Ocean governance in an era of climate change

Abstract

The impact of climate change upon the ocean and the biological, chemical and physical effects resulting therefrom are a matter of increasing concern. Scientific fora have repeatedly demonstrated the ocean’s role as a ‘regulator’ of the Earth’s climate and a major sink of carbon dioxide (CO2). Beyond scientific circles, awareness regarding the effects of climate change upon the ocean, intensified pari passu with the highly contentious climate change negotiations, spans these last three decades. Copious scientific information highlights the multifaceted and complex relationship between the ocean and climate change. International negotiations on climate change and ocean governance, however, continue to evolve in separate political fora that negotiate various multilateral legal and policy instruments, addressing the threats to these two global resources.