STATE OF THE OCEAN – Press Briefing

Understanding the Ocean’s Role in a Changing Climate 

The ocean plays a vital role in regulating the global climate, yet it faces unprecedented threats from climate change. Rising sea surface temperatures, marine heatwaves, and biodiversity loss are pushing ecosystems and coastal communities to the brink. In 2023, 22% of the global ocean surface experienced severe to extreme marine heatwaves (EU Copernicus Ocean State Report (OSR 8), with European waters reaching record temperatures. A high proportion of marine habitats in the European Union are in an unfavourable status (76 %) and 38 % are further deteriorating, with pollution being a significant factor. (European Environment Agency, 2023).  

In response, the European Union has committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, cutting maritime emissions, transitioning fisheries away from fossil fuels, and expanding offshore renewables. The EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters aims to protect and restore the health of our ocean and waters through research and innovation, citizen engagement and blue investments by 2030. Efforts to curb ocean pollution include reducing plastic waste, limiting runoff, and pushing for a binding Global Plastic Agreement by 2024. Nature-based solutions, such as carbon sequestration in marine ecosystems, play a key role in climate adaptation. 

With the upcoming European Ocean Days (3-7 March 2025, Brussels, Belgium) and the UN Ocean Conference (9-13 June 2025, Nice, France), the world’s media will capture the headlines.

Going Beyond the Headlines 

We hosted this event on 20 February 2025. You can watch the full session here with insightful discussion between: 

• Tanya Brodie Rudolph (International Marine and Environmental Lawyer and the Co-Lead of Towards IPOS) 
• Francesca Santoro (Senior Programme Officer, IOC/UNESCO) 
• Pierre Strosser (Environmental economist, ACTeon Environment) 
• Nina Dietz (Young Citizen’s Council for the Ocean, 2024 EU4Ocean Challenge of the Year winner) 
• Natalie Donback (Freelance Journalist)

Key insights: