Ocean Sustainability and Climate Change

Australia is a leader in marine park management, the restoration of blue carbon ecosystems like seagrass and mangroves and the conservation of marine species to build resilience to climate change and help adapt natural, social and built systems.

The ocean-climate connection

The ocean is a vital part of the global climate system, and Australia recognises the need to build its health and resilience in the face of climate change.

We play a leading role in protecting our ocean ecosystems and threatened and migratory marine species, investing in ocean productivity, and importantly, in protecting and restoring coastal blue carbon ecosystems that play a vital role in drawing carbon out of the atmosphere and protecting coastlines.

The ocean is an essential part of sea and land cultural practice for Indigenous communities, and Australians expect our coasts and ocean to be healthy and protected, enabling productive and sustainable use.

Australia's vast marine ecosystem is the world’s third largest marine jurisdiction. It has some of the world’s largest coral and rocky reef systems, 12 per cent of the world’s blue carbon ecosystems, the third largest area of mangroves globally, and 50 per cent of the world’s seagrass species.

Our mangroves, saltmarshes, and seagrass meadows play a critical role in climate adaptation to build resilience to climate change and help adapt natural, social and built systems. These coastal environments and wetlands capture and store carbon at faster rates than terrestrial forests and are critical for biodiversity, removing sediments, nutrients and other pollutants from land-based run off.

It is critical to practise effective and sustainable management to protect and strengthen our vast ecosystem of ocean and coastal assets to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Australia’s leadership in sustainable ocean management

As a member of the 14-nation High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, Australia is working to accelerate and amplify action to maximise ocean health and wealth.

In 2019 the Panel released a Call to Ocean-Based Climate Action which outlined how the ocean and ocean industries can help to mitigate and adapt to climate change including by investing in nature-based climate solutions and decarbonising ocean industries.

In 2020 the Panel released its Transformations for a Sustainable Ocean Economy for how the world can make a rapid transition to a sustainable ocean economy. 

Australia has committed to sustainably manage 100 per cent of the ocean area within our national waters, guided by a sustainable ocean plan, by 2025.

Sustainable ocean management and a sustainable ocean economy are part of the solution to addressing the interconnected global challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. Australia is investing in climate adaptation and resilience efforts to protect our ocean, blue carbon ecosystems and coral reefs:

  • Our Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan focuses on protecting reef ecosystems through building reef resilience, adaptive marine park management and improving water quality flowing into the Great Barrier Reef. The Australian and Queensland governments are investing more than $4.4 billion from 2014-15 to 2029-30 to implement the Plan.
  • Our $500m+ investments in ocean adaptation and resilience, including long-term investments to fund environment and climate research supporting science-based solutions to environmental issues, and investments to address the challenge of ghost nets and plastic litter in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
  • Our support for marine park management, creating new Sea Country Indigenous Protected Areas, restoring blue carbon ecosystems and supporting marine conservation through enhancing the resilience of threatened and migratory marine species to climate change.
  • Our partnerships with our neighbours on nature-based solutions, including:
    • building capacity for Indo-Pacific countries to participate in carbon markets.
    • leading the International Partnership for Blue Carbon and support capacity building activities on blue carbon and forests in countries of our region.
    • supporting the Kiwa Initiative Nature-based Solutions for Climate Resilience.

Australia’s ocean priorities

All Australia’s major Oceans’ programs contribute to our understanding of global climate systems and support multiple outcomes including building resilience to climate change.  A snapshot of Australia’s major ocean priority programs and their role in responding to climate change:

  • Antarctic and Southern Ocean Activities
  • Coastal Blue Carbon Ecosystems
  • Coral Reefs, World Heritage and Ramsar Wetlands
  • Marine Protected Areas
  • Ocean Accounts
  • Threatened and Migratory Marine Species Conservation

Antarctic and Southern Ocean Activities

Summary

Antarctica plays an important role in the global weather and climate system. The Southern Ocean is the engine room for global weather and climate and has far reaching influence on oceanic and atmospheric circulation. The Southern Ocean moderates global climate change through absorbing heat and carbon. Antarctica teaches us about our past and current climate, and informs us of the nature, extent, and consequences of future climate change. These include impacts of changes in temperature, salinity, pH and sea ice on ecosystems and the central issue of melting ice shelves, loss of continental ice and sea level rise. The science we conduct in Antarctica also provides the essential evidence through which we can ensure a resilient environment to our south through responsible international environmental stewardship of the region.

Snapshot of current activity

  • Australia has a significant Antarctic program, supported by our stations and capabilities in the region. We carry out a wide range of globally significant scientific research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, a significant component through partnerships with other nations.
  • Australia plays a leading and influential role in the Antarctic Treaty system and actively engages in the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), the Committee on Environmental Protection, and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), including to conserve and protect Antarctica’s unique environment.
  • Australia and key partners, continue to advocate through CCAMLR for a representative system of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), including proposals for an East Antarctic MPA and a Weddell Sea MPA.

