1. Introduction
The ocean is a critical part of the global climate solution.
The Southeast Asia Framework for Oceans Action in Mitigation (SEAFOAM) program aims to demonstrate additional ways countries can meet or raise their ambition  under the world’s most important climate treaty – the Paris Agreement.
At COP28, the Global Stocktake document reflected the significant role protecting and preserving coastal ecosystems and ocean-based action should play as part of pathways towards net zero.
The ocean has the potential to provide 25 per cent of the emissions reductions needed annually to meet 2050 climate targets.
Yet very few countries have made the leap to include ocean based action within their nationally determined contributions.
Climateworks Centre’s SEAFOAM program aims to create a template showing how a country like Indonesia could include sectors such as blue carbon, offshore renewable energy and green shipping within its next Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which is due in 2025.
As the largest archipelagic country in the world and host to 17 per cent of the world’s blue carbon ecosystems, Indonesia is one of the most important countries in the world for ocean-based climate change mitigation.
Sustainable management of the ocean around Indonesia offers dual benefits of significant emissions mitigation while providing coastal communities with climate resilience.
To date, no country with a maritime sector and economy as large and multifaceted as Indonesia has attempted the substantial inclusion of ocean-based measures in its NDC.
Our work seeks to support countries and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in raising the collective level of ambition and literacy on ocean-climate issues.
The SEAFOAM project is increasing recognition of the need to include the ocean in national climate mitigation strategies and the benefits of doing so.
What we’re doing
SEAFOAM’s ambition is that Indonesia has reached net zero emissions, enabled by the development of a sustainable blue economy, by 2050.
SEAFOAM will achieve this through:
- influencing Indonesian climate policy and action through strategic engagement and convening activities that strengthen inclusion of ocean-based mitigation within the NDC
- blue pathway development to guide ocean-climate policy design and inform government decision making processes related to the NDC and the development of the sustainable blue economy
- building capacity on ocean-climate nexus to enhance knowledge, coordination and collaboration across stakeholders including government, private sector, not-for-profit and academia
- blue financing and subsidy research to uncover novel financial mechanisms to support the realisation of long term climate and biodiversity goals.
3. Steps we're taking
4. Key people
5. Our partners
The program is led by Climateworks Centre and is supported by Philanthropy Asia Alliance.
The SEAFOAM pilot phase was supported by Quantedge Advancement Initiative.
6. Resources
Sea of opportunity: Ocean-based mitigation to support Indonesia’s climate ambition
This report assesses the mitigation potential of coastal and ocean areas and their contribution to Indonesia’s 'Second NDC', and suggests mechanisms for including the ocean in the forthcoming NDC. In addition to examining mitigation potential, it also provides details of key relevance to decision makers such as enabling and economic factors, scientific gaps and the likely flow-on effects.
Sea of opportunity: The role of ocean mitigation in Indonesia’s decarbonisation
Ocean-based climate mitigation could provide up to one-quarter of the emissions reductions needed to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Indonesia can lead the way on ocean-based climate action. New Climateworks analysis and mapping shows how
Baca versi Bahasa Indonesia Ocean-based climate action can deliver up to a quarter of the global annual greenhouse gas emissions cuts pledged under the Paris Agreement.
Indonesian ocean project secures involvement of both prominent marine scientist and leading environmental economist
A Climateworks project exploring ocean-based mitigation has secured the involvement of leading regional figures in marine science, climate policy and environmental economics. Professor Luky Adrianto has been appointed as chair of the Indonesian stakeholder steering committee for Climateworks’ Southeast Asia Framework for Ocean Action in Mitigation (SEAFOAM) project.Â
The ocean is essential to tackling climate change. So why has it been neglected in global climate talks?
Climate change is commonly discussed as though it’s a uniquely atmospheric phenomena.
Blue carbon and ocean-based sectors can meet half of Indonesia’s net zero target by 2050: report
Blue ecosystems and ocean-based sectors, such as maritime transport and offshore renewable energy, can contribute 49 per cent of Indonesia’s net zero emissions transition.
Climate solutions are already in our nature
From natural seawalls to mangroves, countries are starting to combat climate change with nature-based solutions.
Climateworks on the ground at COP27
Key members of the Climateworks team are in Sharm el-Sheikh over the next two weeks as delegates to the UNFCCC COP27 climate change conference.
Protecting mangroves and seagrass could boost Indonesia’s new climate targets
Indonesia has signalled it could include blue carbon ecosystems — carbon-rich coastal and marine areas, like mangroves and seagrass — in its new climate targets.
