COP30 Highlights Urgent Advances in Ocean Technology and Governance for Climate Resilience

During COP30 held in Belém, Brazil, pivotal discussions took place at the Casa da Ciência focusing on climate change impacts and the blue economy's role in sustainable ocean management. Experts noted that only 27% of the global ocean has been mapped, underscoring significant gaps in monitoring necessary for decision-making on fishing, seabed mining, and resource exploration. An important climate target, dubbed 30x30, which aims to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030, was widely defended by participants as a critical strategy to safeguard marine biodiversity and ecosystems.

Speakers from institutions including the National Institute of Oceanic Research and the University of Wollongong highlighted Brazil’s challenges in integrated coastal governance. Michelle Yoyer, an associate professor, called attention to the fragmented coordination among federal, state, and municipal agencies, which has led to overlapping policies with limited effectiveness. The conference emphasized the crucial need for technological innovations and digital transformation to improve productivity, mitigate environmental impacts, and modernize port and maritime management.

Financing emerged as a key barrier, with calls for increased funding directed toward ocean monitoring projects, mangrove restoration, ocean modeling, and development of low-impact technologies. Inclusive governance was also a priority, stressing the importance of integrating local communities and small-scale fishermen to ensure equitable participation in the blue economy.

The urgency of accelerating the energy transition was a recurring theme to reduce oil and gas extraction pressures on marine ecosystems. Polejack, a conference contributor, urged the blue economy to be integrated as a state policy that aligns scientific knowledge, traditional knowledge, the productive sectors, and government policies. He affirmed, "The ocean is part of the climate solution and Brazil has immense potential if it can integrate knowledge, data, and governance."

These discussions at COP30 underscore the complex interplay of technology, governance, community inclusion, and sustainable funding as Brazil seeks to position itself at the forefront of ocean conservation and climate resilience.