Coastal Blue Carbon Ecosystems

Coastal blue carbon ecosystems are environments that support mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses. They are prevalent along most coastlines in the world.

Blue carbon ecosystems provide habitat for marine species, support fish stocks and food security, sustain coastal communities and livelihoods, filter water flowing into our oceans and reef systems, and protect coastlines from erosion and storm surges. In addition, blue carbon ecosystems are a significant carbon sink, holding large pools of carbon in their soils, roots and plants, and can sequester two to four times more carbon per hectare than terrestrial forests.

With a view to conserve and restore coastal blue carbon ecosystems, the Australian Government is supporting research, on-ground restoration projects, capacity building and global and cross-sector partnerships.

Read more about Australian Government actions on Coastal Blue Carbon Ecosystems.

Coral Reefs, World Heritage and Ramsar Wetlands

Summary

Climate change is the most serious long-term threat to the health of coral reefs worldwide. The World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef is under pressure and has experienced four mass bleaching events in recent years (2016, 2017, 2020 and 2022).

Australia is highly regarded for our coral reef science, World Heritage and Ramsar wetland management, and we readily share our findings and expertise globally. We play a critical role in protecting, restoring, and managing marine and coastal World Heritage sites, such as the Great Barrier Reef, and our Ramsar wetlands, of which 36 of Australia’s 66 sites are located in coastal or marine areas.

We are committed to maintaining the ecological character of our coastal Ramsar sites and to the wise use of all coastal wetlands. We are committed to protecting the Outstanding Universal Value of all 20 of our World Heritage properties and maintaining Australia’s reputation in the World Heritage system. Australia will continue to build capability and share expertise in reef and wetland science and management to ensure these ecosystems are protected for generations to come.

Australia’s focus for improving the long-term outlook for coral reefs is founded on three key action areas – contributing to global emissions reductions, direct action to reduce pressures like poor water quality, and supporting adaptation and resilience to a changing climate. Australia’s investments and action are outlined below.

Snapshot of current activity

  • The centrepiece of Australia’s Reef protection efforts is the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan, jointly developed and implemented with the Queensland Government. The Australian and Queensland governments are investing more than $4.2 billion from 2014-15 to 2029-30 to implement the Reef 2050 Plan. Of this, more than $3 billion is from the Australian Government. Example climate adaptation and resilience initiatives include (non-exhaustive):
  • On-ground Reef protection with $700 million through the Reef Trust
  • Water Quality improvement through landscape-scale land management transformation across a vast catchment area – around 424,000 square kilometres. $455 million is committed to working with farmers to improve farm productivity while reducing run-off and repairing catchments.
  • Leading coral reef adaptation science through the $150 million Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program committed through the Reef Trust Partnership and research partners.
  • Coastal ecosystem and species protection with over $56 million committed, including wetland and island restoration, shark conservation, and turtle research.
  • The Australian Government has invested $1.2 million at the Ningaloo Coast and $1.9 million at Shark Bay World Heritage properties from 2018-19 to 2022-23 for marine and coastal management activities.
  • We have developed a comprehensive, cutting-edge reef knowledge system to track Reef 2050 Plan progress and inform decision-making to ensure adaptive management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
  • The Australian Government also finances clean energy projects in the Reef catchments through the $1 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation’s Reef Funding Program. This fund tackles coral reefs’ two biggest challenges – climate change and water quality.
  • Australia is a founding member of the International Coral Reef Initiative – a forum to share our knowledge and experience in managing corals reefs internationally.
  • We engage internationally on reefs and wetlands through the Commonwealth Blue Charter, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, the Convention on Biological Diversity, World Heritage Convention and Ramsar Convention, and as an Official Development Partner to the Coral Triangle Initiative.
  • Australia sponsored a resolution on blue carbon ecosystems at the most recent Ramsar Convention Conference of Parties meeting in Dubai in 2018.

Marine Protected Areas

Summary

Australia is a world leader in balanced and sustainable ocean management, with around 4 million square kilometres or 45 percent of our waters included in our National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas.

The Australian Government manages 62 marine parks – 60 Australian Marine Parks located around the country managed by Parks Australia, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the remote, sub-Antarctic Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve managed by the Australian Antarctic Division on behalf of Parks Australia. States also have networks of marine protected areas that protect coastal ecosystems and habitats.

MPAs are complemented by other Australian Government measures for protecting the marine environment from the impacts of climate change. Sustainably managed and balanced MPAs provide areas of reduced stress and impact, improving the ability of marine habitats and organisms to adapt to climate change. Ongoing investment in marine science is key to understanding the incidence and impacts of climate change on marine park values.

Australia is supportive of a global target to protect at least 30 per cent of the world’s land and 30 per cent of the world’s ocean sea (combined) by 2030, including in through the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)’s Post−2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (known as the ‘30by30’ target).

