“Unlocking the Power of Oceans: How They Can Help Us Adapt to Climate Change”

The role of oceans in climate change adaptation is crucial, especially in coastal zones where high energy forces like tides and wave action must be managed to protect communities. One way to manage these forces is through the use of green infrastructure such as mangroves, which have been shown to reduce seawater levels and water inflow speed during powerful cyclones in places like Bangladesh.

The World Bank is actively supporting ocean health through its Blue Economy approach, which focuses on the sustainable management of coastal and marine areas. The multi-donor trust fund, PROBLUE, helps governments improve fisheries, address marine pollution, manage coastal resources, and limit the impacts of key sectors on ocean health. The ocean economy is expected to double to $3 trillion by 2030, making it a critical agenda for the Bank.

Efforts are also being made to decarbonize shipping, develop alternative livelihoods for impacted communities, and reduce marine plastic pollution. Plastic pollution is a significant threat to ocean health, and the World Bank is working on various initiatives to tackle this issue.

To ensure oceans remain healthy and can help fight climate change in the future, global commitment is needed. Some countries have set ocean health targets as part of their climate commitments, and integrated ocean planning is being adopted to develop oceanic sectors sustainably. At COP26, new rules for carbon markets were approved to better value ocean-based carbon sinks and create incentives for their preservation. Collaboration and continued efforts are essential to restore and maintain ocean health for climate change adaptation.