By Gabriel Agbeja
Climate communities have advocated a unified vision for the protection of world’s vital ecosystems from oceans and coastal zones to forests and the biodiversity that sustains life and livelihoods.
This is contained in a statement on Wednesday by the COP30 Communications Team, after the COP30 presidency thematic press briefing, at the COP30 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil.
The meeting, the statement states, built momentum for the structural shifts needed to safeguard nature while strengthening resilience for people on the frontlines of climate impacts.
It noted that the morning session anchored this narrative with two major high-level ministers.
“Delivering ocean commitments highlights global progress on the Blue Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) challenge.
“It shows how ocean-based climate solutions are becoming central to national planning and the implementation of the First Global Stock-take.
“In parallel, the Bridging Action Agendas from COP16 to COP30 roundtable deepens synergies across climate, land, and biodiversity frameworks.
“It reaffirms that restoration and conservation must advance together to protect ecosystems and support communities,“ it said.
The term Blue NDC Challenge is a global initiative to integrate ocean-based actions into national climate plans.
It involves countries committing to actions like conserving marine ecosystems and developing clean ocean energy.
General NDC implementation challenges include financial needs, industrial decarbonisation, and capacity-building for effective policy.
The statement added that countries, indigenous peoples, Small, Medium, and Enterprises (SMEs), and regional partners highlighted in the meeting how innovation and local leadership could drive nature-positive development.
“The launch of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Implementation Alliance strengthens collaboration on national adaptation priorities, while the Global Ethical Stock-take underscores the need for fairness and shared responsibility.
“Together, these moments reinforce a core COP30 message: Protecting Ecosystems Means Protecting People and Our Future,” it said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Chidi Opara
