Many are calling COP-26 and COP-27 ‘an increasingly blue COP’, and 2022 was the first year COP-27 hosted an Ocean Pavilion in the formal negotiations area (Blue Zone) (led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Scripps Institution of Oceanography), with multiple events and discussions to ensure the ocean was recognised as central to climate negotiations. Resultantly, there was more representation of the Ocean and islands at COP than ever before.

Some key outcomes in the final COP-27 text include; commitments to a new fund for ‘’loss and damage’’ resulting from climate change, for vulnerable nations and small island states. This dedicated fund was seen as the key outcome of COP this year, and the ocean-climate-nexus was strengthened by the clear linkage between developing nations and a reliance on, and connection to ocean health. For example, in Article 45, the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue was mandated as an annual event with two conveners appointed to enable effective communication between the dialogue and COP negotiations. Enhanced ocean observation was also called for in Article 26 and a call for research into and the promotion of ocean-based actions that advance climate sustainability was included in Article 46. Moreover, whilst the Ocean still lacks a defined agenda item, it is now in the cover decision - the overarching decision at the discretion of the presidency. Furthermore, in terms of the evolution of the text - this is one of the few issues that is not divided based on developed and developing nations mandates (and therefore globally supported), which bodes well going forward.

Looking to the future - the DOSI delegation hope to continue to highlight the Ocean, and the deep-sea in particular, in the context of climate change mitigation, adaptation and inclusion in climate negotiations during the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28) in the United Arab Emirates. Where the foundation set by COP-27 on ocean dialogue can hopefully progress into on the ground action and conservation measures.

From an ocean conservation perspective, the final decision firmly acknowledged the role of the ocean and consolidated the mandate for an annual Ocean-Climate Dialogue in the final declaration to ‘’Encourage Parties to consider, as appropriate, ocean-based action in their national climate goals and in the implementation of these goals, including but not limited to nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies and adaptation communications’’.

This sets the stage for ocean-based economies and island locations, like the Falkland Islands, to consider the role of their biodiverse, intact and unexplored marine habitats in climate-mitigation efforts. To both conserve nature, but also to retain processes in nature (nature-based-solutions to climate change), such as carbon storage and sequestration ‘blue carbon’ in kelp ecosystems and on the seafloor - for the benefit of society, economy and the climate into the future.


Acknowledgements:
Narissa Bax would like to warmly acknowledge and thank the DOSI Climate Change working group for the kind invite to COP-27. The High Seas Alliance and DOSI Travel Fund for a Deep-Sea Scientist for providing the funding to attend COP-27 in Egypt. The John Ellerman Foundation for providing funding for the MCPC role at SAERI. The Climate Action Hub and Ocean Pavilion for hosting deep-sea presentations and events. Katy Hill and colleagues from the National Oceanography Centre (NOC). Eliza Poloczanska from the IPCC. Daniel Bayley from Fauna and Flora International (a brilliant dive buddy). David Boot from NOC for the invite to present on: Blue carbon: the ocean's role in fighting climate change, and co-panelists Jim Edson and Anya Waite and panel chair Ed Hill. The University of Southampton for sponsoring attendance at COP-27 in week one. Judith Fenwick, Kilaparti Ramakrishna and Peter Ryde and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for sponsoring attendance at COP-27 in week two. Kira Coley from The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO SEABED 2030 for the invite to present in 'Seabed 2030: Mapping for People and Planet', and co-panelists Sophie Seeyave, Bernadette Snow and Rick Spinrad with Steve Hall as moderator. Brandon Gertz for invaluable support from afar and for highlighting deep-sea related work on social media platforms. Thank you Dave Barnes, Chester Sands, Markus Diesing, Santiago Pineda-Metz and Rachel Downey who took the time to discuss some of the blue carbon questions posed at COP-27 and others from the Antarctic Seabed Carbon Capture Change (ASCCC) team who have supported my taking this work into policy spaces over the last few years. Thank you to those who came to see our panel on Blue Carbon, despite the overlap with Joe Biden (especially Sian Henley) and those who came to see Dave Barnes at COP-26 despite the overlap with Barack Obama (maybe at COP-28 someone will talk about Antarctic blue carbon at a different time to the US presidency). A special thanks to the incredible deep-sea delegation who shared the experience and will hopefully share it again at COP28 – including; Maria Baker, Sarah Seabrook, Lisa Levin, Maria Baker, Wassim Dbouk, Isa Elegbede, Michelle Guraieb, Elva Escobar, Sonigitu Ekpe, Olivia Pereira, Eesha Rangani, Bernadette Snow and Nathalie Hilmi. Lastly, thank you to those who took the time to watch the live stream and other deep-sea events and to those who continually engage with the complexity of climate change discussions year on year out, despite the long and winding road to implementation.