One of the greatest threats facing the planet, particularly coastal areas and communities, is the worsening rate of climate change. As an MP of a coastal community, beautiful Hastings and Rye, I am only too aware of the potential threat that climate change has on the preservation and protection of coastal communities. As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Ocean, I also understand and recognise first-hand the invaluable and vital role that the ocean plays for biodiversity and habitat, climate and environment, energy, sustainability, and people’s wellbeing. The ocean not only mitigates and combats some of the greatest dangers of climate change, by storing and holding carbon for thousands of years, but it also has a significant part to play in advanced marine technological research and sustainable development.
The power of the ocean in combating climate change cannot be understated, and I was delighted that the APPG for the Ocean’s first inquiry examined the role of ocean-based solutions and blue carbon in tackling climate change. Our inquiry report, The Ocean: Turning the Tide on Climate Change was published towards the end of 2022 and called for the UK Government to prioritise and facilitate investment in blue carbon and ocean-based solutions. I am pleased that the UK has ambitious net zero targets and is advocating for the 30by30 target, to meaningfully protect at least 30% of the UK and overseas territory waters by 2030. Yet, I believe that there is more that can be done, to ensure that the UK is a world-leader in ocean protection, preservation and management. The ocean is one of our greatest environmental assets, and if we do not preserve and protect it, we run the risk of increasingly devastating climate change consequences.
Although the ocean is a significant player in mitigating climate change, its role is usually viewed as passive, rather than active. It occupies over 70% of the planet’s surfaces area, produces around 50% of the oxygen we breath, and it is estimated that the ocean has absorbed between 25-30% of all carbon dioxide emissions caused by human activity, making it the largest carbon sink in the world. However, despite this, the power of the ocean is often overlooked, and discussions around climate change and carbon stores usually refer to land-based solutions, such as forests and trees. While we cannot deny the importance of land-based solutions, and the devastating impact of destruction of these solutions, such as deforestation, it is vital to also recognise the significant role of the ocean, and blue carbon solutions. Only by holistically taking advantage of the potential benefits of all decarbonisation methods including those presented by the ocean and blue carbon, can climate change and its negative consequences be truly tackled.
Part of the reason why blue carbon solutions are overlooked is due to the lack of understanding, research and data on the ocean, particularly the deep ocean. There is a scarcity of evidence and scientific understanding of the ocean and blue carbon habitats, compared to other forms of decarbonisation and it is vital that this knowledge gap is bridged. This is partially due to a lack of long-term funding, but also due to a lack of Government attention and support, especially towards the more complex and less understood types of blue carbon habitats, such as ocean-based carbon-dioxide removal approaches.
The APPG’s inquiry report therefore called on the Government to implement a number of key recommendations. These included restoring the UK’s blue carbon habitats, such as saltmarsh and seagrass, adopting a code of conduct, prioritising funding into ocean-based CDR approaches, and include blue carbon habitat mapping in the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Additionally, the APPG has called on the Government to create a Minister for the Ocean role, to fill the Ministerial gap as no-one is exclusively and directly responsible for all ocean issues.
Since the publication of this report last year, I am delighted to see that the Government has echoed a number of our key recommendations in its Environmental Improvement Plan 2023. Specifically, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs highlighted the need to protect habitats from bottom towed fishing gears and made a commitment to fill the evidence gaps that hinder the inclusion of saltmarsh and seagrass habitats into the UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory. These directly echo the APPG’s recommendations, and we’re delighted to see that the UK Government is recognising the significant potential of the ocean in the overall decarbonisation agenda, however more progress can be made.
Most crucially, I am delighted that, only this week, the first three marine areas in England have received the highest level of protection and have become Highly Protected Marine Areas. This was another of the APPG’s key recommendations and ensures that some of the most precious marine species and blue carbon habitats are protected. This kind of protection will ultimately support our ambitions by enabling more effective blue carbon storage and sequestration, and preservation of biodiversity. This is a significant step forward in ocean policy and marine conservation, and I am encouraged to see the UK Government engage with the APPG and our report’s recommendations and advance with such progressive and sustainable actions. These policies, which were laid out in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 but fully actioned this week, also show where the future of ocean policy is heading under this government, which encompasses a holistic and long-term vision of ocean preservation and decarbonisation targets.
This year’s World Ocean’s Day theme, on 8 June, was “Planet Ocean: tides are changing.” And in both public perception and in Parliament, the tides are indeed changing. Across parliament there is greater understanding and knowledge of the significant benefits that the ocean offers, and I hope to see this reflected in public consciousness and support for ocean protection.
These changes in Government policy reflect this greater understanding and changing tides and I look forward to working with the APPG for the Ocean, UK Government and ocean stakeholders, to ensure that blue carbon habitats are restored, and ocean-based solutions are funded. To protect coastal communities, restore marine ecosystems, combat climate change and to meet the UK’s net zero targets, the answer can be found in the bottom of the ocean. Nature is the most cost-effective solution in combating climate change as well as providing added value. We must unleash her power.