eNews

#06 2024

South Africa steps into Oceans20 leadership: Advancing the ocean-climate nexus

By Professor Juliet Hermes, Manager of SAEON’s Egagasini Node and Yanga Malotana, PhD Candidate and Early-career Professional

As South Africa assumes leadership of Oceans20 (O20), we are committed to building on Brazil’s groundbreaking legacy by placing the ocean-climate nexus at the heart of sustainable development, resilience and prosperity. Guided by Brazil’s priorities, our focus will include fostering cooperative science and innovation, ensuring ocean-based solutions become a cornerstone of global climate strategies, especially for developing nations and vulnerable communities.

The Southern Hemisphere: A crucial ocean-climate region  

For the Southern Hemisphere, the ocean is not just a resource but a critical regulator of climate, biodiversity and coastal economies. The vast Southern Ocean plays a key role as a carbon sink and heat reservoir, absorbing much of the world’s CO₂ and excess heat, which stabilises global temperatures, but at a significant cost. This process puts tremendous pressure on marine ecosystems, which in turn impacts coastal communities dependent on the ocean.

Climate change has heightened extreme events like tropical cyclones, marine heatwaves and storm surges, which devastate coastal populations and disrupt marine ecosystems. Rising ocean temperatures amplify these events, posing escalating threats to biodiversity and human livelihoods. Tackling the ocean-climate nexus in the Southern Hemisphere is essential to strengthening resilience, preserving marine ecosystems and securing the future of ocean-reliant communities.

With one of the most biodiverse marine environments globally, South Africa’s coastline is critical for carbon sequestration, climate regulation and the livelihoods of coastal communities. (Photo: Kavram/Shutterstock)

South Africa’s unique role and opportunities 

For South Africa, the ocean-climate nexus represents a transformative opportunity. With one of the most biodiverse marine environments globally, South Africa’s coastline is critical for carbon sequestration, climate regulation and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

The Oceans20 framework emphasises cooperative science and innovation as a vital pathway. Through robust partnerships in research, technology transfer and capacity-building, South Africa can expand its scientific knowledge and implement data-driven marine conservation strategies.

The power of public-private-philanthropic partnerships 

To advance ocean-based solutions, South Africa aims to foster strong public-private-philanthropic partnerships. These collaborations can address resource gaps in marine conservation, promote investments in blue economy initiatives like sustainable aquaculture and renewable ocean energy, and enhance community-based conservation efforts. Philanthropic funding will be pivotal for deep-sea research – an area requiring specialised technologies and expertise beyond the scope of many national budgets.

By developing its deep-sea research capacity, South Africa can better explore and monitor marine biodiversity, understand climate change impacts at great depths, and craft informed conservation policies. Aligning these efforts with national climate strategies and marine spatial planning will ensure economic growth supports sustainability, benefiting ecosystems and coastal communities alike.

Participants in this year’s Oceans20 held in Brazil.

Early-career ocean professionals and civil society as key stakeholders in driving the O20 Vision 

South Africa emphasises the value of including young professionals and grassroot organisations in the oceans decision-making process. Involving early-career ocean professionals (ECOPs) and civil society ensures innovative and diverse perspectives are brought to the forefront, driving inclusive and impactful solutions for a sustainable future.

ECOPs contribute cutting-edge research, energy and creativity in the pursuit for ocean sustainability and justice. Civil society amplifies the voices of communities directly impacted by ocean policies and practices – fostering inclusivity and accountability.

At this year’s O20, South Africa emphasised the vital role played by ECOPs and civil society in bridging the gap between global frameworks and local realities. We commit ourselves to protecting this role as it ensures that ocean protection efforts are not only equitable and forward-thinking, but also grounded in the needs of both people and our planet. Engaging these groups is key to driving transformative action and securing the health of our oceans for future generations.

South Africa emphasised the vital role early-career ocean professionals and civil society play in bridging the gap between global frameworks and local realities. Here SAEON’s Yanga Malotana, a PhD candidate and early-career professional (centre), engages with fellow participants.

A collaborative vision for the future  

South Africa’s leadership aims to bridge the gaps between science and policy, research and industry, and foster inclusive ocean observation using innovative, low-cost technologies. By promoting ocean literacy and integrating indigenous knowledge, we hope to create a more inclusive approach to ocean sustainability.

The Oceans20 journey began in Indonesia, gained momentum under India and was formalised with Brazil. South Africa steps into this leadership role with a collaborative spirit. Rather than taking the helm alone, we will sail alongside Brazil, leveraging each other’s expertise to ensure a smooth journey toward a sustainable future. The mission of Oceans20 is vast, but with global partners united, we can navigate challenges and achieve lasting progress.

As the African proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child”. Addressing the ocean-climate nexus requires the same collective strength. South Africa invites countries, industries and communities to join hands in this critical mission, recognising that, together, we can chart a sustainable course for our oceans and our planet.