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The document argues that greenhouse gas emissions constitute pollution under UNCLOS, thereby obligating State Parties to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement's temperature goals. It examines the request for an advisory opinion by the Commission of Small Island States (COSIS) to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), asserting that the duty of due diligence must be informed by the best available science to prevent ocean warming, acidification, and sea level rise.

The document describes the ocean as the planet's largest carbon sink, sequestering approximately 26% of human-released CO2 annually. It details the biological and physical carbon pumps, the role of large marine mammals and coastal ecosystems in 'blue carbon' storage, and evaluates emerging geoengineering approaches for carbon dioxide removal (CDR). The brief emphasizes that while ocean-based solutions build resilience and biodiversity, they must be paired with rapid emissions cuts to effectively slow global warming.

The report assesses the current state of spatial management in the Southern Ocean, highlighting the tension between CCAMLR's conservation mandate and the 'rational use' of marine resources. It identifies a deadlock in the establishment of new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) due to eroding consensus and geopolitical tensions. The authors suggest transitioning from a narrow focus on MPA designation toward a comprehensive Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) approach to better integrate land-sea conservation and respond to climate change impacts.

The document assesses the state of marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in Southern Africa, finding that while there is growing political commitment and various local success stories, marine concerns are frequently overshadowed by terrestrial issues in national climate policies. It identifies significant hurdles to implementation, including capacity gaps, siloed government coordination, insufficient financing, and unequal resource rights. The author recommends establishing enabling bodies to support NDCs, adopting a 'seascape' approach to integrate land-sea interfaces, and scaling innovative financing like blue carbon and debt-for-nature swaps.

The report identifies 41 federal laws enacted since 2017 that support climate adaptation, noting a shift from disaster recovery toward pre-disaster mitigation. It highlights the role of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the National Defense Authorization Act in integrating resilience, while also noting the use of nature-based solutions through conservation laws. The author argues that despite these bipartisan advancements, the U.S. still lacks a cohesive, coordinated federal strategy to address the increasing frequency and cost of climate-related disasters.

The document analyzes the momentum behind the 30x30 goal to protect 30% of the world's land and marine areas by 2030, noting the roles of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People and the Global Ocean Alliance. It highlights the influence of the UN Ocean Conference and the upcoming CBD COP15 on COP27, suggesting that while the 30x30 framework will be settled after COP27, the summit may see new country commitments and policies regarding forests and marine resources.

The report evaluates seven ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies: coastal blue carbon restoration, seaweed cultivation, ocean fertilization, artificial upwelling, alkalinity enhancement, electrochemical techniques, and artificial downwelling. It finds that most of these methods are in early development with significant scientific gaps and environmental risks. The authors argue that current international legal frameworks, such as UNCLOS and the CBD, are insufficient to proactively regulate these technologies. To address this, the report recommends increasing funding for collaborative research, establishing an international code of conduct for at-sea trials, and developing a comprehensive global governance regime to manage transboundary impacts and ensure equitable benefit sharing.

The report provides a comprehensive framework for implementing the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement (CAOFA), which temporarily bans commercial fishing in the high seas of the Central Arctic Ocean to prevent ecological disaster. It advocates for a precautionary approach, emphasizing the separation of scientific advice from political decision-making through tools like management procedures (MPs) and reference points. The document details best practices for quota allocation, monitoring and compliance (including 100% VMS and observer coverage), and the inclusion of indigenous and local knowledge. It further suggests that the CAOFA can serve as a broader experiment for Arctic governance, offering lessons on transparency, adaptive management, and the inclusion of non-Arctic states.

The proposal identifies a critical gap in Brazil's climate strategy where ocean-related projects are underrepresented despite the country's extensive coastline and the fact that 26.6% of its population lives in coastal zones. It argues that scientific knowledge is currently siloed and fails to reach policymakers and project designers. To address this, the project will leverage the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation's (MCTI) 'Science at Sea' program to create a science-based framework, engage stakeholders including the private sector, and develop a prioritized list of ocean-climate interventions. The ultimate goal is to produce at least one high-quality project concept note for submission to the Green Climate Fund, focusing on areas such as blue carbon, sea-level rise adaptation, and ocean-based renewable energy.

The UN Human Rights Committee ruled that Australia violated the rights to family, home, and culture of Torres Strait Islanders due to inadequate climate adaptation. The decision establishes a precedent for state responsibility for climate-related 'loss and damage' and mandates that Australia provide compensation and secure the communities' continued existence on their islands.

