The 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP30, is being held in Belém which is an entry point to the Amazon rainforest. This choice of location carries strong symbolic meaning. By placing the conference at the edge of the rainforest, Brazil is sending a clear message: tackling global warming requires more than protecting terrestrial forests, and we must also bring the ocean, the “heart of the planet,” back to the center of climate negotiations.
For decades, global climate governance has focused primarily on forests because of their ability to absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide. Yet scientists have long reminded us that the true stabilizing force of Earth’s climate lies in the ocean, largely hidden from view. According to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the ocean absorbs 30% of human-generated CO₂ and 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases. The ocean is essentially functioning as a massive planetary cooling system. But this system is approaching its limits.
One of the clearest warning signs comes from coral reefs. Large-scale coral bleaching events have occurred many times in history, but the world is now entering the fourth global bleaching. This is the most extensive bleaching event ever recorded. The 2025 Global Tipping Points Report further warns that tropical coral reefs have surpassed a key climate tipping point: global temperatures have already risen 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels. Even if the world succeeds in limiting warming to 1.5°C under the Paris Agreement, many coral reefs may not recover. This means we are no longer merely avoiding crisis; we have entered the phase of disaster response.
Against this backdrop, COP30 is elevating the ocean to the same importance as forests for the first time. Scripps and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution jointly released the “Belém Declaration for the Ocean,” which highlights five urgent actions: expanding global ocean observation, establishing standards for ocean-based carbon removal, advancing the 30% global marine protected area target, developing transparent MRV (monitoring, reporting, verification) systems for blue carbon, and strengthening coastal community resilience through Indigenous knowledge. Among these priorities, “blue finance” has attracted the most attention. Currently, only 1% of global climate finance is allocated to the ocean. This number is far too little to support blue carbon ecosystems, coastal protection, and ocean research. To close this gap, COP29’s host Azerbaijan and COP30’s host Brazil jointly introduced the “Baku to Belém Roadmap,” which guides countries on directing climate finance toward effective ocean-based solutions. At the core of attracting private investment is the creation of credible blue carbon MRV standards, ensuring that every ton of carbon sequestered and every restored mangrove forest can be verified and trusted.
Another major development concerns Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the central mechanism of the Paris Agreement. NDC 3.0 is expected to be one of COP30’s most significant outcomes, with countries encouraged to formally include quantitative ocean-related goals, such as measurable blue carbon sequestration targets, timelines for coastal resilience programs, and investment pathways to expand blue finance. These updates are not merely administrative adjustments; they form the foundation of whether global climate action can succeed in the next decade. For Taiwan, despite not being a UN member, we continue to align with international frameworks and confront climate challenges. The Ministry of Environment has already released the draft of Taiwan’s NDC 3.0 and established a COP30 information center. What truly matters now is understanding the role the ocean plays in Taiwan’s climate strategy: Are coastal communities, blue carbon ecosystems, and marine science receiving the priority they deserve? The answers will shape the strength of Taiwan’s frontline defenses against climate impacts.
COP30 ultimately reminds us that climate issues are not confined to land. They arise from the interconnected workings of Earth’s entire living system. If forests are the lungs of the planet, then the ocean is its heart. Today, as this heart begins to beat more heavily, it signals an urgent need to redesign global climate governance. Whether we can channel investments into ocean solutions, align policies with science, and enable meaningful international cooperation will determine whether the world can maintain a stable climate in the decades ahead.
