCDR is created equal. There are a variety of methods proposed, and they differ in their potential to be effective at storing carbon and the potential impacts that might result. Any amount of engineering in the ocean has risks, and we cannot afford to trade one problem for another: mCDR that significantly harms the ocean, and its biodiversity would only set us back in our goals of tackling climate change. 

Researchers are still evaluating mCDR methodologies to understand how much carbon they can draw down from the atmosphere, how long the ocean will store planet-warming emissions and what benefits or negative effects various methods may have on ecosystems and communities that depend on the ocean. For example, ocean alkalinity enhancement—a proposed form of mCDR that involves adding alkaline substances to the ocean to increase the ocean’s natural ability to absorb CO₂ from the air—has the potential to sequester as much as 15 gigatons of CO₂ a year. That’s slightly less than half of the world’s total CO₂ emissions. But it would also require extensive mining and processing of raw materials on land, which raises local environmental and health concerns and has unknown consequences for the pH and the natural carbon cycle of the ocean. 

Insert quote block: “We need to make sure that marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) does not turn into an unregulated, unverifiable boondoggle” – Anna-Marie Laura

With so many unknowns and the clock running down to address the climate crisis, we need to know which mCDR methods might work, and at the same time, we need to make sure that mCDR does not turn into an unregulated, unverifiable boondoggle. Last year, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy recognized the urgency of the need for policy and research guidance and announced a Fast-Track Action Committee tasked with evaluating the merits of and concerns about different types of marine CO₂ removal and developing relevant guidelines for research.

Federal oversight, coordination and scientific support are critical to ensuring mCDR projects are effective and safe. At this early stage, government involvement is especially needed to provide the monitoring, reporting and verification all parties desire to ensure any mCDR approach is not simply a greenwashing exercise. With mCDR investors and practitioners eyeing the carbon market to make projects profitable, federal oversight can ensure that the public doesn’t shoulder the long-term social and environmental impacts while private companies capture the financial benefits. 

Last week, the White House’s Fast Track Action Committee on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal released a report outlining a national research strategy for mCDR that charts a path toward responsible mCDR research to guide future decision-making. In the past, Ocean Conservancy has helped draft a code of conduct for mCDR research to set baselines for environmental practices and social consent, so we were glad to see the report recommend that federal agencies consider how adherence to one and other safeguards should be a part of requirements to receive federal funds . In particular, the FTAC strategy emphasizes the need to involve Tribal and Indigenous groups, local communities and ocean users who might be affected by the projects early and often during all project phases. Participation by relevant groups will be crucial to ensuring projects are operated in an environmentally responsible and just manner. It also recommended that an interagency working group be formed so the federal government can provide consistent and coordinated guidance on all these future endeavors, including a prioritization of research on the most promising mCDR approaches. The guidance laid out in the report should serve as a roadmap for federal agencies, and Congress should provide comprehensive legislation to execute and properly fund this work. 

Some additional areas that should be considered as responsible mCDR research advances are offramps for methods as we learn more about effectiveness or potential impacts. It’s unlikely that all mCDR methods will be similarly effective, so parameters or criteria for how to determine which methods should continue to be researched and which should be deprioritized will be important in the future. We cannot afford to invest endlessly in solutions with little potential when climate finance and investment is already limited.

Tackling climate change is the number one action we can take to protect our ocean, and we need to understand if and how mCDR can be a part of the solution set. Implementation of the national mCDR strategy will make sure the research to help us answer those questions is done responsibly. For the sake of our ocean and all the communities that depend on it, we cannot afford to trade one existential threat for another. Join Ocean Conservancy in our effort to ensure that mCDR research is conducted responsibly.

The post Should We Use the Ocean to Capture Carbon? appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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Drilling Into the Differences Between Offshore Oil Drilling and Offshore Wind

It took Hurricane Helene just three days to travel from the overly warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the mountains of North Carolina, causing incredible damage and loss of life.  Hurricane Milton also moved fast, intensifying from a Category 1 to a Category 5 hurricane in a single day, before hitting Florida with incredible winds, tornados and flooding. Climate change is propelling these weather events to grow faster and stronger than ever before.

Other climate change impacts are accelerating as well. Consider the record-breaking  warm ocean temperatures of the past year, which has caused the largest coral bleaching event on record, habitat loss and species migration. Many scientists thought these high ocean temperatures would be years away, but the realities of climate change are not a distant threat. The speed at which they have arrived must drive us to act.

