as the 10^th anniversary of the paris climate agreement quickly approaches, more innovation is needed to discover win-win solutions for humans and marine habitats. could marine protected areas (mpas) lead the way, and what challenges remain with their implementation?

the takeaway: mpas – areas of the ocean designated by a nation’s government for resource protection – present one avenue to help meet the goals established by the paris climate agreement. however, challenges remain with enforcement, buy-in, and deciding which areas need protection.

the statistics: according to the united nations, only about 8% of the world’s oceans are currently protected via mpas. the un’s 30×30 plan, proposed in 2019, aimed to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. at current rates, it is estimated that mpas will only achieve 15% coverage by that time. 

• beyond the preservation of marine resources, marine protected areas can also serve as carbon sinks. according to stefano pogutz, a professor at milan’s bocconi university, marine protected areas are a key tool for countries looking to further their contributions to the paris climate agreement. this is because the vibrant marine ecosystems created by mpas can sequester carbon more efficiently than areas with degraded habitats.

what the experts are saying: when implemented correctly, marine protected areas can help promote economic growth while protecting key marine resources.

• “i think companies are much more advanced than we think,” pogutz said. in the european union, pogutz argues that many companies realize they are dependent on natural resources. offering tuna producers as an example, pogutz says that firms have recognized that overfishing and habitat destruction will quickly leave them without fish to catch. 
  
• in hong kong, experts see mpas as an avenue to boost ecotourism. writing in the south china morning post, business and conservation experts andy cornish and marine thomas argue that expanding mpas can “generate substantial economic and social returns” as tourists flock to natural areas. however, the two conservation leaders also write that new policy controls are needed to help build out hong kong’s ecotourism infrastructure. 

zooming in: experts have identified hong kong as a region where increased mpa coverage could benefit the local economy and community. 

• in 2018, wwf hong kong released a report designating port shelter as a high-potential candidate for mpa status. home to various types of coral and over 100 species of fish, the location is popular with tourists looking for an outdoor break from hong kong’s bustling business district. 
  
• according to wwf hong kong, port shelter was a candidate area for marine protection in 2009 and 2012. while the movement to establish port shelter as a formal mpa has struggled with momentum, the creation of other marine parks across hong kong has brought increased attention to the subject. 
  

a ticking clock: for mpas to be successful, more work is needed from the business, conservation, and policy communities to identify win-win solutions for all stakeholders.

• according to the inter-american development bank, one of the biggest barriers to the success of mpas is funding. without adequate funds to support enforcement, marine protected areas risk becoming “paper parks.” this occurs when failures in managing mpas render them indistinguishable from other areas of the ocean. 
• as a result, organizations such as the nature conservancy have advocated for innovative mechanisms to secure funding for ocean initiatives. this includes blue bonds, which, according to the nature conservancy, can help a country “refinance a portion of its national debt in a way that secures funding for conservation activities.”

when implemented correctly, refinancing through blue bonds can channel financial resources to protect marine areas and support local communities. like most impactful conservation innovations, blue bonds present an opportunity for win-win solutions that benefit both people and the planet. 

both the paris climate agreement and the un’s 30×30 plan set ambitious yet daunting goals. solutions like mpas – financed with blue bonds when applicable – present one way nations can take a step forward while promoting their communities and economies.