In the service of NDCs

The Paris Agreement is a universal agreement in the sense that almost all the States of the planet have committed themselves to fight against climate change by the submission of voluntary national contributions, the INDCs.


It was the heart of the Paris agreement that was the fruit of the COP21. As of 4 April 2016, 161 INDCs had been received, covering 189 Parties to the Convention representing 96 per cent of the Parties to the Convention. Parties that have communicated the FADIs make up about 99% of the emissions from all Parties to the Convention. A total of 137 Parties representing 83% of the FDCs also included an adaptation component.


The aim of the Blue Belt Initiative is to contribute to strengthening the Ocean, Fisheries and Aquaculture component of the NDCs, recognizing that concrete actions can be taken both in Adaptation and Mitigation.


Fisheries and Oceans in National Contributions (NDCs)

fisheries and oceans, collateral victims of climate change but also factors of climate resilience, need to be more systematically taken into account in defining national contributions that aim to stand up to climate change. Based primarily on the framework and the tool proposed by the NDCs Partnership, our objective is to encourage the integration of the climate issue in public policies and especially to better integrate actions related to the resilience of the oceans and fisheries in the NDCs.

FACTS

The global ocean absorbs more than 90% of the heat and about a quarter of the CO2 that accumulates in the atmosphere due to human activity, modulating climate change with a significant impact on its own resilience. Excess heat and CO2 alter the physics, chemistry and ecology of the oceans while affecting valuable ecosystem services such as fisheries, coastal tourism and coastal protection.


Faced with the global challenge of the regulatory role of the oceans and the importance of safeguarding coastal zones and ecosystems in the context of the SDO 14, action is urgently needed. The IPCC's decision to produce a Special Report on the Ocean goes in this direction and will allow for the first time to build an integrated vision of the impacts of climate change on the ocean and the role of the ocean on the system Climate change itself.


There is an urgent need to implement solutions and public policies for the most vulnerable coastal regions and islands and the plans and solutions implemented are based on objective scientific evidence to ensure that adaptation measures reduce into the minimum the negative impacts of natural climate variability and climate change.


National contributions combine state mitigation commitments through projections and action schedules to reduce sectoral emissions of greenhouse gases at the national level and national adaptation targets to reduce the vulnerability of human and natural systems to the effects of actual or projected climate change. The scenarios drawn from contributions agreed at the national levels submitted by Parties upstream of COP21 show an increased risk of continuation and increase of the disruption and its consequences. Thus, the reduction efforts announced in the Paris Agreement will still produce a multiplying effect of the current risk level of impact on oceans and coastal areas. It is therefore important that the oceans integrate into the NDCs (and INDCs) in order to build a global framework for the protection of the oceans without which the Universal Paris Agreement would not achieve its objectives.
It is also important to engage in development models compatible with maintaining the resilience of oceans and coastal ecosystems.

Fisheries and Oceans in National Contributions (NDCs)

The Blue Belt initiative submitted by the Government of Morocco in the framework of the high-level action for the resilience of the oceans and the fight against climate change, acts in this context to:

Strengthen the acknowledgement of climate considerations in the development of maritime economies, particularly in the development planning and management of the fisheries sector and coastal marine areas and ecosystems, particularly in developing countries and the most vulnerable SIDs.

Link blue solutions of adaptation and mitigation with national action plans and commitments in the implementation of the objectives of the SDCs and the SDG 14.

Develop and integrate solutions for the mitigation and adaptation of fisheries sectors at national, regional and international levels for an effective contribution of fisheries policies in the implementation of the NDCs.

The development of technical capacities to manage these solutions, particularly in the most vulnerable coastal countries and islands, with a vision of taking into account the adaptation and mitigation objectives relating to the fisheries sector in the national NDCs.

The mobilization of private investments and international support for plans to implement mitigation and adaptation solutions in the fisheries sector, including conditions for removing barriers stopping the implementation.

The driving force of the Blue Belt Initiative

resides in the conviction that fisheries and aquaculture can become a model of durability, building on the principles of blue and circular economies. A package of primary concrete solutions are proposed as part of a roadmap : « Climate SMART Solutions For Fisheries and Aquaculture », targeting at the same time the adaptation and the contribution to the reduction of climate changes. A collaborative platform is proposed to accompany the implementation of the solutions, aiming the inclusion and the contact of the entirety of the components necessary to the success of the solutions : Research, Innovation, Expertise, Government Institutions, Financial Institutions and Executive Agencies.


A solution like the protection of the grass areas, the mangroves, the developpement of the algaculture, and the maintaining of the functional integrity of the wide costal marine ecosystems, can participate in the attenuation effort by playing a role of a carbonne « sink », along with maintaining the services provided by the oceans, and thus contributing to the objectives of NDCs and the sustainable developement.


RECAP OF NDCs AND BLUE BELT POTENTIAL ROLE

African countries who have registered actions related to the fisheries sector and the oceans in their NDCs Planned actions under the NDCs Measures of Connection with the Blue Belt Initiative
Adaptation Reduction Reinforcement of the capacities of technology transfert

Mauritania
  • - Protection of the euphotic zone habitat (20 m depth).
  • - Management plans developement for major fisheries.
  • - Strategic framework of the marine aquaculture developpement.
  • - Reinforcement of the methods of sea control and scientific research.

  • Solution 2.1. Establishment of marine protected areas
  • Solution 2.3. To encourage the valorisation and the ecological certification process.
  • Solution 1.1. To strengthen the biological and oceanographic observation system.
  • Solution 1.3. To strengthen the monitoring systems along with the warning and risk management mechanisms.

France
Polynesia

  • French Polynesia intends to ensure the integrity of its ocean space by classifying all of its EEZ of 5 million km² into marine managed areas in order to consolidate and optimize existing management measures, particulary sustainable fisheries, of the iconic marine species preservation and protection of marine ecosystems.
  • Solution 2.1. Establishment of marine protected areas

Nigeria
  • To improve small-scale fisheries and to encourage sustainable aquaculture as an adaptation option for fisheries communities.

Maroc
  • By 2020 :
    - To atain a level of 95% of sustainably managed marketed species;
  • - Reduction of emissions to 90% of the current level;
  • - Establishement of a Coastal Observation Network, with four oceanographic and meteorological buoys, along with the expansion of the surveillance, the health and environmental warning system of the coast to 40 observation areas;
  • - Reducing by 50% the amount of fishmeal produced from fresh fish.
  • By 2030 :
    - Establishment of Protected Marine Areas corresponding to 10% of the Exclusive Economic Zone;
  • - Renewal and modernization of 30% of the floats, especially with more ecological boats, equipped with observation systems;
  • - Renouvellement et modernisation de 30 % des flottes, notamment avec des bateaux plus écologiques et équipés avec des systèmes d’observations;
  • - Restoration of 50% of the degraded marine habitat;
  • - Increase of 50% in the volume of valued products originated from the marine environment.
  • Solution 2.3. To encourage the valorisation and the ecological certification process
  • Solution 2.2. To promote ecological fisheries vessels of the future
  • Solution 1.1. To strengthen the biological and oceanographic observation system
  • Solution 1.3. To strengthen the systems of surveillance, alert and risk management
  • Solution 2.3. To encourage the valorisation and the ecological certification process
  • Solution 2.3. To encourage the valorisation and the ecological certification process
  • Solution 3.3. To develop multithrophic aquacultural systems
  • Solution 2.2. Establishment of marine protected areas
  • Solution 2.1. To encourage the valorisation and the ecological certification process

Cameroun
  • Program 18 :
    Reduction of the effects of climate change on the fishery sector:
    - Adaptation of fisheries, aquaculture, and fish farming

Ivory Coast
  • Agriculture / farming/ fisheries :
    - To improve production technologies
  • - To strengthen the capacities of actors

Guinea
Konackry
  • - Updating of the master plan of mangrove layout (SDAM);
  • - Reduction of the sources of degradation of the mangrove;
  • - Integration of adaptation in the local development plans and planning tools;
  • - Improving scientific knowledge on the entire coastline;
  • - Extension of the previously launched pilot initiatives to all the municipalities of the coast, particulary the Project of Resilience Building and Adaptation to the negative Impacts of climate change on the vulnerable coastal areas of Guinea (RAZC).
  • Solution 2.1. Establishment of marine protected areas

Gabon
  • - To improve the production technologies
  • - To strengthen the capacities of actors
  • - To regulate the construction and extraction of sand on the coast

Gambia
  • The fisheries policy focuses on :
    - The maximization of yields through aquaculture
  • - The protection of the landing sites of the fisheries products, and flood protection facilities
  • Solution 3.3. To develop multithrophic aquacultural systems

