MARE subscribes to the COP30 Belém Ocean Declaration

MARE officially endorsed the COP30 Belém Ocean Declaration, a global call to action that recognises the ocean and forests as twin pillars of planetary stability and a sustainable future. The signing of this declaration reaffirms MARE's commitment to protecting aquatic ecosystems, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources and ocean literacy, in accordance with the fundamental principles that guide the institution's mission.​

The declaration, presented in Belém, in a region where the forest, river and ocean meet, highlights the fundamental role of the ocean in global climate balance: it produces more than 50% of the planet's oxygen, absorbs a large part of greenhouse gas emissions and regulates the climate, just as forests do on land. However, these systems are under increasing pressure, threatened by global warming, acidification, pollution, biodiversity loss and unsustainable exploitation of resources.

By signing the Belém Ocean Declaration, MARE joins the international call for the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) to integrate ocean-focused actions into its decision-making processes, namely in the Global Stocktake and the upcoming Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The declaration also highlights the need to accelerate the creation of nature-based solutions, strengthen ocean monitoring systems, develop new observation technologies and promote innovative financing mechanisms that enable marine conservation and sustainable development.

By signing this commitment, MARE reinforces its mission to understand the functioning of aquatic ecosystems and to transform scientific knowledge into decisions and solutions for sustainability. In a decisive year for global climate action, MARE is proud to be part of this collective movement.

To learn more about the statement, click HERE.