The report examines the expansion of maritime activity in the Arctic, specifically the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and the Bering Strait, driven by climate change and Russia's strategy to monetize hydrocarbon reserves. It highlights a doubling of vessel transits in the Bering Strait since 2009 and warns of severe risks including oil spills, noise pollution, and disruptions to Indigenous subsistence activities. Despite geopolitical sanctions, the document argues that Russia's long-term commitment to Arctic infrastructure and the growing interest of 'near-Arctic' states like China will likely sustain the increase in traffic, necessitating urgent international cooperation and stricter shipping regulations to protect the fragile ecosystem.

The document analyzes how climate change interacts with socio-political fragility in Papua New Guinea, highlighting risks such as food insecurity, illegal logging, and escalating tribal violence. It argues that these stressors, combined with geopolitical competition from China, threaten regional security. The author recommends that the U.S. provide technical assistance for renewable energy, establish a climate data platform, and support local NGOs and military disaster response capacity to mitigate these risks.

The report argues that Antarctic krill fishing is unsustainable, threatening a fragile ecosystem already stressed by climate change. It highlights how the industry, dominated by Aker BioMarine, uses greenwashing and problematic certifications like the MSC to justify its operations. An investigation reveals that krill-oil supplements are widely sold by the world's largest retailers and krill meal is extensively used in European salmon aquaculture, often without consumer-facing labels or retailer policies to exclude it.

The report details a two-day conference in Jamaica focused on Solar Radiation Modification (SRM). It covers the scientific basis of SRM, including Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) and Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB), the risks of 'termination shock,' and the necessity of a 'risk-risk' framework to compare SRM dangers against those of unchecked global warming. The proceedings highlight a significant gap in research and funding for the Global South, the specific vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States like Jamaica, and the current state of US policy and governance frameworks for solar geoengineering research.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee ruled that Australia violated the rights of indigenous Torres Strait Islanders to enjoy their culture and be free from arbitrary interference with their private life, family, and home due to inadequate climate change protections. The petitioners, inhabitants of Boigu, Poruma, Warraber, and Masig islands, argued that sea level rise and extreme weather destroyed ancestral graves, degraded traditional food sources, and threatened their cultural ceremonies. While Australia constructed new seawalls expected to be completed by 2023, the Committee found these measures insufficient and ordered Australia to compensate the Islanders, engage in meaningful consultations, and secure the communities' safe existence on their islands.

The document outlines the reciprocal relationship between food systems and climate change, noting that agriculture and food systems contribute 31% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It encourages journalists to move beyond 'problem' stories by highlighting systemic solutions, such as regenerative agriculture and the reduction of food waste, while emphasizing the importance of climate justice and the role of women in agriculture. The guide specifically highlights the impact of industrial agriculture, the vulnerability of global food systems exacerbated by conflict and pandemics, and the critical need to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius to maintain food security.

The testimony asserts that CCUS is not a viable climate solution, citing its failure to meet capture targets, high costs compared to renewables, and the risk of increasing lifecycle emissions. It highlights that most captured carbon is used for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), which produces more CO2 than it captures. The author warns of significant safety risks from CO2 pipelines and the environmental dangers of offshore storage in the Gulf of Mexico, where legacy oil and gas wells increase the likelihood of leaks and ocean acidification.

The report examines the security implications of climate change in the South and East China Seas, focusing on the interplay between regional political cohesion and food prices. It presents four scenarios—ranging from high cooperation and low prices to high fragmentation and food insecurity—to illustrate potential risks, including social unrest, the failure of governance, and increased Chinese maritime aggression. The analysis emphasizes that climate change acts as a threat multiplier, exacerbating existing geopolitical tensions and socio-economic inequalities in Southeast and East Asia.

The document outlines the business case and technical process for seafood companies to adopt Science-Based Targets (SBTs) to mitigate climate change. It highlights that while seafood generally has a lower carbon footprint than land-based proteins, the industry faces significant risks from ocean warming and acidification. The guide details a process of data collection, GHG accounting using Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), and target setting through the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Key reduction strategies include the electrification of fishing vessels, the development of low-carbon aquaculture feed, and the reduction of air freight. It emphasizes that Scope 3 emissions—particularly from feed and transport—represent the largest challenge and require pre-competitive collaboration across the value chain.

The Republic of Nauru is seeking USD 1,304,546.00 from the Green Climate Fund to implement Phase One of its National Adaptation Planning. This 18-month project focuses on strengthening governance, updating climate projections, and developing a robust evidence base to inform the updated Republic of Nauru Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Framework (RONAdapt). Key activities include establishing a Climate Change Adaptation Technical Working Group, conducting private sector risk assessments, and creating a centralised climate information database. The project addresses critical vulnerabilities including sea-level rise, extreme heat, and the legacy of phosphate mining, which acts as a 'threat multiplier' for climate risks.