The ocean is rising on the international climate policy agenda and the dialogues around it – 51 national plans include at least one measure aimed at ocean-based mitigation, compared to just 31 in the first round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) – but will this translate into commitments to act? One clear change is countries’ recognition that the ocean is not merely a victim of climate change, but an important part of the solution.

New analysis from World Resources Institute has found that 77 out of 106 new or updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – national pledges to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions - from island and coastal states include at least one ocean-climate action.