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Addressing climate change is a top priority for Ocean Conservancy now more than ever. If we are to protect the ocean, its marine ecosystems and the people who depend on them, we must address climate change at its root: the burning of fossil fuels for energy. But this cannot happen without clean-energy solutions, such as offshore wind and other marine renewables, that can replace them.

That is why Ocean Conservancy is leading a comprehensive effort to shift the ocean to a source of 100% responsible clean energy generation by 2050. By stopping harmful offshore drilling of oil and gas and harnessing the natural powers of the ocean for clean energy, the ocean has the power to be a climate solution instead of just a victim. 

Aiming for 2050 may seem far off, but it’s precisely this kind of forward thinking we need to be successful. 

Energy development is a multi-decade process. Decisions we make today—positive or negative—will be locked in for generations. When new offshore oil wells are drilled, they can continue pumping oil for 30 years or more. In August 2024, Chevron began operating a new deepwater project in the Gulf of Mexico that could pump oil into the 2050s. Additional deepwater Gulf projects that could have similarly long lifespans are being developed by BP, Shell and others. And new lease sales could push offshore oil drilling into 2080’s.

Now is the time we need to stop new offshore oil and gas leasing and drilling and start holding operators accountable for cleaning up the messes they have already made. Simultaneously, there is much work we need to do from now through 2050 to nurture the responsible development of clean ocean-based energy replacements for dirty fossil fuels. It will take smart planning and coordinated strategies to ensure offshore wind is developed responsibly, preventing and minimizing impacts to marine life and other ocean users. Working together, responsible offshore wind can help power our lives and communities, without the risk and harm that fossil fuels have caused to our ocean for a century. 

Consider these distinct differences between fossil fuels and clean-ocean renewables like offshore wind: 

Offshore wind does not produce the harmful emissions that warm our planet. If you compare the emissions created from offshore wind over its lifetime to how much energy it produces, offshore wind is significantly better for the planet than oil and gas. Wind energy produces roughly only 11 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour (g CO2/kWh) of electricity generated. In contrast, emissions from natural gas produce roughly 465 (g CO2/kWh)—more than 40 times higher. Fewer emissions equal less carbon warming our climate and cleaner air for people and wildlife.

Offshore wind is American energy, providing energy security to communities. Fossil fuels (such as natural gas, oil and coal) are global commodities that are imported and exported. This means global events and market shocks can significantly affect supply chains and costs. Some states, like California, Maine, Maryland and others, import sizable amounts of the fossil fuels they use to produce electricity. Other communities (including villages in Alaska and Small Island Developing States in the Pacific) that are not connected to broader power grids are forced to import nearly all the fuels, like diesel, needed to produce electricity. Offshore wind and other renewable energy sources offer alternatives for these communities to build energy independence and resiliency to keep the lights on at a stable price.

Offshore wind does not come with the risks we have experienced from offshore oil drilling. It’s no secret that offshore drilling is risky business—with inevitable oil spills causing irreparable harm to our ocean environment and nearby communities. Over the past 50 years, at least 44 major oil spills have occurred offshore, each dumping more than 10,000 barrels (420,000 gallons), as well as thousands of minor spills affecting U.S. waters.  Additionally, offshore drilling produces routine pollution every day in the form of discharges into the water and emissions into the air through flaring and other processes. This pollution adds up. Even when oil production stops, the impacts continue: Offshore oil operators have discarded more than 18,000 miles of disused pipeline on the ocean floor and have missed cleanup deadlines, leaving thousands of wells and hundreds of oil platforms in the ocean unmonitored. 

The time is now to plan, coordinate and act to shift the ocean to a powerhouse of clean, responsible energy for the generations to come. If we harness the power of the ocean, we can rein in climate change and meet our world’s energy needs. Together we can change course. 

You can join forces with us at Ocean Conservancy by taking action to phase out dangerous fossil fuels and support clean energy.

The post Drilling Into the Differences Between Offshore Oil Drilling and Offshore Wind appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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Our Fight for the Future at COP29

Fifty-two years. 26 Congresses. 10 U.S. presidents. That’s how long Ocean Conservancy has been advancing policies that secure a healthy ocean and a thriving planet. Through political shifts and economic tides, the organization has stayed the course. Protecting our blue planet isn’t just a matter of politics; it is our duty—to ourselves, to future generations and to the planet we call home. No matter who is in power, we will continue this work with unrelenting determination.

