There is no doubt that we need to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions to avoid catastrophic and irreversible impacts on society and nature. In addition to concerted decarbonisation efforts, nature plays a vital role in tackling the climate crisis. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, oceans, forests, and other ecosystems currently absorb more than half of man-made CO2- emissions. Similarly, the Intergovermental Science Policy Platform on Ecosystem Services has underscored the vital role that healthy ecosystems play in reducing vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters.

Marine ecosystems, resources, and species do not respect national borders. The effects of marine pollution and degradation are felt by us all. To conserve, and sustainably use ocean and marine ecosystems therefore requires integrated, and coherent approaches. By looking at marine ecosystems in their totality, policy makers can ensure that interventions are well aligned in order to address the cumulative impacts of unsustainable human activities.

The potential of land-based mitigation can be further unlocked by scaling up projects that encourage, enhance and incentivise sustainable agricultural land management, land restoration and soil organic carbon sequestration practices and activities.