Snapshot of current activity

  • Australia has one of the world’s largest representative networks of marine protected areas. This is making a significant contribution to the ocean component of the ‘30by30’ target.
  • In 2022, the Australian Government established marine parks in Australia’s Indian Ocean Territory (IOT) around Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. These parks were co-designed with IOT communities and protect 744,000 square kilometres of ocean. Their establishment also increases Australia’s marine park coverage nationally from 37 percent to 45 per cent of our waters, reinforcing Australia’s global leadership in and legacy of ocean protection.
  • Australia is investing $39.9 million (from 2021) to support Australian Marine Park partnerships, to engage communities and industries in park management, support implementation of new marine parks in the Indian Ocean Territories and undertake ocean discovery and restoration projects through co-investment with private, philanthropic and science partners.
  • The Australian Government is also investing $28.3 million (from 2020) to enhance Australian Marine Park management, by expanding compliance and enforcement activities, increasing science and monitoring activities, and supporting Indigenous engagement in management of sea country,
  • Australia is investing $11.6 million to create new Sea Country Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) in 10 locations across Australia under the Sea Country IPAs Program. The program seeks to increase the area of ocean and coast in IPAs to strengthen the conservation and protection of the marine environment, while creating employment and economic opportunities for Indigenous Australians. There are currently 81 dedicated IPAs in Australia, with 10 of these including ocean.
  • We are an active member of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People and the Global Ocean Alliance, which are two international coalitions calling for the protection of at least 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030.
  • Australia is a proponent for two proposed MPAs in the Southern Ocean. The East Antarctic and Weddell Sea MPAs, if adopted, would contribute an additional 3.2 million square kilometres to a representative system of MPAs in the Southern Ocean.

Ocean Accounts

Summary

Ocean accounts organise data so we can describe the complex environmental and economic systems present in our oceans. We use them to inform decisions about how we manage our oceans, including how to better adapt to climate change.

Australia is a global leader in the development of environmental-economic accounts. The Australian Government’s vision is for communities to understand the environment’s contribution to our quality of life, and for its condition and value to be accounted for in decision-making for a prosperous and healthy society.

The Australian Government is prioritising the development of national and local scale ocean accounts focused on blue carbon ecosystems. We want to see a global roll-out of ocean accounts, including as a means of collectively improving our measures of economic success. We encourage continued momentum towards universal adoption of a harmonised approach and interoperable systems of ocean accounts.

Snapshot of current activity

  • Australia is implementing a National Strategy and Action Plan on Environmental-Economic Accounting, agreed by all Australian environment ministers in April 2018.
  • Australia invested over $250,000 to develop an ocean accounting pilot in Geographe Marine Park and supported a pilot ocean waste account in Samoa.
  • Australia is investing $1.1 million to support planning for the roll out of ocean accounting at a national scale to provide robust measurement of the blue economy and ecosystem services.
  • Australia is developing a National Ocean Ecosystem Account focusing on mangrove, saltmarsh, seagrass and kelp ecosystems, and including key ecosystem services they provide such as carbon sequestration and coastal protection.
  • Australia works with global experts to develop ocean accounts including founding members of the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership.

Read further at Environmental-Economic Accounting for the Oceans

Threatened and Migratory Marine Species Conservation

Summary

Future climate change scenarios are likely to significantly impact threatened and migratory marine species. Effective conservation requires regional and global cooperation to address priority issues for key threatened migratory species such as turtles, dugong, cetaceans, birds and sharks. Protecting and conserving threatened and migratory marine species is something we cannot do in isolation, given these species’ ability to move large distances that regularly takes them to other jurisdictions. Australian waters provide critical habitat for many species, either year-round or along their migratory routes. Over 100 of these species are globally threatened or declining. Threats include climate change and variability, marine debris and other pollutants, ocean noise, habitat loss or degradation, fisheries bycatch, entanglement, poorly regulated tourism, invasive or pest species and disease.

Snapshot of current activity

  • Australia works with countries towards the comprehensive protection of our shared migratory species through the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals and other international and bilateral agreements.
  • Our international commitments are reinforced by domestic legislation and policy. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 provides protection for threatened and migratory species and allows for the development and implementation of conservation planning documents that aim to enhance the conservation status of threatened and migratory species.
  • We are also working domestically to protect threatened and migratory marine species by investing $11million over four years to improve the outlook for these important species through such actions as:
  • $6 million for threatened and migratory marine species programs including development of a national underwater anthropogenic noise guideline, trialling innovative techniques to mitigate the impact of rising beach temperatures on marine turtles nests, preventing light pollution and protect nesting beaches for marine turtles and shorebirds; and
  • $5 million to develop new and innovative measures to support the marine environment and sustainable fisheries through practical measures to avoid bycatch of threatened and migratory species.

Read more