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At this pivot moment for our planet, the UN Climate Summit COP29 is kicking off in Baku, Azerbaijan. With record-breaking temperatures and devastating climate impacts reverberating across the globe, the need for transformative action has never been more urgent. Dubbed “The Finance COP,” this year’s climate summit must tackle the interconnected crises of climate and nature while addressing equity, justice and the widening gap between ambition and action.

As countries negotiate a new climate-finance goal—the New Collective Quantifiable Goal (NCQG), Ocean Conservancy will advocate for a significant increase in high-quality climate finance that prioritizes concessionality (affordable, below-market-rates to reduce debt burdens and unlock investments), equitable access and measurable impact, ensuring transformative actions benefit both people and nature.

Why the Ocean Matters at COP29

A thriving ocean supports resilient ecosystems, protects communities and enhances global efforts to keep global warming below 1.5°C. The ocean absorbs more than 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gasses and generates 50% of the oxygen we breathe. Our ocean is a cornerstone of life on Earth and holds powerful solutions to the climate crisis. Yet despite its critical role, the ocean is often sidelined in global climate discussions. This must change. 

Ocean Conservancy’s agenda for COP29 is bold, ambitious and essential. We are championing clean ocean energy as a transformative climate-mitigation solution. By facilitating a responsible, rapid and just transition to ocean climate solutions like offshore wind, we can empower communities, bolster economies and accelerate decarbonization efforts.

The next year will be decisive for our planet’s future. Countries will submit new commitments, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), required under the Paris Agreement over the coming months. The levels of ambition of these plans will determine the pace of global climate action for years to come. Transformative action every year until 2030 is our only chance to keep 1.5°C within reach. In partnership with the Global Offshore Wind Alliance, we will launch the Offshore Wind NDC Guidance Tool which will empower policymakers to include offshore wind targets into their NDCs.

Collaborative Optimism

The upcoming political landscape in the United States may seem like a setback for global climate action, but the momentum for climate action and energy transition remains unstoppable. Renewable energy technologies are rapidly advancing, becoming increasingly competitive and, in many cases, becoming cheaper in cost and more efficient than fossil fuels. This progress will continue to outpace any efforts to sustain outdated and inefficient fossil fuel systems.

Political winds may shift, but progress cannot be derailed if we continue the pressure on leaders to take action. Global leaders, communities, cities, states and businesses must step up and continue to drive transformative change from the ground up. This is not just about saving the ocean; it’s about saving ourselves. Ocean Conservancy will continue to lead, to innovate and to inspire. We will not stop—not now, not ever. The stakes are too high, and the future is too important.

You can join us in continuing the fight against climate change. Take action to support climate solutions.

The post Our Fight for the Future at COP29 appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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How Our Ocean Will Be Impacted by Another Trump Administration

We’ve all seen the election results by now, and I want to share with you what this means for our ocean: Threats to our ocean have increased exponentially. 

We know the Trump administration plans to unwind critical environmental protections and protect polluters over the planet through harmful ocean policies like:

• Expanding offshore drilling.
• Attacking marine protected areas.
• Challenging laws protecting marine wildlife.
• Dismantling the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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We can’t let this happen. Ocean Conservancy has protected our ocean for more than 52 years, spanning 26 Congresses and 10 presidential administrations—and we aren’t going anywhere. There are so many reasons to have hope for our ocean. We have a comprehensive set of solutions at multiple levels—from community cleanups to state laws to international advocacy. Ocean Conservancy is committed to fighting for our ocean under the Trump administration by: 

• Playing defense: Defending marine protected areas and foundational laws protecting marine wildlife, as well as the Biden administration’s historic investments in climate and environmental justice.
• Advancing clean ocean energy and shipping: Advancing emissions-free shipping, including in states like California, as well as advocating for an increase in responsible and just offshore wind. 
• Reducing single-use plastics: Building on the momentum of the last few years at the state level to continue advancing policies that reduce highly polluting single-use plastics and protect communities against the growing threat of microplastic pollution. 
• Protecting biodiversity: Working to ensure that no more fishing gear is lost in the ocean where it continues to harm marine life and advancing protections for key ocean habitats like the Central Arctic Ocean.  

There are so many reasons to have hope. We know what it takes to get the work done, and there’s no time to waste. What we do in the next few months will determine the ocean of our future. Do you want to be part of the wave of ocean lovers, keeping it healthy and thriving? Your special post-election donation today supports Ocean Conservancy’s ability to defend our ocean from attacks and keep ocean protections in place. With you by our side, I have hope for our ocean’s future. Now let’s get to work.

The post How Our Ocean Will Be Impacted by Another Trump Administration appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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