Ocean-based approaches can help close mitigation gaps

Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities' (CBDR-RC) is a core principle in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) used to operationalize equity, but it could be defined in many ways. To date, the bulk of attention has been on the first part of this principle -CBDR -because of the importance of addressing responsibility. However, we propose that a more robust notion of RC is possible, useful and timely as countries are currently articulating their first Nationally Determined Contributions, a process that is expected to ratchet up over time under the new regime. We combine Sen and Nussbaum's notion of a 'capabilities approach' with the framework provided by the UNFCCC to identify five sub-elements of RC and propose metrics for each of them. These sub-elements are human development, economic capacity, resilience to climate impacts, governance capacity, and technical and innovation capacity. We are not proposing replacing discussions of responsibility with those of capabilities. Responsibility remains central to the climate equity discussion. However, differentiation based on responsibility alone may not be adequate to address climate impacts or human development needs, both of which are central to climate equity. Providing countries with a robust approach for articulating RC enhances the overall ability for the principle of CBDR-RC to address the trio of climate equity challenges posed by unequal climate impacts, development status, and responsibility. Moreover, including a more robust notion of capabilities in the operationalization of equity may identify additional means for supporting specific domestic climate policies able to address core development needs in the context of increased carbon constraints and climate impacts.

Since adoption of the Kyoto Protocol under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1997, the international climate regime has been caught in stasis. Due to a lack of direction and clarity at the policy level and deep political divides, the evolution of the international climate regime under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) had failed to catch up with the changes occurring in the real economy. The momentum created ahead of COP21 in 2015 and resulting Paris Agreement has changed this, creating a new paradigm of international climate policy, politics and cooperation that is, if implemented, capable of generating the momentum needed to accelerate the pace of change and drive transformation. This new paradigm that emerged from the Paris Agreement, demonstrates the role of the United Nations in giving voice to smaller countries to create effective positive powerful coalitions and the need to invite the outside world into the process through greater participation of cities, business, investors and other non‐state actors. We outline the main policy and political shifts that the Paris Agreement represents, and explain why this new paradigm of international climate policy, politics and cooperation is key to accelerating the pace of change and keeping the world well below 2°C, and optimally 1.5°C. WIREs Clim Change 2017, 8:e471. doi: 10.1002/wcc.471 This article is categorized under: Policy and Governance > International Policy Framework

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Ocean-based climate action can play an important role in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) are one of the main mechanisms under the Paris Agreement for countries to communicate their national climate strategies. This working paper analyzes how ocean-based climate actions are included in new and updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs) from island and coastal countries and what this means for implementation over the next five years. Based on an analysis of 106 new and updated NDCs, 77 (73 percent) include at least one target, policy, or measure aimed at ocean-based climate actions.