Led by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, in collaboration with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the three-year project supports global efforts to strengthen the resilience of MPAs to the effects of global warming, increase effective protection of marine biodiversity, and help advance the conservation of at least 30% of the ocean by 2030. The project contributes to the IOC Strategy for Sustainable Ocean Planning and Management (SOPM) by turning climate-smart ocean planning principles into practical tools for integrating climate vulnerability into MPA management, identifying priorities for adaptation, strengthening biodiversity protection, and supporting inclusive decision-making with Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Development of global climate vulnerability guidelines
During the April meeting, members of the International Advisory Board reviewed the project’s “learning by doing” approach, which combines key principles and lessons from existing climate vulnerability assessment methods with pilot projects in two MPAs. Together, these elements are used to develop global best practice guidelines for assessing climate vulnerability and prioritising management actions to strengthen the resilience of MPAs.
The pilot projects are testing and refining the methodology, integrating ecological and socio-economic dimensions, including impacts on livelihoods and Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Members emphasised the need for guidelines that are practical, inclusive, and adaptable across different ecological and governance contexts.
A key project milestone will be an international expert working meeting in October 2026, bringing together International Advisory Board members and additional experts on ecosystem vulnerability, Indigenous and local knowledge, MPA management, and climate adaptation and resilience. Together, the team will develop the first draft of the climate vulnerability assessment guidelines based on global best practices and lessons learned from existing assessment projects and initiatives around the world. The meeting will focus on interactions between the climate and the ocean, identification of data baselines for effectively assessing climate vulnerability of people and nature, integrating local, Indigenous and scientific knowledge, community engagement, financing, and valuation of ecosystem services.
Insights from partner MPAs
In early 2026, two preparatory workshops were held with local MPA management authorities and experts at the project’s pilot MPAs to inform the design of a full scope climate vulnerability assessment and identify management priorities for strengthening MPA and community resilience. The first workshop took place in Ilulissat Icefjord World Heritage site (Greenland, Denmark) in January 2026. The second workshop was held in the Banc d’Arguin National Park World Heritage site (Mauritania) in March 2026.
Next steps
The International Advisory Board will continue to provide strategic and technical guidance through biannual meetings and inputs to the project’s development and expected outcomes, including through participation at the international expert working meeting in October 2026.
The project is financed by the VELUX FOUNDATION and runs until December 2028.
Follow the progress of the project here.
About Sustainable Ocean Planning and Management (SOPM) at IOC
SOPM is a comprehensive, strategic and future-oriented framework designed to guide decision-making about the overall sustainable use and conservation of a nation’s entire ocean resources. It is a whole-of-society, whole-of-government approach that serves as a unifying umbrella framework for ocean related governance at all scales.
Adopted by 152 Member States at the IOC’s 33rd Assembly in June 2025, the IOC Strategy for SOPM (2025–2030) sets out a five-year path to help countries develop science and knowledge driven sustainable ocean plans.
The Strategy’s vision is for every IOC Member State to be adequately equipped to implement knowledge-based sustainable ocean planning and management. The primary target audience for the strategy is decision-makers and professionals responsible for the planning and management of ocean areas and their resources across IOC Member States.
read more: https://www.ioc.unesco.org/en/articles/towards-global-framework-climate-vulnerability-assessment-marine-protected-areas