Ghana
  • - Strengthening the penetration of "climate smart technologies" to increase the productivity of fisheries by 10%.
  • - To promote innovations in post-capture storage and food processing in 43 administrative districts
  • Solution 2.2. To promote ecological fisheries vessels of the future
  • Solution 2.3. To encourage the valorisation and the ecological certification process

Madagascar
  • Actions to be taken between 2020 and 2030 :
    - Real-time climate information monitoring;
  • - Effective implementation of multi-hazard National Early Warning Systems. incorporating at least the cyclones, floods, food security and nutrition, droughts/famines, sanitary and phytosanitary surveillance;
  • - Strengthening of the natural protections and reduction of the vulnerability of the littoral zone, marine, and coastal areas affected by coastal erosion and the coast decline (Menabe, Boeny, Southwest and East, etc).;
  • - Strengthening and updating comprehensive early warning systems by integrating the phytosanitary monitoring, agricultural warnings, alerts to droughts and food and nutrition surveillance;
  • - Strengthening and updating of the multi-hazard Early Warning Systems by integrating the phytosanitary monitoring, agricultural warnings, droughts alerts, and also food & nutrition surveillance;
  • - Adaptation based on ecosystems to combat the dunes progress ( A phenomena with multiple causes but exacerbated by climate change) capitalizing on the conducted researches;
  • - Restoration of natural habitats (forests and mangroves: 45 000 ha, lakes and streams, etc.).
  • Solution 1.1. To strengthen the biological and oceanographic observation system
  • Solution 1.3. To strengthen the systems of surveillance, alert and risk management







  • Solution 2.1. Establishment of marine protected areas





  • Solution 1.1. To strengthen the biological and oceanographic observation system
  • Solution 1.3. To strengthen the systems of surveillance, alert and risk management



  • Solution 2.1. Establishment of marine protected areas

Seychelles
  • Many cross-cutting projects under the strategy and the action plan for biodiversity in Seychelles (2015-2020), with implications for adaptation to climate change. On the basis of adaptation approaches based on the ecosystem for the conservation of biodiversity : Programs for industrial and artisanal sustainable fisheries, sustainable mariculture to be put in place.

Sierra Léone
  • Strategic Axis 5 :
    - Management of coastal and marine resources by promoting non destructive fisheries techniques to maintain the resilience of marine ecosystems
  • Solution 2.2. To promote ecological fisheries vessels of the future
  • Solution 2.3. To encourage the valorisation and the ecological certification process

Somalia
  • Improvement of local-oriented value chains to export in the fishery and in the target communities
  • Solution 2.3. To encourage the valorisation and the ecological certification process

Djibouti
  • The overall goal of the program is :
    - To support the populations of rural coastal areas affected by climate change to improve their resilience and reduce their vulnerability to these changes and promote co-management of marine resources.
  • - Rehabilitation of mangroves to improve their role as shield for coastal protection against tides and erosion. the restoration of coral reefs and mangroves to generate additional revenue through the development of eco-tourism activities
  • Solution 2.1. Establishment of marine protected areas.

The goal of this NDC Partnership initiative, which is based on Partnership and Transparency, is to facilitate learning, collaboration and coordination for:

  • The improvement of the visibility and access to support programs of the existing NDCs;
  • Support programs for the better designed and more responsive NDCs;
  • A better alignment between the programs, climate and development;
  • An increase in the political momentum for the implementation of the Paris agreement;

With the new portal that is dedicated to the NDCs, all countries will have access to tools of knowledge, information notices, and model practices on a global scale. The partnered countries will help highlight the national priorities, link the country to the donors of the funds involved, support initiatives and provide complementary activities of shared learning as well as supporting communications as pioneering countries will give access to targeted technical assistance.

The Browser http://ndcpartnership.org/ is a searchable database of programs of financial and technical assistance available for the implementation of national plans for fighting climate change (so-called "national contributions"). It is designed to help countries identify the resources available for adaptation and mitigation, showing funding sources, capacity building, technical assistance and other types of support. The database is regularly updated as more data is available. It must be noted that the traditional sources of financing for development, which can be an important source of finance for climate action, are not included in this database.

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A collaborative platform to act together and put into practice innovative solutions for adaptation of the fisheries and aquaculture sector to climate change and for the resilience of oceans and climate.

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