Syllabus:

GS3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

Context: 

Recently, Brazil and France unveiled the "Blue NDC Challenge" at the UN Ocean Conference.

More on the News

• The Blue NDC Challenge is designed to increase international momentum for embedding the ocean into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. 
• Brazil, which will host COP30 this November, has partnered with France to launch the initiative, joined by Australia, Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau, and the Republic of Seychelles.
• The initiative is supported by Ocean Conservancy, the Ocean & Climate Platform, and the World Resources Institute through the Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance (ORCA) and has been endorsed by WWF-Brazil.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 

• NDCs are national climate action plans under the Paris Agreement, adopted by 195 Parties at UNFCCC COP21 in Paris on December 12, 2015. 
• They are submitted to the UNFCCC secretariat and are required to be updated every five years. 
• They detail each country’s commitments to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change, aiming to keep global temperature rise well below 2°C and strive to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
• NDCs are at the heart of the Paris Agreement and are crucial for achieving its long-term goals, such as limiting global temperature rise. 
• They guide national policies and measures to reduce emissions and adapt to climate impacts. 
• NDCs serve as a basis for tracking progress towards global climate goals. 

Blue Nationally Determined Contributions Challenge

• The Blue NDC Challenge represents a key opportunity to strengthen ocean-related climate action and to emphasize the essential role of ocean-based solutions in achieving emission reduction targets.
• Brazil aims to boost global cooperation on ocean-based climate action ahead of COP30 in Belem, Brazil and urges all nations to include oceans in their climate strategies.
• These countries have pledged to restore and manage marine ecosystems through marine spatial planning, coastal zone management, and climate-smart protected areas.
• They aim to phase out offshore oil and gas, boost clean ocean energy, cut emissions in shipping and seafood sectors, and promote climate-resilient fisheries for ocean health and food security.
• Governments that join the Blue NDC Challenge can receive support from various actors, including the Ocean Breakthroughs led by the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action.