Ocean and Climate Platform

Covering 71% of the Earth’s surface, the ocean is a complex ecosystem that provides services that are essential to sustain life on Earth. More than 25% of the CO2 emitted each year by humans into the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean and it is also the world’s largest net supplier of oxygen, playing an equally important role as forests. The Ocean is therefore the planet’s main lung and is at the heart of the global climate machine.

While the ocean continues to limit global warming, anthropogenic pressure – mainly CO2 emissions – overexploitation of resources and pollution have been degrading marine ecosystems for several decades. The ocean may see its role as a climate regulator disrupted. It is therefore urgent to maintain the functional quality of marine ecosystems and restore those that are deteriorating, for “a healthy Ocean, a protected climate”.

The OCP now gathers more than 100 members – research institutes, NGOs, aquariums, private sector, French institutions and international agencies, local authorities – working together in order to spread the following message : “a healthy ocean for a protected climate”. If the ocean is particularly vulnerable to climate change, it also is a source of mitigation and adaptation solutions.

 Through its role of interface between science and policy, the Ocean & Climate Platform fosters reflection and exchanges between the scientific community, civil society and policy-makers. Its ambition is to mobilize the largest number of actors for better consideration of the scientific message on the interactions between the ocean, climate and biopersity by policy-makers and the general public.